Adding charm & colour when Sarangs soar | I am inspired by gutsy IAF pilots: Bhavana

Wg Cdr Bhavana Mehra, Sarang Helicopter Display Team. Photo: IAF

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: Wg Cdr Bhavana’s Mehra’s always spots a smile which might be worth a billion dollar. She is the only woman commentator with the Sarang Helicopter Display Team of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Earlier, she was with the Surayakirans and also was the deputy leader of first mixed expedition to the Mount Everest in 2011. Her interests and achievements might run into pages and today she acts as a bridge between the Sarang team and the crowd who watches their thrilling display.

“My commentaries are mixed with little humour and some unknown facts about the pilots. Our main job is to inspire youngsters so that they become air warriors,” says Bhavana. Today, she does multi-tasking duties taking care of Sarang’s publicity, team administration and the commentary. Interestingly, Bhavana holds the Limca Book of Record for being the only India non-pilot to be have flown 144 hours during her stint with the Suryakirans.

“Writing poetry is my favourite pastime. I have done sky-diving and I am a classical Kathak dancer too. I have also learnt English ballroom dance. But, what really fascinates me are the mountains,” says Bhavana, when asked about her interests. “The mountains keep calling me. I am also inspired by the gutsy IAF pilots,” she adds.

Hailing from Amritsar, Bhavana says she was always attracted towards fighter planes when she was a kid. “I have been so impressed with the local flying activities of the fighters, while I was living at Naya Nangal, a small town in Ropar of Punjab. I always wanted to be a fighter pilot, but ended up as a administration officer in the IAF. But, no regrets I am a proud air warrior,” Bhavana said.

She says Bangalore is an enchanting in many ways. “The pubs, the bowling allies and many more make the whole place so vibrant,” she said. With over 17 years in the IAF, Bhavana feels a commentator’s job becomes complete when she is able to connect with the masses. “I am just adding my bit to make the show colourful. My pilots are the heroes and I salute them,” she adds.

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The backroom boys! Souls from the safety bay

Photos: B Satish Kumar | MoD

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore:  Far away from the action scene, shutterbugs and busy-busy plane people, there’s one group of air warriors from the Indian Air Force (IAF), silently going on with their share of work. They are probably handling one of the most critical jobs at Yelahanka Air Force Station. City Express’ heroes for the day are the members of the safety crew. Thy operating out of the safety bay, which is right under the ATC building.

The safety crew has six CFTs (crash fire tender) and each unit consists of six people. In case of an air crash or any emergencies, they are the first set of people to reach an accident spot at lightning speeds. Their primary task is to save human lives first and minimize the damage. “We have our alert monitoring systems which has all the RT (radio telephony) between pilots and the ATC tower. Our response time, in case of any accident/incident is within two minutes. We are supposed to reduce 90 per cent of the fire within one minute, after the first vehicle reaches the spot,” says Sqn Ldr S Sreejith, Officer In-Charge of the safety crew.  “In the wake of fire, the survival time for a human being is 138 seconds,” he says.

Fire tenders, safety ambulance and search and rescue vehicles are always kept on alert mode by the safety crew. A dry drill (weekly), wet drill (monthly) and mock-up drill (once in six months) test the preparedness of the safety crew boys, who report to the Senior Air Traffic Control Officer (SATCO) at Yelahanka ATC. “Unlike other fire accidents, the one involving a flying machine has fire from electrical components, metals, liquids and even explosives. The ejection seats have explosives in its system and we have to be extremely careful,” says Sreejith, who joined IAF nine years ago.

All aircraft operating at Yelahanka during Aero India will have to hand over their ‘safety pins’ to Sreejith’s team. “Different planes have different kind of ‘safety pins’ and these have to be inserted first into the ejection seats in case of an accident. These pins prevent the ejection seats from getting activated due to the impact of the crash,” says Warrant Officer J K Biswas, with the IAF for the last 31 years.

When a new type of aircraft arrives for the show, the safety crew scans it to understand the features of the plane. During an accident, the safety crew first cuts-off the fuel and power supply. Then the main battery is switched off and then the ejection seat is secured – all in a flash. “Our main aim is to safe the pilot’s life,” says Biswas. 

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She captures your heart every time with inspiring voice

Wg Cdr Sujata Tiwari | Photo Courtesy: Swamy/IAF

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: When little Sujata went along with her father for short drives in their white-colour Ambassador in Bhopal's Arera Colony, she had a dream to become an IAS officer. But, life took a different flightpath and she became an air warrior. Today, Wg Cdr Sujata Tiwari's is one of the sweetest voices, the entire nation is familiar with. Read on to know why!

A postgraduate in Economics, Sujata joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1999 as a cadet at the Air Force Academy (AFA), Hyderabad. Interestingly, she is now an instructor at AFA, training her junior cadets and inspiring them to touch the skies with glory. 

At Aero India-2013, Sujata's commentary has already caught the attention of the plane people, thanks to her inimitable style and versatile voice. “Commentary and participating in quiz competition was always my passion. Before joining the IAF, I did some programmes for the All India Radio's Yuvavani programme. My first commentary in the IAF was during the Passing Out Parade at AFA in 1999, and I was a cadet then,” says Sujata, with a child-like smile, during an interaction with City Express. Then on, IAF took her onboard and made her almost permanent at all important events.

So far, she has given commentary during 10 IAF Day (October 8) parades, nine Republic Day Parades, two international air shows and many others. “During R-Day Parades the pride makes all the difference,” says Sujata, who is an expert in cooking paav bhaji and egg curry. “So far, no complaints from anyone,” she says, unable to control her laughter.

At Aero India, for the first time, she has fallen in love with the Flying Bulls. “They are so cute looking. My God! So much of daredevilry. They capture the skies and become its masters within no time. I love our Sukhois too,” says Sujata, now a Permanent Commissioned Officer. Interestingly, Sujata's role models are Swami Vivekananda, Amitabh Bachchan and her father herself.

In love with Bangalore and its weather, Sujata says even the people are really warm and very hospitable. “You feel very much at home when you are in Bangalore,” says Sujata, whose first posting was in Srinagar. 

Her biggest compliment so far came from a spectator at R-Day Parade, when he came to her and said: “Aapke zabaan se jo aawaz nikalthi hain, woh seedha hamare dillo main gus jaatha hain (Your voice goes straight in to our hearts)”

Well, come to Yelahanka, and even you would agree!

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