- Life Time Achievement Award for IAF Pilot to Industry Pioneer
New Delhi. 19 March 2025. Wing Commander BS Singh Deo, “Singhi” to his friends, spent his childhood building and flying aeromodels. His 56 years aviation career began with joining the Indian Air Force in 1968. Graduating from IAF Helicopter Training School, he was awarded the Best Pilot Trophy and the Chief of the Air Staff Medal for standing first in the course.
He served in various helicopter units of the IAF where he proved his professional excellence. Subsequently he graduated as a Flying Instructor winning the Chief of the Air Staff Trophy for standing first in flying in the course. Further, he did a Production Test Pilot course where again he won the coveted Gp. Capt. Suranjan Das Trophy for standing first in the course in addition to the Chief of the Air Staff Trophy for being Best in Flight Evaluation. He was then appointed an Air Force Examiner responsible for standardisation and categorisation of all helicopter pilots of the Indian Air Force and Indian Army.
After retiring from the Indian Air Force he worked for Pawan Hans Ltd., a newly launched Government of India Undertaking as the Officer-in-Charge – Operations and Training. Appointed as Type Instructor and Examiner by the Director General of Civil Aviation, Singhi had the onerous task of operationalising 21 newly purchased Westland-30 helicopters. He conducted Type Ratings and Instrument Ratings of the initial lot of pilots and ushered in IFR helicopter operations in India. Besides offshore operations, he set up multiple helicopter bases in remote areas of the country bringing in air connectivity to people who had never seen an aircraft before. He did a course on “Managing Technological Change” in United Kingdom under a UK Government program where he was awarded the “Belt & Braces” certificate for his contribution on the subject of safety.
Singhi then moved on to fly with Malaysian Helicopter Services where besides flying in offshore oil support role in the South China Sea, he contributed to other aviation activities to promote safety.
During his flying career in the military and civil aviation, he flew 5 types of aeroplanes and 14 types of helicopters with a total of 8200 flight hours in multiple roles – HEMS, HADR, VIP Flights, Flight Testing, Satellite Calibrations etc. He was awarded the ‘Vayu Sena Medal’ (Air Force Cross) by the President of India for dedication to his profession and outstanding achievements.
Singhi joined Bell Helicopter in 1997 as head of Bell operations in six countries in South Asia. Over the next 21 years with Bell, he worked with all helicopter operators to address their needs and make their business grow. Said John L. Garrison, President & CEO of Bell Helicopter “Purpose, Passion and Integrity. This is what makes him a Pioneer in the Industry. Yes, he brought Bell’s vision to India.” He continues to promote safe helicopter operations, organizing and taking part in seminars and trade shows including the RWSI’s annual HeliPower Seminar. Simultaneously, he continued to enhance his own knowledge which helped him in helping the industry to grow. He did several training courses including Managing Technological Change course in United Kingdom, Textron Growth Leadership Program with Fisher College of Business in Ohio (Textron University), Negotiate to Win course in Singapore and Strategic Cost Management Course with Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, India. His is also a Six Sigma Green Belt.
Singhi is a founding member and Vice President of the Rotary Wing Society of India (RWSI). He was instrumental in advancing the stature of RWSI since its inception in Jun 1998 to what it is today. His effort gave recognition to RWSI both in India and at the global stage. He was associated with IHST (International Helicopter Safety Team) since its inception in 2006 and continues to work with an international team to set up the Vertical Aviation Safety Team (VAST). Today the opinion of RWSI in respect of the helicopter industry is taken seriously because of his stature and experience. Being an experienced and highest rated flying instructor (QFI Cat A1), he has conducted training classes and delivered talks at various seminars and forums related to helicopter operations and flight safety. There has been a marked improvement in the safety record of helicopter operations thanks to his contribution in RWSI’s ‘Safety Through Education’ initiative. His efforts towards this have been recognised by various organisations like the Indian Air Force, Indian Army and the United Nations World Food Program for whom he conducted a workshop at Kathmandu, Nepal in Aug 24.
He is well respected for his integrity and honesty and has displayed exceptional level of professional competence, knowledge and leadership skill over more than five decades. His dedication to serve the aviation industry and contribution to air safety is much appreciated by the industry. With an illustrious career spanning 56 years, Wing Commander BS Singh Deo has left an indelible mark on aviation, from his early days in the Indian Air Force to his leadership in India’s civil helicopter sector and international engagements. His relentless commitment to flight safety, pilot training, and industry growth has earned him widespread respect. As a founding member of the Rotary Wing Society of India and a key player in global aviation safety initiatives, his contributions have significantly improved helicopter operations worldwide. Given his remarkable achievements, dedication, and leadership, it is befitting for him to be honored with the “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
