Women would fly fighter jets when they are ready: Air Chief

Shillong, May 19 (UNI) Women pilots would be allowed to fly fighter jets when they are ready for the task, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi said here today.

''Women pilots are now flying helicopters and they will be allowed to fly the fighters when they are ready for it,'' he said during an interaction with media at the Eastern Command (EAC) Headquarters.

The Chief of Air Staff was here on a two-day visit to address the EAC Station Commanders' Conference, which started yesterday. He also held discussions with senior officials including EAC's Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Marshal F H Major.

''This is not an issue of male versus female. Women would definitely fly the fighter jets. But there is still time for that.

It is a process of evolution,'' ACM Tyagi said.

''There are also several cultural and social factors that we need to consider before actually allowing the women to fly the fighter jets. The level of acceptability of such a step would be different in different places and societies,'' the IAF Chief added.

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