Mission possible

It is passion, commitment and dedication that has kept husband-wife duo wing commander Vikram Thiagaraman and squadron leader Tanya Srinivas flying high in their careers. While Vikram flies the MI-17 V5 helicopter, Tanya flies the Cheetah (Alouette III) helicopter.  

The couple, who are participating in  ‘Aero India 2017’, say that they are excited to be a part of one of the biggest aero shows in Asia. They look at it as the perfect occasion to meet and interact with fellow pilots from across the globe. 

The couple have been married for five years. Though their jobs keep them apart for most part of the year, they aren’t complaining about it.     They have, in their individual capacities, handled several tough operations and have  been a part of several rescue missions together. Some of these are the Kedarnath flood rescue operation in 2013, Srinagar flood relief operation in 2014 and the flood relief operations in Udaipur in 2016. “These missions reinforce the importance of our jobs and train us to focus on the task at hand. These have strengthened us and taught us to face difficult situations with a calm mind,” explains  Vikram.

They also say that they have seen the best and worst in their jobs. “You learn to overcome your fear and be prepared to face any situation. I don’t think about the task at hand. I just do the job that is given to me. This is a profession that I chose and I thoroughly enjoy the rush that comes with it,” shares Tanya.  About the challenges involved, Vikram, says “You have to be mentally prepared to land anywhere even in the most toughest of terrains. You have to be ready to take on your enemy anytime, anywhere.”  “Our training teaches us to look at life and every situation from a different perspective. It is clarity in thought and precision in action that is most important for us,” adds Tanya.

Do they discuss their profession when they are together? “We avoid talking about work when we are together because sometimes the conversations lead to whose aircraft is better in terms of its performance and capability. It turns into an ego issue of sorts, so we avoid that,” says Vikram.

Tanya pitches in “It’s not always that we get to meet. But when we do, we try to go on a holiday. Both of us are avid travellers who love exploring different cultures and meeting new people.”