Newsbytes
  • India
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
  • Inspirational
  • Career
  • Bengaluru
  • Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Videos
  • Visual Stories
  • Reviews
  • Phone Reviews
  • Fitness Bands Reviews
  • Speakers Reviews
  • Find Cricket Statistics
Hindi
More
In the news
Monsoon
Petrol Diesel Prices
Enforcement Directorate (ED)
Narcotics Control Bureau
Sidhu Moose Wala
Newsbytes
Hindi
Newsbytes
User Placeholder

Hi,

Logout


India
Business
World
Politics
Sports
Technology
Entertainment
Auto
Lifestyle
Inspirational
Career
Bengaluru
Delhi
Mumbai
Videos
Visual Stories
Reviews
Phone Reviews
Fitness Bands Reviews
Speakers Reviews
Find Cricket Statistics

More Links
  • Videos

Download Android App

Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
 
Home / News / India News / Meet 26-year-old Abhilasha Barak, Indian Army's first woman combat aviator
India

Meet 26-year-old Abhilasha Barak, Indian Army's first woman combat aviator

Meet 26-year-old Abhilasha Barak, Indian Army's first woman combat aviator
Written by Srishty Choudhury
May 26, 2022, 12:10 pm 3 min read
Meet 26-year-old Abhilasha Barak, Indian Army's first woman combat aviator
Captain Abhilasha Barak became the first woman to join the Army Aviation Corps as a helicopter pilot on Wednesday.

Captain Abhilasha Barak (26) became the first woman to join the Army Aviation Corps as a helicopter pilot on Wednesday, 30 years after the forces began inducting women as officers outside the medical stream in 1992. The accomplishment came after she completed a one-year course at the Combat Army Aviation Training School, Nashik. She hails from Haryana, and her father is a retired colonel.

Context
Why does this story matter?
  • Women officers in the Indian Air Force and the Navy have been flying helicopters for a long time.
  • However, the Army allowed them to opt for its aviation wing only in 2021.
  • Earlier, they were assigned only ground duties in aviation.
  • In October 2021, in a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court allowed the entry of women into the National Defence Academy.
Details
Alumna of The Lawrence School, Sanawar

She is an alumna of The Lawrence School, Sanawar. She completed her B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Delhi Technological University in 2016. She then secured a job at Deloitte, USA. While working with the Corps of Army Air Defence, she was selected as a Contingent Commander for Presentation of Colours to Army Air Defence by President Ram Nath Kovind.

Career
Barak was commissioned in September 2018

Barak was commissioned in the Army Air Defence Corps in September 2018. On Wednesday, Army Aviation Director General Lieutenant General Ajay Kumar Suri conferred Barak with the 'Coveted Wings,' along with 36 other Army pilots, the Army said. She was reportedly assigned to the 2072 Army Aviation Squadron. The squadron operates Dhruv, the advanced light helicopter (ALH), the Hindustan Times reported.

Information
What is Army Aviation Corps?

The Army Aviation Corps was formed in November 1986. It operates the ALH, and Rudra helicopters besides Cheetahs, Chetaks, and Cheetal helicopters. It also supports the Army's high-altitude deployments, including at the Siachen Glacier.

Proficient
'I knew I was eligible for only ground duty but...'

Barak got grade 'A' in the Army Air Defence Young officers course and passed the Part B exam in her maiden attempt. "After completing my training in Chennai, as I was filling the form, I knew I was eligible for only ground duty role but I mentioned that I had qualified Pilot Aptitude Battery Test and computerized pilot selection system," she said.

1987
Captain Barak's father led a patrolling party during Operation Meghdoot

Notably, in 1987, Captain Barak's father had led a patrolling party from the Amar Post to Bana Top Post during Operation Meghdoot. He suffered from Cerebral Odema due to bad weather. The Army Aviation Corps evacuated him just in time. "He owes his life to the Army Aviation Corps and hence, so do I," Barak said in an interview.

Officers
Tanks and combat positions are still no-go zones for women

Though women have been serving as officers in some of the branches of the armed forces since the 1990s, tanks and combat positions are still out of their bounds. In 2015, the IAF inducted women into its fighter stream. In May 2021, the Army inducted women into the Corps of Military Police. Also in 2021, the Navy deployed four women officers on warships.

Share this timeline
Facebook
Whatsapp
Twitter
Linkedin
Srishty Choudhury
Srishty Choudhury
Mail
Srishty Choudhury currently works as a Senior National Writer for NewsBytes. She has previously worked with India Today, Business Standard, Financial Express, and Zee Media in her career spanning over 11 years in print and digital media. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Calcutta University and a PG-Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.
Latest
Supreme Court Of India
Indian Army
Indian Navy
Indian Air Force
Related
Latest
This rugged smartphone has 21,000mAh battery, 94 days standby time
This rugged smartphone has 21,000mAh battery, 94 days standby time Technology
Bollywood, Tollywood or Mollywood: What to watch this weekend?
Bollywood, Tollywood or Mollywood: What to watch this weekend? Entertainment
Kawasaki launches Euro5 compliant Ninja 400, Z400 motorcycles: Check features
Kawasaki launches Euro5 compliant Ninja 400, Z400 motorcycles: Check features Auto
5 homemade eye masks that promote healthy skin
5 homemade eye masks that promote healthy skin Lifestyle
Post Moose Wala murder, Punjab government to reinstate VVIPs' security
Post Moose Wala murder, Punjab government to reinstate VVIPs' security India
Supreme Court Of India
UP CM Adityanath lays stone of Ram Temple's main building
UP CM Adityanath lays stone of Ram Temple's main building India
Centre withdraws advisory to use masked Aadhaar at public places
Centre withdraws advisory to use masked Aadhaar at public places India
IndiGo fined Rs. 5 lakh for mishandling special needs child
IndiGo fined Rs. 5 lakh for mishandling special needs child India
Supreme Court recognizes sex work as a profession
Supreme Court recognizes sex work as a profession India
Gyanvapi case: Next hearing in Varanasi district court on Monday
Gyanvapi case: Next hearing in Varanasi district court on Monday India
More News
Indian Army
Ladakh: Army vehicle falls into river, 7 soldiers dead
Ladakh: Army vehicle falls into river, 7 soldiers dead India
Assam floods: 4 more deaths take toll to 18
Assam floods: 4 more deaths take toll to 18 India
Assam: Floods compel 500 families to live on railway tracks
Assam: Floods compel 500 families to live on railway tracks India
Armed forces want removal of AFSPA from J&K: Rajnath Singh
Armed forces want removal of AFSPA from J&K: Rajnath Singh India
Lieutenant General Manoj Pande appointed as next Indian Army chief
Lieutenant General Manoj Pande appointed as next Indian Army chief India
More News
Indian Navy
INS Vagsheer launched today, sixth Scorpene-class submarine in India
INS Vagsheer launched today, sixth Scorpene-class submarine in India India
DRDO successfully test-fires medium-range surface-to-air missile, destroys target
DRDO successfully test-fires medium-range surface-to-air missile, destroys target India
Government to prioritize Indian defense manufacturers over import projects: Report
Government to prioritize Indian defense manufacturers over import projects: Report India
Rajnath Singh's subtle dig at China at INS Visakhapatnam commissioning
Rajnath Singh's subtle dig at China at INS Visakhapatnam commissioning India
India, Japan, Australia, US commence phase two of Malabar exercise
India, Japan, Australia, US commence phase two of Malabar exercise World
More News
Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force, Navy partner with DRDO for chaff technology
Indian Air Force, Navy partner with DRDO for chaff technology India
Jharkhand: Cable car collision leaves one dead, several injured
Jharkhand: Cable car collision leaves one dead, several injured India
Operation Ganga: Indian Air Force evacuates 798 Indians from Ukraine
Operation Ganga: Indian Air Force evacuates 798 Indians from Ukraine India
Ukraine: India denies claims that citizens in Kharkiv are held "hostages"
Ukraine: India denies claims that citizens in Kharkiv are held "hostages" India
India deploys first S-400 air defense system in Punjab: Report
India deploys first S-400 air defense system in Punjab: Report India
More News
Related
J&K: Indian Army helicopter crashes in Gurez; 1 pilot killed
J&K: Indian Army helicopter crashes in Gurez; 1 pilot killed India
Chinese army tortured, gave electric shocks to Indian teen: MP
Chinese army tortured, gave electric shocks to Indian teen: MP India
Lightweight, sturdier: How is Indian Army's new uniform different?
Lightweight, sturdier: How is Indian Army's new uniform different? India
39 women Army officers get Permanent Commission after SC order
39 women Army officers get Permanent Commission after SC order India
Next News Article
Next News Article

Love India news?

Subscribe to stay updated.

India Thumbnail
India News Business News World News Politics News Sports News Technology News Entertainment News Auto News Lifestyle News Inspirational News
Career News Bengaluru News Delhi News Mumbai News Mukesh Ambani Indian Premier League (IPL) Karnataka Samsung Xiaomi West Bengal
Bihar Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Haryana Narendra Modi Arvind Kejriwal Tamil Nadu Gujarat Yogi Adityanath YouTube
Instagram Hollywood News Uttar Pradesh Kerala Netflix Bollywood News Mamata Banerjee Maruti Suzuki Rahul Gandhi Elon Musk
Shah Rukh Khan Chelsea FC OPPO Akhilesh Yadav Indian Cricket Team Apple Manchester United Salman Khan Cryptocurrency OnePlus
Amitabh Bachchan ICC Women's World Cup Vivo India vs Sri Lanka
About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive IPL 2022 Schedule IPL 2022 Points Table Find Cricket Statistics
Follow us on
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2022