Mysore/Mysuru: Group Captain Dr. Vinay Vittal (retd.), a fighter pilot from Mysuru, with a distinguished service of nearly three decades in the Indian Air Force (IAF), delivered a lecture on the topic ‘My Wonderful Journey in the IAF’ at a technical presentation organised by the Institution of Engineers (India), Mysore Local Centre at its premises on JLB Road on Feb.9.

He covered his talk in the form of wisdom attained while undertaking various operational activities during his tenure. He was fascinated by the thundering fighter jets flying at low levels at high speeds during the Republic Day Parade which he witnessed as a child with his father. His dream was to become a pilot, fly fighter jets and serve the nation.

With passion and enthusiasm, the integrity of purpose, single-minded focus and channelising his energies, he made his dream come true.

Handling pressure

Dr. Vinay Vittal stated that during his basic flying training, the IAF had very high standards expected from the trainee pilots which created a lot of pressure, stress and anxiety. However, passion, perseverance and self-belief helped to complete the training with flying colours. Also, this made him realise it is important to set high standards for self in life; professionally and ethically, for growth.

Also, the tough training ensures that the officers become resilient and confident. He covered aircraft emergency handling which required a high level of situational awareness, presence of mind and calmness to take correct actions to recover from the situation.

He also narrated an interesting incident wherein he was number five in a fighter unit and because of some reason, he was thrust into the number two position. A couple of days later, he discovered he was leading the unit as a detachment commander for armament practice.

Commendation

He planned the two weeks’ detachment in complete detail including contingencies, briefed all the aircrew and ground crew, coordinated with headquarters and the base, and laid special emphasis on building a team.

It was harsh conditions with high temperatures and humidity, so special plans were made to make men comfortable. This brought a sense of belonging. The operations set a benchmark. This earned him the appreciation of the Air Officer Commanding in Chief and a Commendation by the Chief of Air Staff.

Soon, Dr.  Vinay Vittal became a Commanding Officer of a premier fighter squadron. His focus was operations-preparedness or in other words, always being prepared for war. He said all squadrons have aircraft, equipment and men.

Therefore, to excel it is essential to concentrate on the men or human capital with empathy, being just and firm, ensuring discipline, and providing a good working environment. The results were exceptional, with 100 percent mission accomplishment and accolades in the weapons firing competition.

The unit was declared Best Fighter Squadron of Command for two consecutive years and the Best Fighter Squadron of IAF in 2009. He also narrated his experience with the most competent officers in the USA while undergoing one of the toughest courses in the contemporary world which focused on Strategy formulation.

Professionalism

Dr. Vinay Vittal informed the audience about the joint operations carried out with the Indian Army while he was the Chief Operations Officer (COO) during the Chinese aggression in Chumar in South-East sector of Ladakh in September 2014. He commended the spirit of jointmanship, morale, professionalism and the innovative strategy which helped drive the Chinese soldiers away.

He covered disaster management near Phuktal, Ladakh when a landslide created an artificial dam over a river and threatened to cause a catastrophe. How the coordination was carried out between various agencies including Pakistan and how the problem was successfully overcome.

Vinay Vittal also narrated a few casualty evacuations (CASEVAC) which helped save the lives of Army personnel, Ladakhi people and some international tourists.