NCC to train cadets in air sports

NCC Karnataka and Goa Directorate have set a goal to develop Mangaluru as a hub for air adventure activities.

Lt Col Amit Ashri, the training officer at NCC Group Headquarters, Mangaluru, told DH that they were keen on training NCC air wing cadets in air adventure activities and parasailing.

“On the directions of Brigadier D M Purvimath, NCC Karnataka and Goa Directorate deputy director general, flying camps will be conducted at the Mangaluru International Airport. As a first step, the NCC Headquarters had signed an agreement with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and the government. The Public Works Department has begun the work of building an aircraft hangar at Bajpe. Two Virus aircrafts are being procured too by NCC to train the cadets,” Lt Col Ashri said.

“The cadets from 6-Air Squadron NCC Mangaluru comprising four districts – including Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga and Kodagu – will be trained in aeromodelling and flying. The training will be provided by Wing Commander Pravin Panth. As many as 950 NCC air wing cadets who have enrolled this year are undergoing basic training,” he said.

“Training with Virus aircraft will begin soon. The air training was earlier conducted in Bengaluru,” he added.

Lt Col Ashri said NCC parasailing is also being planned in the region for the first time.

“Activities are being planned to introduce parasailing at Malpe beach in Udupi district. Ship modelling training will also be organised. In a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, NCC is conducting obstacle, firing and other related training on the campuses of MIT, Manipal; NITK Surathkal; and St Aloysius College,” he explained.

Apart from adventure activities such as mountaineering, NCC also organises social activities like village adoption, blood donation camps and cleanliness drives, he said.

Lt Col Ashri informed that NCC cadets in the region were interested in parasailing, aeromodelling and other aerial activities.

Cadet D Dhanya Shetty from Bhandarkar’s College, Kundapur, and Corporal Rachana of MGM College Udupi from 21 Karnataka Battalion NCC, Udupi, under the guidance of Col Saju Mathew were selected for para basic training at Agra-based Para Training School (PTS), the officer informed.