Women as fighter pilots: IAF not yet ready

Shillong: With the ethos of the armed forces being overly male, it will take some more time till Indian women don the uniform and the gear of a fighter pilot and fly the combat aircraft for the country’s defence.
“There is no denying that the woman staff has expressed desire to fly fighter jets, but the Indian Air Force is not ready as of now,” Air Chief Marshal F H Major, who was recently in Shillong, told reporters here.However, Major revealed that the force was in the process of carrying out studies to pave the way for fairer sex in the combat roles.
“We are carrying out physiological studies. We also have to examine certain psychological issues involving the women and the job. Only when these are done, can the women officers be cleared for the new roles,” Major said.
In 2006, a tri-service study recommended excluding women from close-combat roles “where chances of physical contact with the enemy are high”.
05/10/08 Press Trust of India