Bangalore : Air Marshal Ramesh Rai took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Headquarters Training Command, in Bangalore on Tuesday.

An accomplished Category-A flying instructor, experimental test pilot and a Vayu Sena medallist, Air Marshal Rai succeeds Air Marshal Paramjit Singh Gill, who superannuated on June 30.

Air Marshal Rai, who was commissioned as a fighter pilot in 1976, served as Senior Air Staff Officer of Central Air Command before this assignment, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence. He has around 4,500 flying hours to his credit.

Apart from commanding Bidar Air Force Station, where the Hawk trainer aircraft were inducted, Air Marshal Rai has held important command and staff appointments as Joint Director, Air War Strategy Cell; Director, Air Staff Requirements; the Defence Attache at the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv; and at Advance Headquarters in Kolkata.

He has also served as Senior Air and Administration Staff Officer of Maintenance Command at Nagpur and Chief Instructor (Air) at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.