Various Indian Air Force Training Academies that Every Indian Must Know

After you have cleared the selection procedure, you are sent to one of the Indian Air Force Training Academies. Here you undergo scientifically planned rigorous physical and academic training that is aimed to gear you for life in the Indian Air Force.

All Air Force training establishments are equipped with the state-of-the-art infrastructure and best of the facilities including institutes, swimming pools, squash courts etc. Once you join these training establishments, the IAF takes care of all your requirements like messing, lodging etc. and also gives you a monthly stipend during the last one year of training.

To know how these establishments instill Air Force traditions and make men and women out of boys and girls, we come with this article in which we introduce you to the various training institutions. These are the Indian Air Force Training Institutes:-

National Defence Academy​

National Defence Academy (NDA), at Khadakwasla, is one of the most prestigious inter-services training establishments in India. Brilliant military leaders, astronauts and several recipients of gallantry and distinguished service awards have graduated from this institution. Nurturing heroes for more than 50 years, the National Defence Academy is one of the foremost training institutes in India. While the efforts of the students and staff have contributed to its stature, it is also the philosophy of the Academy that has kept the spirit of the institute alive year after year.

The training curriculum spread over three years at the Academy is largely divided into the following activities:
  • Physical Training
  • Service Subjects
  • Academics (you would get a graduate degree on completion of course)
After successful completion of three-year training at NDA, if cadets would go to Air Force Academy for Flying training of one-year duration. On successful completion of training, they get commissioned as Permanent Commission Officers in Flying Branch.

Air Force Academy (AFA)​

Air Force Academy (AFA) at Dundigal has built a formidable reputation as the premier training institution of the Indian Air Force. It is situated 43 km from Hyderabad.

The Air Force Academy imparts training to Flying, Ground Duty (Technical) and Ground Duty (Non-technical) Branches as well as flying training to officers of the Army and Navy. It prepares you, both in mind and spirit, to take on the responsibilities of an Air Force Officer. Apart from developing the required skills, you are also trained to inculcate the service code of conduct and etiquette that are expected of an officer. The curriculum encompasses plethora of techniques like projects, case studies, On-job training, presentations, debates, book reviews, guest lectures, public speaking, drill, games, swimming, weapon training, Yoga, field craft training and cultural activities to enhance knowledge base as well as to ensure overall development of a trainee as gentleman officer.

The following are the types of training conducted at AFA:
  1. Flying Training
  2. Air Traffic Control Officers Training
  3. Ground Duty Officers Training
  4. Joint Services Training
  5. Training for Aeronautical Engineering Branches

Air Force Administrative College (AFAC)​

Air Force Administrative College (AFAC), located at Coimbatore, is one of the oldest training establishments of the Indian Air Force. It has been set up exclusively for conducting training programs for in-service officers of the Air Force, Navy and Army as well as officers of friendly foreign countries. Various courses conducted for in service officers are:
  1. Basic Air Staff Course: Officers (BASCO)
  2. Intermediate Air Staff Course: Officers (ISCO)
  3. Basic Professional Knowledge Course: Officers (BPKC)
  4. Advances Professional Knowledge Course: Officers (APKC)
  5. Para Legal Course
Besides these, this College is a premier institute for conducting Meteorology branch related courses:-
  1. Initial Forecasters’ Course (IFC)
  2. Advanced Met Courses for Met Tradesmen (SNCOs)
  3. 2nd Stage Training of GDOC (Met)

Air Force Technical College​

On completion of 22 weeks of initial training conducted at Air Force Academy. Thereafter, the remaining 52 weeks of training of engineering Officers is conducted at Air Force Technical College (AFTC), Bengaluru. The training at AFTC is divided into two terms of 24 weeks each separated by a term break.

The training includes work in electronic and propulsion labs, specialisation involving visits to R & D establishments, aviation, electronic industries and front line field units to facilitate assimilation. A balance is maintained between theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience on simulated as well as actual equipment to augment the technical skills.

Flying Training Establishments​

The Indian Air Force has Flying Training Establishments (FTE) exclusively set up to train you to take off as a pilot. Each establishment is a mark of your progression, from basic to more complex levels of flying. On completion of training, you are awarded your Wings at a Combined Graduation Parade held at the Air Force Academy.

Following are the Flying Training Establishments:
  • Air Force Academy (Dundigal) – Stage I flying training (six months) along with Joint service training
  • Hakimpet (Secunderabad)
  • Transport Training Wing, Yelahanka (Bangalore)
  • Bidar (Karnataka)
Thus, after basic Flying training (Stage I) at AFA, and trifurcation into Fighter, Transport and helicopter stream, a pilot would undergo further training as follows:

Stage II – Advanced stage Stage III – Specialisation

Fighter stream

Stage II – Hakimpet – 24 Weeks

Stage III – Bidar – 24 Weeks

Transport Stream

Stage II & III – Yelahanka – 48 Weeks

Helicopter Stream

Stage II – Hakimpet – 24 Weeks

Stage III – Yelahanka – 24 Weeks

Working in the Indian Air Force makes you strong enough and teaches you not to substitute words for actions, not to seek the path of comfort, but to face the stress and spur of difficulty and challenge, to learn to stand up in the storm. It gives you a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigour of the emotions, a predominance of courage and an appetite for adventure over the love of ease. Face The challenge, be the Air Warrior
 

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