Indian Pilot Records First At Sea Qualification Aboard Carrier
Story Number: NNS070531-22Release Date: 5/31/2007 10:17:00 PM A A A Email this story to a friend Print this story
From Naval Air Station Kingsville Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR STATION KINGSVILLE, Texas (NNS) -- The first Indian Navy pilot to successfully complete carrier qualifications aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier landed his T-45C Goshawk aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) for the final time May 9.
Assigned as a flight instructor under training for Training Wing (TW) 2 at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Indian Navy Capt. Surendra Ahuja participated in carrier qualifications (CQ) off the coast of Key West, Fla., setting a benchmark for other Indian pilots.
With a grade point average of 2.50, he is the first of a projected 32 Indian Navy officers that will undergo training at TW-2 over the next several years.
TW-2 commander, Capt. Mike Warriner, was pleased with Ahuja's performance.
"Capt. Ahuja has an impressive resume within his own service, Warriner said. "He added to his list of accomplishments by being the first Indian pilot to qualify by landing on a U.S. aircraft carrier. He did so in superb fashion. I was proud to be on deck when he recorded his 10th and qualifying trap."
The commanding officer of Enterprise, Capt. Larry Rice, was the first to notify him of his successful carrier qualification. Rice congratulated Ahuja over the tower frequency after he had completed his final landing on the carrier, as part of the CQ detachment.
Lt. James M. Hoysradt, flight instructor with Training Squadron 21, was Ahuja's landing signal officer(LSO), who followed up the informal notification with an official phone call and debrief to Ahuja back on the beach. Ahuja was very excited upon hearing the news, and thanked all the LSOs for their hard work and dedication.
"[I have a] new found appreciation for tailhook aviation and what it takes to land aboard a carrier at sea," Ahuja said.
Ahuja reported to Training Air Wing 2 in December 2006 and completed his total training in just under five months. During which time he completed the basic instrument, radio instrument, day and night familiarization, air navigation, day and night formation, and carrier qualification syllabi.
"I'm very excited about having partnered with India in this training venture," Warriner said. "[The relationship] has been a great success to date, and Capt. Ahuja's successes are the first of many more to come."
Ahuja received his commission in the Indian Navy in 1985. A Sea Harrier pilot, he has served in general service command appointments aboard ship as commanding and executive officer in addition to flying.
Ahuja said his proudest accomplishments have been conducting the flight evaluation of the MiG-29K in Moscow, and his recent carrier qualification aboard Enterprise with the T-45C Goshawk.
