MB#57: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩: 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙠𝙮.

[MemoirBlogthon #57] AIR assigned me a unique, challenging OB recording: covering Gliding training with NCC cadets at Gannavaram Airport. Never having heard of gliding, I sought help from my father, who, having been an NCC cadet and worked in military , provided a technical briefing on the air wing syllabus. Armed with his knowledge, I secured permission to enter the airport. The true test came when the instructor agreed to let me fly with him in the dual-controlled glider, recording instructions and interviews mid-flight. My programme executive in All India Radio and colleagues applauded my dareness. Despite being a qualified candidate, my father advised me to stick to my main stream—the Company Secretary examination—as a lifelong professional path. I realized his words were right: he steered me toward better, enduring opportunities.

MB#57: The well-recognized radio assignments that were covered in AIR magazine"Vaani".

The Gliding Assignment and NCC Briefing

One day, my program executive in All India Radio [PEX] presented me with a challenging assignment: covering the gliding training underway for NCC cadets at Gannavaram Airport in Vijayawada. I had never even heard the term "gliding." The assignment required an OB recording featuring interviews with the NCC trainees and their instructor.

I immediately turned to my father, who once served as an NCC cadet and briefly in the military. He provided a detailed briefing: Gliding is part of the Air Wing NCC curriculum, giving cadets hands-on experience in aviation, requiring a minimum number of glide launches, and teaching practical skills like checking the glider, taking off, and steering.

Armed with this essential knowledge, I contacted the NCC Air Wing Squadron and, after checking my credentials, secured permission to enter the airport grounds.

Recording Mid-Flight

On the appointed day, I found the training in progress with ten cadets and a dual-controlled, two-seat glider. I interviewed the trainees and the instructor, who answered questions in both English and Telugu. Then, I made a bold request: I asked the instructor to take me up like a trainee so I could record his instructions 'on the fly.'

He surprisingly agreed but challenged my courage: could I handle a motorless glider flight and landing that would last about 30 minutes? Despite a small wave of fear, I settled into my seat, seatbelt fastened, and recorded the entire conversation while flying over Vijayawada city. By the grace of God, we landed safely.

My PEX was extremely impressed, applauding my effort and 'dareness' upon hearing that I had recorded voices even during the actual flight. My reputation for accepting and achieving unique assignments soared among the AIR staff.

The Final Career Advice

My profound experience as a broadcaster—which offered exposure, competency, and even the opportunity to interview for a permanent announcer position—made me seriously consider employment with AIR.

However, my father gave me sharp, crucial advice:

"Look, you took up freelancing and broadcasting as hobbies. Your mainstream is to complete the Company Secretary examination successfully and become a professional, but not as a Central Government employee though the role looks bright, but it would be otherwise."

At the time, I thought he was discouraging me from a promising path. But I later realized the wisdom in his words: he correctly steered me toward a profession as a 'Company Secretary' with better, lifelong opportunities. The skills I mastered at AIR—voice modulation, discipline, meticulous preparation, and editing—became the invaluable soft skills that boosted my success in the corporate world.

MB#57: Quiz

MB#57: Question The gliding training assignment was part of the syllabus for which specific division of the National Cadet Corps (NCC)?

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• A. Naval Wing
• B. Army Wing
• C. Technical Wing
• D. Air Wing

MB#57: Quote

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." -Theodore Roosevelt