Where to get India's best pilots, engineers

Twenty-six test pilots and engineers, including one from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), on Friday passed out of 26th flight test course of the IAF's Air Force Test Pilots School in Bangalore.

Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and DRDO Director General Dr V K Aatre presented the graduation certificates and trophies.

The elite AFTP of the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), one of five such schools in the world, has earned recognition for its pioneering role in flight-testing throughout the world, ASTE Commandant Air Commodore Anil Chopra told reporters.

India's first and only cosmonaut Wg Cdr Rakesh Sharma is an alumnus of ASTE and the school's pilots have been involved in indigenous aircraft development programmes like the Light Combat Aircraft, Saras, Intermediate Jet Trainer, Advanced Light Helicopter and other aircraft upgradation programmes of the Indian Air Force, an official statement said.