Aeronautical Society of India, Chandigarh Branch

The Chandigarh Branch owes its existence to the vision and pioneering efforts of Air Cmde G Gurrurani, the then Air Officer Commanding, 3 Base repair Depot (BRD) Air Force, Group Captain JS Kalra, Chief-of-Planning of 3 BRD and Prof SC Sharma, Head of Aeronautical Engineering Department at Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh. The process was set in motion in March 27, 1992 and bore fruits within just 2 months when the approval for opening the branch was conveyed by head office vide letter M/7/92 dated 28 May 1992.

The branch was formally opened on June 18, 1992 when the inaugural meeting of the branch was held at 3BRD. The elections for various posts were conducted on the same day. The General body elected President (Air Cmde G Gurrurani, VSM), Vice-President (Dr SC Sharma), honorary Secretary (Gp Capt JS Kalra). In addition four other members of the executive Committee were selected. These were Gp Capt GK Kwatra, Gp Capt NP Singh, Sh. Bharat Bhusahn and Sqn Ldr NC Rishi as Honorary Treasurer.

The fist activity of the Branch was a lecture on “Quality Management” by Dr Rajneesh Prakash on 18 July 1992 at LECMA Auditorium of 3BRD.

Ever since, the branch has been very active in promoting the aims and objectives of the Society. It was the first branch to start conducting “Aero-Quiz” for school children. Once again it was the first one to start “Painting Competitions” on aviation themes. Few of the prize-winning paintings can be seen in Exhibition Section on its website.

The branch won the “Best Branch Trophy” in 2004.