It was a perfect setting for the passing-out parade at the Helicopter Training School, Arakkonam. With the drizzling, it seemed as though Lord Varun was showering petals on the officers on their successful completion of the helicopter conversion course.

Commanded by Capt MR Ajay Kumar, INS Rajali wore a festive look with VIPs, family members of Naval personnel and mediapersons watching the passing-out parade of 12 Naval and one Coast Guard officer. The Governor of Tamil Nadu, Mr PS Rama Mohan Rao was the chief guest. He inspected the parade commanded by Commander AK Banerjee. He also pinned wings and gave away certificates to one Coast Guard and six Naval officers and certificates to six Naval trainees. The Governor of Kerala Trophy for the best allround trainee was given to Sub Lt V Banta and the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Rolling Trophy for standing first in order of merit to
Lt H Sekhar.

The 24-week rigorous training included short aircraft maintenance course, attachment with the School of Oceanography and Meteorology, both at Kochi, search and rescue phase at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam, 85 hours of flying for each trainee and 250 lectures on various aviation subjects. The trainee pilots flew a sortie in the TU 142M aircraft to get a first-hand experience of the maritime reconnaissance and airborne anti- submarine warfare operations.

The Naval Helicopter Training School, INAS 561, is the premier aviation training establishment and is the alma-mater for all helicopter pilots of the Indian Navy. The squadron was commissioned on September 15, 1971 at INS Garuda, Kochi. Later, in June 1972, it was re-based to its present location. The school undertakes ab-initio flying training of Naval pilots. Beginning modestly with the rudimentary Hughes 300 helicopters to the present day's indigenously manufactured Chetak helicopters, the prestigious school has successfully trained more than 250 pilots of the Navy, Coast Guard and foreign navies.