Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 561
The Naval Helicopter Training School, INAS 561, is the premier aviation training establishment and is the alma-mater for all helicopter pilots of the Indian Navy. The squadron was commissioned on September 15, 1971 at INS Garuda, Kochi. Later, in June 1972, it was re-based to its present location. The school undertakes ab-initio flying training of Naval pilots. Beginning modestly with the rudimentary Hughes 300 helicopters to the present day's indigenously manufactured Chetak helicopters, the prestigious school has successfully trained more than 250 pilots of the Navy, Coast Guard and foreign navies.
