AERO ADVENTURES

AERO ACTIVITIES

Sky Diving   Another visage of the indomitable spirit of mankind is the free fall sky divers.They make breathtaking vignettes against the backdrop of the azure skies. The 50 Independent Parachute Brigade at Agra manages the AANC (Sky Diving) and conducts skydiving demonstrations all over the country. A new Skydiving Node has been opened at Jorhat (Assam) where First Army Adventure Course was conducted in March 2012. Training courses in basic Skydiving are envisioned in the near future, once the instructors in this daredevil sport are ready. Presently, the Node conducts refresher Sky diving courses as and when the air effort for the same is managed by AAW. These courses are for those Army personnel who are trained in sky diving with sport canopies. Para Sailing   Parasailing offers the thrill of being in air. Army Adventure Nodal Centre (Parasailing) at AOC Center, Secundrabad has been established for imparting ‘Method of Instruction Training’ to Army personnel to enable them to conduct this activity in the Command Nodes safely. The joys of doing parasailing for a novice are immense and it provides immediate experience to aerial activity and is extremely thrilling for someone who has never been up in the air. Parasailing has been now decentralized to Command level keeping in view its popularity. Para Gliding   Paragliding in true essence is flying like a bird. It is one of the most thrilling and satisfying adventure sport. India has abundance of natural sites for conduct of paragliding. Army has established four training Nodes - one each at Shillong, Ahmednagar, Pithoragarh and Alhilal. Army paragliding pilots have been regularly participating in the National and international events. Paramotor Flying   Paramotors provide the experience of powered paragliding, whereas in paragliding one needs a height to launch. To take off with the help of paramotors one can do so even from level ground itself in the gentle breeze. Army paramotor pilots have conducted a historic ‘Kashmir to Kanyakunari - Paramotor Expedition’ which has established several national records. Army has two nodes for Paramotor flying training i.e. AANC (Paramotor), 50 (I) Parachute Brigade, at Agra and AANC (Paramotor), Parachute Regimental Training Centre, Bangalore. Hang Gliding   The deep blue skies, the azure orbit above, not a speck in the sky and not a care in the world. One witnesses the awe-inspiring spectacle of Hang gliding on landscapes of Deccan Plateau. The AANC (Hang Gliding) located at School of Artillery, Deolali, Maharashtra, conducts Basic and Intermediate courses of four weeks duration in Hang Gliding. A very popular activity, it draws volunteers from all ranks. Current advancements in the field of aero sports has witnessed new techniques being incorporated in Hang Gliding by way of ‘powered harness’ which reduces the dependence on wind. Microlight Flying & Powered Hang Gliding    The dream and capability to fly like a bird is not only restricted to only a few people and Air Force, as is evident from the huge numbers of volunteers from all ranks who seek participation. Dare-devils flying the juggernauts pit skills against thrills. Training nodes for these activities are at Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), Mhow, M.P and Officers Training Academy, Gaya, Bihar. These Nodes not only train the Army pilots but plan, coordinate and conduct various expeditions across the country. Hot Air Ballooning (HAB)   A feeling of ethereal peace, enchantment and the thrill of floating through the skies is what ballooning symbolizes. Indian Army has brought ballooning to the forefront of Indian adventure. Presently most of the Indian records are held by the Army HAB Team. 3 EME Centre at Bhopal and Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, Regimental Centre (JAK RRC), Jabalpur have the responsibility of training Army pilots in Hot Air Ballooning.The most visible of the adventure activities, HAB has progressed by leaps and bounds. The pilots now have the capability to fly during the night, in HAA and continuously. A number of expeditions have been undertaken by the balloonists in the trans-Indian peninsula.