Reduce screen time: Air Force Akash Ganga instructor’s message to youth

Akash Ganga, the Indian Air Force’s elite parachute display team, gave a message to young adults – “Reduce screen time and focus on fitness.” The team gave the message as part of the Indian Air Force’s 92nd Anniversary celebrations at Marina Beach and Tambaram Air Force Base on Tuesday
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Parachute Jump Instructor Bhavani Singh shared the rigorous process of joining the Akash Ganga team and shared a message for the youth.
“Cut down on screen time. Go for a run, hit the gym, and do something that makes you sweat. That’s how you become what you want to be,” the instructor said.
Talking about the selection process, Singh said, “Hundreds attend the selection process, but only a handful are chosen. The training lasts seven months, where you’re not just learning to jump but also to teach. After 500 jumps, you qualify for display roles, but only those with 1,000 jumps take on the most dangerous formations.”
One such formation, the Trio, sees three parachutists intentionally tangle and stack themselves to form the Tricolour.
Singh said that while it’s a breathtaking spectacle, it requires extreme skill and precision. “It’s very dangerous and performed only by those with over 1,000 jumps,” he said.

When asked about the experience of jumping from 8,000 feet at speeds of 150 mph, Singh described it as a rush of emotions.
“The fear is always there, but with training, experience, and confidence, we learn to control it. We handle that fear in a better way.”