Air Force Technical College, Bangalore
Encyclopedia
HISTORY
Air Force Technical College is situated in Bangalore
, India
. Air Force Technical College (AFTC) was established on 4 July 1949, in collaboration with Air Service Training Corps, Hamble, UK with Gp Capt J Beaumont CBE DFC as the first Commandant. The college was then named technical Training College (TTC). Initially, the entire staff of the College were officers and technicians from the Royal Air Force (RAF). Judged by their civil attire and gentle behaviour it was conjectured that some of the instructors were civilians. At that time TTC was the first College in India and probably in the whole of Asia which trained aeronautical engineers. TTC was renamed as AFTC on 1 January 1957, with Gp Capt MJ Kriplani MBE as the first commandant of the college. It is the alma mater
for all technical officers of the Indian Air Force
.Originally, AFTC was established with the assistance of Air Service Training, Hamble (UK) and the entire staff were foreigners. By 1956, the staff was completely Indianised. In Dec 1962, owing to the national emergency, the Apprentices’ Training Scheme was suspended and officers’ training stepped up. In Dec 1971, the four technical braches were integrated into two i.e., Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics). With the passion out of No. 51 DEO course in Nov 1972, ab-initio training of Aeronautical Engineers’ Course in AE(M) and AE(L) braches was started in Jan 1972.
In recognition of the high quality training imparted at AFTC, the college was awarded ISO-9001 certification in the year 1999 and earned the honour of being the first IAF establishment to receive the ISO certificate. The certificate was handed over by Shri. PS Das, Director General of Bureau of Indian Standards to Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis PVSM AVSM VM ADC, Chief of Air Staff at an impressive ceremony held at the college. The certification has been awarded to AFTC for its quality training of international standards in the field of Aeronautical Maintenance & Defence Management Concepts.
The aim of the college is to educate and train engineers from various disciplines on the current technologies of aircraft, weapon and support system held by Indian Air Force
and also to instill qualities of military leadership, managerial skills, values and ethos of an Air Warrior, to enable them to function effectively as Aeronautical Engineers and contribute to growth of knowledge through research and development as members of officer cadre of the Indian Air Force
. The college in Addition to training engineers of Indian Air Force
and its sister services has also trained officers of DRDO, HAL
, Air India
and many foreign officers.
CREST
The crest of the college depicts a mechanical gear and emanating electrical waves superimposed by a torch bearing an eternal flame. The President of India approved the crest on 08 Aug 1962. The crest symbolises the flame of knowledge, which gives rise to the fraternity of mechanical and electronic engineering professionals engaged in pursuit of higher goals. The motto printed on the crest “Gyanen Shobhamahe” means ‘It is knowledge through which we find pride in ourselves’. With its multi-faceted growth the college has lived up to its motto and continues to impart a high standard of training to military Aeronautical Engineers. This has enabled the college to strongly support the Indian Air Force to “Touch the sky with Glory”.
Air Force Technical College is situated in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Air Force Technical College (AFTC) was established on 4 July 1949, in collaboration with Air Service Training Corps, Hamble, UK with Gp Capt J Beaumont CBE DFC as the first Commandant. The college was then named technical Training College (TTC). Initially, the entire staff of the College were officers and technicians from the Royal Air Force (RAF). Judged by their civil attire and gentle behaviour it was conjectured that some of the instructors were civilians. At that time TTC was the first College in India and probably in the whole of Asia which trained aeronautical engineers. TTC was renamed as AFTC on 1 January 1957, with Gp Capt MJ Kriplani MBE as the first commandant of the college. It is the alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
for all technical officers of the Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
.Originally, AFTC was established with the assistance of Air Service Training, Hamble (UK) and the entire staff were foreigners. By 1956, the staff was completely Indianised. In Dec 1962, owing to the national emergency, the Apprentices’ Training Scheme was suspended and officers’ training stepped up. In Dec 1971, the four technical braches were integrated into two i.e., Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics). With the passion out of No. 51 DEO course in Nov 1972, ab-initio training of Aeronautical Engineers’ Course in AE(M) and AE(L) braches was started in Jan 1972.
In recognition of the high quality training imparted at AFTC, the college was awarded ISO-9001 certification in the year 1999 and earned the honour of being the first IAF establishment to receive the ISO certificate. The certificate was handed over by Shri. PS Das, Director General of Bureau of Indian Standards to Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis PVSM AVSM VM ADC, Chief of Air Staff at an impressive ceremony held at the college. The certification has been awarded to AFTC for its quality training of international standards in the field of Aeronautical Maintenance & Defence Management Concepts.
The aim of the college is to educate and train engineers from various disciplines on the current technologies of aircraft, weapon and support system held by Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
and also to instill qualities of military leadership, managerial skills, values and ethos of an Air Warrior, to enable them to function effectively as Aeronautical Engineers and contribute to growth of knowledge through research and development as members of officer cadre of the Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
. The college in Addition to training engineers of Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
and its sister services has also trained officers of DRDO, HAL
HAL
-Companies and organisations:* HAL Computer Systems, a defunct computer manufacturer* HAL Laboratory, a Japanese video game developer* Halliburton, by NYSE ticker symbol* Hamburg America Line, a shipping company* Hawaiian Airlines...
, Air India
Air India
Air India is the flag carrier airline of India. It is part of the government of India owned Air India Limited . The airline operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft serving Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. Its corporate office is located at the Air India Building at Nariman...
and many foreign officers.
CREST
The crest of the college depicts a mechanical gear and emanating electrical waves superimposed by a torch bearing an eternal flame. The President of India approved the crest on 08 Aug 1962. The crest symbolises the flame of knowledge, which gives rise to the fraternity of mechanical and electronic engineering professionals engaged in pursuit of higher goals. The motto printed on the crest “Gyanen Shobhamahe” means ‘It is knowledge through which we find pride in ourselves’. With its multi-faceted growth the college has lived up to its motto and continues to impart a high standard of training to military Aeronautical Engineers. This has enabled the college to strongly support the Indian Air Force to “Touch the sky with Glory”.
| Rank | | Name | | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Gp Capt | J Beaumont CBE DFC | July 1949 - July 1956 |
| Gp Capt | MJ Kriplani MBE | July 1956 - June 1961 |
| Gp Capt | K Narshiman | July 1961 - August 1965 |
| Gp Capt | HD Mehra | July 1966 - September 1966 |
| Gp Capt | RJ Hermon | November 1966 - January 1970 |
| Gp Capt | JN Jungalwalla | January 1970 - June 1972 |
| Air Cmde | SS Sehgal | June 1972 - January 1977 |
| Air Cmde | Satinder Singh | January 1977 - June 1981 |
| Air Cmde | SK Verma | July 1981 - January 1983 |
| Air Cmde | S Venkatraman | January 1983 - Novemner 1983 |
| Air Cmde | S Roy | December 1983 - March 1985 |
| Air Cmde | CL Kotwal | March 1985 - September 1986 |
| Air Cmde | JP Dhir | October 1986 - July 1988 |
| Air Cmde | S Srinivasan VSM | August 1988 - January 1990 |
| Air Cmde | PN Bajaj | January 1990 - April 1991 |
| Air Cmde | SS Gupta VSM | April 1991 - February 1992 |
| Air Cmde | K Badrinarayanan VSM | February 1992 - August 1994 |
| Air Cmde | SKS Sitaram VSM | September 1994 - May 1996 |
| Air Cmde | DS Gotra | November 1996 - December 1997 |
| Air Cmde | SK Jindal | January 1998 - September 2000 |
| Air Cmde | RC Kakar VSM | September 2000 - July 2002 |
| Air Cmde | SL Sharma VSM | July 2002 - July 2004 |
| Air Cmde | Kamal Singh AVSM | September 2004 - September 2006 |
| Air Cmde | Rajiv Mital VSM | September 2006 - November 2008 |
| Air Cmde | P Kanakraj VSM | December 2008 - August 2009 |
| Air Cmde | AK Paul VSM | August 2009 - |