Captain Shraddha, who was commissioned in the Indian Army in the year 2020, qualified to fly in 2023. Since then, she has flown 165 hours solo and has attained the status of a full-fledged operational pilot. On one notable mission, she co-piloted a Cheetah helicopter with Lt Col KS Bhalla. It was a proud moment for the Army Aviation Corps and the Dhruv Command.
Flying, taking off and landing a helicopter in the northern region is equally challenging. It can be said that altitude and weather conspire against every flight. Here, the former Indian Army pilots flying the Cheetah challenge gravity and obstacles alike. They navigate narrow valleys, face sudden downpours, land on very narrow ridgelines – and do it all with calm precision.
Despite ageing airframes and constant exposure, the Cheetah helicopters continue to be the Army’s eyes in the sky. From reconnaissance to troop movement, casualty evacuation to supply drop operations, they operate ashore – where even landing is an achievement, and returning safely is never taken for granted.
