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IGRUA Entrance
THROUGH THESE PORTALS PASS SOME OF THE BEST PILOTS IN THE WORLD

Know Director IGRUA

AIR COMMODORE VIPUL SINGH AVSM VM (RETD)
DIRECTOR (NON-MINISTERIAL), IGRUA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

GENERAL PARTICULARS :

  1. Graduate of National Defence Academy. Commissioned in December 1991 into the Flying Branch (Fighter Stream) of IAF.
  2. Cleared for Air Vice Marshal in the first board, but took voluntary retirement.
  3. Fighter pilot. Flew 5100 hours in Indian Air Force on 13 aircraft.
  4. Instructional flying experience of over 2800 hours with Indian Air Force. Was the most experienced Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) in the entire Fighter stream of IAF from 2013 until voluntary retirement in 2025.
  5. Authored a book titled "Compendium of My Thoughts - An Air Warrior's Perspective".
  6. Now a Civil Aviation Flying Instructor and Director at IGRUA.

Image of Director of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi

AWARDS :

  1. Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023 (civil equivalence is Padma Bhushan) by Honourable President of India.
  2. Vayu Sena Medal in 2015 by Honourable President of India.
  3. Three AOC-in-C Commendations in 2002, 2006 & 2009.
  4. Three Star Flight Safety Award.
  5. Dagger by Ugandan Defence Force.
  6. Topped Academic Capsule at Australian Command & Staff College, Canberra.
  7. Won GOC-in-C Medal at Army War College (Higher Command Course) at Mhow for excellence during the course.

FOREIGN POSTINGS :

Two FOREIGN POSTINGS at Australia & Uganda during 2006-07 and 2016-18.

COURSES DONE :

  1. National Defence College (NDC), New Delhi - 2023
  2. Higher Command Course (HCC), Army War College, Mhow - 2015
  3. Australian Command & Staff College (ACSC), Canberra - 2007

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

  1. Category ‘A’ QFI (only 5 to 7% IAF pilots are Cat ‘A’ QFI. It is the highest qualification for pilots in IAF).
  2. Air Force Examiner on MiG-21, Kiran & Pilatus PC-7 MK II.
  3. M.Phil & M.Sc. in Defence and Strategic Studies.
  4. QFI Plus.
  5. PSA Plus (only IAF officer to be PSA Plus in last two decades till my premature retirement).

COMMAND ASSIGNMENTS HELD

  1. Bison Fighter Squadron along western sector (Pakistan).
  2. IACCS Radar Station along central sector (China).
  3. Fighter Training Wing (Alma-mater of fighter pilots and FTO with 47 aircraft).
  4. Aircrew Examining Board (AEB); the most prestigious unit of IAF.
  5. Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station Tambaram (FTO with 51 aircraft).
  6. Director at IGRUA since 15 May 25.

INSTRUCTIONAL ASSIGNMENTS HELD

  1. CI Flying, Fighter Training Wing.
  2. Directing Staff at Flying Instructor's School.
  3. Directing Staff at Ugandan Command & Staff College.
  4. Taught flying to officers and trainees of IAF, Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard & foreign countries, including United States Air Force, for over 15 years.
  5. Flying Instructor at IGRUA since Jun 26.

STAFF ASSIGNMENTS HELD

  1. Director at Directorate of Operations in 2011-12.
  2. Headed Flight Safety Directorate of IAF as an Air Commodore 2023 to 2025.
  3. As an Air Force Examiner and Commanding Officer at AEB.

POST IAF

  1. Appointed by Appointments Committee of Cabinet, as Director (Non-ministerial), IGRUA. Took over the charge on 15 May 25 for 3 years; extendable up to 5 years.
  2. IGRUA has seen unbelievable progress since May 25. IGRUA stood 5th out of 35 FTOs during the FTO Ranking released by MoCA on 24 Apr 26. This was a significant turn-around in performance, as IGRUA was 25th out of 35 FTOs in Oct 25 (six months back). The progress since May 25 is being referred as transformation, since output in every facet of IGRUA has grown by over 100% without any outside help / change in assets & workforce (refer IGRUA Achievements).
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