Capt Imochaoba receives limes Business Award
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 16 2023: Captain Kshetrimayum Imochaoba Singh has been conferred the Times Business Award 2023 for his outstanding contribution to promotion of hot air ballooning and aero sports and also as the first instructor of hot air balloon in the country.

The award was handed over to Captain Imochaoba in a special event organised by The Times of India Group on April 14 at The Grand Hotel, New Delhi.

Captain Imochaoba is the only hot air balloon instructor in the country holding Flight Instructor Rating (FIR) issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), government of India.

He also holds flying licences including flight radio operator, pilot license glider and glider instructor among others.

He received training in flight inspection of glider from Gliding Centre, Pune of DGCA, flight inspection & repairing of hot air balloons from Ultra Magic Balloons, Spain, and in maintenances and repairing of Hot Air Balloon from Cameron Balloons Ltd, Bristol, UK.

He was a one-time examiner for Hot Air Balloon and authorisation for glider instructor/examiner issued by DGCA.

With the experience of flying hot air balloon for three decades, Captain Imochaoba has trained several aspirants including defence personnel of the Indian navy, army and civilians.

As a commercial pilot, he worked as chief pilot in Sky Waltz Balloon based in Rajasthan from 2008 to 2014 and as a pilot and executive at Bandhu Aerospace (1995-2000) .

Ksh Imochaoba is serving as director/chief pilot for Imo Sky fun LLP, technical expert/advisor on aero sports activities in Haryana Tourism Corporation, advisor of Manipur Aero Sports Association and member of Aero Club of India.

Capt Imochaoba has represented the country at the Hot Air Balloon championships organised biennially by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, an international organisation for Aero Sports recognised by the International Olympic Committee, the 14th World Hot Air Balloon Championship, Austria (1999), 15th World Hot Air Balloon Championship, France (2002) and 23rd World Hot Air Balloon Championship, Austria (2018).He has also flown in several well-known international hot air balloon festivals including National Air Show, Sri Lanka (2006), 1st Pattaya International Balloon Festival, Thailand (2007), Sri Lanka International Balloon Festival, Sri Lanka (2008), World Aerobatic Air Show in Al Lin, UAE (2008), European Balloon Festival, Iguodala, Barcelona and Spain (2010) among others.

It may be mentioned here that Capt Imochaoba was awarded best Aero-modeller & Best Glider Pilot (pre-RDC camp & ATC camp) during his NGC training days and is a recipient of Best Rotractor of the year two times.

He has also been awarded the Delhi Ratna by Bharat Manch during a function held at Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi on April 24, 2022 .

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