New Delhi: Even by mess-talk standards, this could go down in military folklore as one of the most sexist statements by a brass hatter.


Vice-Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal P K Barbora had said on Tuesday: "Women get pregnant and then are unavailable for flying duty for 10 out of 12 months in a year."


Earlier, the military would express discomfort with women combatants in cultural terms - the anxiety over women being captured and exploited by the enemy. Now, they say that women are just not worth the investment.


Air Marshal Barbora had said, "The cost of training a fighter pilot is Rs 11.6 crore. We can have women fighter pilots for show purposes but can't use them operationally."


The Indian Air Force does not consider women pilots as a good investment and the caveat even for being considered for fighter flying is that women should agree not to have babies for the first 14 years of their career.


Air Marshal Barbora said, "There is a precondition. Be happily married but do not have offspring for the first 13-14 years of service."


While women are a hassle they would rather do without, the Air Force has no option but to put up with one in a fighter cockpit on November 25. This woman happens to be President Pratibha Patil.


Air Marshal Barbora said, "The President desired (to fly in a fighter plane). It's an order."


This ride is an investment which the Indian Air Force would hopefully recover.