| Details : | Wing Commander Sanjay Dhankhar (19865) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned as a Fighter Pilot on 17 Dec 1988. Presently, he is the CO of a Bison Squadron (Sqn). The officer has more than 3500 hours of accident free flying with more than 2000 hours on MiG-29 aircraft (ac). He has completed Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) and is a Qualified Flying Instructor. At Flying Instructors' School, he was awarded the best in aerobatics trophy and passed out from DSSC with Directing Staff grading. As the flight commander of a MiG-21 Sqn, he had ensured conversion of the unit on the Bison ac in an efficient and praiseworthy manner and was corn mended by the CAS in 2005 for his professional competence and exemplary conduct. As the CO, he has led the Sqn from the front by ensuring sagacious planning, foresight and the enviable status of best ac serviceability state in the entire Bison Fleet. The Sqn has flown more than 4500 sorties / 3000 hours of accident free flying during his tenure and achieved Above Average standards in the Aircrew Examining Board inspection. In the Annual Gunnery Meet the Sqn won three team event trophies and also the best in maintenance trophy. The Sqn put up a record performance of achieving Direct Hits by all the four formation members in the multimode bombing mission flown for the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection. During the entire inspection, the Sqn had 11 fighters available and flew 56 sorties with not a single ac unserviceable. The Sqn also achieved Direct Hits in the Fire Power Demonstration held in Dec 2007 as well as in Mar 2008 and was corn mended for the same by Command and Air HQ. Besides his primary duty as CO, his coordinating and control capabilities were evident in the floods of 2006, wherein he took on the additional responsibility of Chief Operations Officer of the base and also Task Force Commander for Flood rescue and Relief Operations. He accomplished this task by working relentlessly on all holidays thereby devoting his time beyond the call of duty for the safety of ac, equipment and welfare of the station as well as the civilian populace. During this period, 33 Missions were flown, in which 256 lives were saved and 34,600 Kg of relief material and food was delivered. He has worked long hours in a selfless manner with true dedication and perseverance of an exemplary standards. The officer with his professionalism, pro-active approach, dynamic leadership has provided his personnel a renewed sense of direction and enthused them towards impeccable performance. For exceptional devotion to duty, Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vayu Sena Medal' to Wing Commander Sanjay Dhankhar. |
