Army likely to induct more observer pilots for RPAS fleet: Report

New Delhi: The Army is planning to induct a large number of officers as observer pilots for its expanding Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) fleet. As per a report published on the News18 website, the Army will induct and create a pool of qualified pilots considering plans for expansion of the Army's RPAS fleet. The pool will comprise both men and women pilots.

Quoting defence sources, the report has claimed that the Directorate General of Army Aviation has sought to induct volunteer officers into the RPAS stream from all arms, which were under the Regiment of Artillery.

It further said that select officers who volunteer to join the force's RPAS fleet as observer pilots will undergo a basic RPAS course at the Combat Army Aviation Training School at Nashik and once they complete the training, they would be posted to the RPAS fleet of Army Aviation for two tenures. The next course begins on June 24.

As per the Indian Army website, the Combat Army Aviation Training School is the alma mater of all Aviators and RPAS crew of Army Aviation and provides combat flying and ground training to all Aviators of the Indian Army.

Only non-empanelled officers of all arms who meet all medical fitness criteria would be eligible to join as observer pilots.

For instance, Lieutenant Colonels in the Indian Army, who have not been empanelled as Colonels would be fairly experienced and young to take on this new role with 14 to 15 years of service, the sources said.

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