Yes.
First, let me clarify something. There is no rank in the Indian Air Force called a Fighter Pilot. You start as a flying officer and then proceed higher up as you progress in your career (I’m talking about group officers here). I know that in layman terms we refer to them as fighter pilot, but they don’t recognise themselves by that name.
I write this answer from the authority of coming from a family with its fair share of officers in the army and airforce. I was also selected in the NDA entrance and hence have some passion to know more about the working of the defence forces.
Currently, my brother-in-law serves as a Squadron Leader in the Indian Air Force and having seen his life from close quarters and interacting with him regularly, I would say the life of an Indian Air Force Officer is challenging and highly rewarding. The respect you get within the organisation is unparalleled. The kind of training that you undergo is also quite fascinating.
As for the safety aspect, there is indeed an element of danger involved. But which job doesn’t have it? A coconut climber too has an element of danger involved in his job. I think it is even more than that of a IAF officer because he carries no safety gear and social security to back him in his profession. The people who enroll in the air force don’t join it weighing in the safety factors. In my BIL’s case, he studied in the sainik school, always wanted to be in the defence forces and has a very athletic and adventurous disposition. And I should say that when he wears that aviator with the flying dress, it is simply superb. It almost makes me regret the decision to skip NDA.
The Air Force officers are also backed by the social security provided by the government. They have still not been converted to the NPS, but are still in the defined benefit pension scheme. Thus they can undergo all the training knowing in their mind that their nation takes care of their family for the services that they render to the nation.
Now, coming to the adventure part, I think an anecdote should illustrate it better. While my BIL was posted in Pune, I called my sister. While we were talking , I enquired where BIL is. She replied that he has gone to Rajasthan, that morning. I asked,
“Did he go by train?”
“No. He took the Sukhoi”
Apparently there was some surveillance mission that need to be carried in the border and he had flown the Sukhoi from Pune to Rajasthan. How many of us can dream of such a thing? Rewards and Risks in life are always proportional.
Damn! I regret not joining the NDA again.