My Journey to the Skies

Words like perseverance, patience, sleepless nights, rejections, motivation, stumbling and never backing down.

My story revolves around many such experiences.

I was a little girl with a lot of zest of living. An idealistic daughter and a good student (at least that’s what I believed it to be :D)
Having big dreams, and a positive streak for everything that came my way. Books were my first love. Traveling my new found love! And sky, sky was my biggest crush. My love for this sky, earth, planets only grew there on. And I decided to become an astronaut.! A cosmonaut to be a little precise; until I became aware that flying was also a career and a woman can become a pilot too. Yes, I had heard stories of Kalpana Chawla much before Amelia Earhart.

And my world changed! Such new possibilities, so many new options. I was a passionate girl spoilt for choices.

When 12th (higher secondary) finished and all my friends were applying for colleges, all I could think of was to get myself enrolled in a flying school. Being from a family with no one from an aviation background, and not to forget mentioning Google wasn’t what it is now, this was much harder than you can imagine it to be.

Yes, I was divided between getting a degree (because that is important somehow?) or following what I have been yearning for since forever.
Made up my mind and my journey began.

2006!

A visit to my very first flying club !

It’s almost 14 years now, but I still remember every inch of detail of traveling to the aerodrome with my family, meeting the Chief Flying Instructor and stepping on that tarmac for the very first time. Yes, I was struck by a spell. There was no turning back.

The first step: Get my medicals.
Next: DGCA examination battle was conquered.

2007: Flying training was and will be the biggest moment of my life. And to make it even better I had this experience in Miami FL, USA. So you can use that “raise it to infinity” formula and do the math.

2008: I got my DGCA CPL (Commercial Pilot Licence).

But life can’t be that magical forever. Recession hit. And it hit bad. Challenges were only now starting.

Lot of my batchmates, diverted their career. Few even managed a job, and some like me waited, a lot worried, a little lost.

19-20 years of age life was beginning to get too real. And a choice between wants and needs was becoming a cause much more than one could wish for.

A job at a desk at an Airline Cargo and a season of being a Cabin Crew, all I wanted to do was stay close to aviation anyhow. Licenses were expiring, and renewals came with a cost. Choices were now becoming a burden in disguise.

2016: We all fall down, we all face hurdles, but true failure is only when u stop trying.
I had to start from scratch. All my licences had lapsed, all my examinations were expired. Ideally, I should have been planning a baby, being married 3 years now.

But a spark was still there. Behind the dusted memories an aviator was still craving to spread her wings.

Yes, I started. All of it again. A paper at a time. A flight at a time. And came out even stronger. I got it all done and much more. I even passed my ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License) theory papers. Also taught a few first officers getting through their ATPL exams (another little achievement). Went ahead and took another risk and got myself a Boeing 737 rating ( An experience deserving a thousand wows). Why Boeing many would ask. But for now, think about it as your one true love. It has always been Boeing for me.

2019: When aviation wasn’t again at its peak, with a few airlines shutting down, an opportunity struck. This was my “Now or Never”. I got my first offer letter. Years of struggle and 7 gruesome rounds (Airline’s Recruitment process), I was now going to fulfil all my dreams. This was my time to shine. And oh, how I loved being under the spotlight!!

But patience had to be tested more I guess, max toppled, not once but twice. Markets crashed again. It was just a glitch for my career just a few more months of wait.

Corona happened and the world was shook.
I am and have been so close to getting it all but it’s not there yet.

Yes I know, I’m still blessed. I got another shot or even the first for that matter.

I’m holding on. Trying to be patient, waiting when the world is back to its glorious self. When there are no pandemics, no air crashes and revenues are stronger and people are flourishing in their jobs again.

I have grown as a woman, I have matured as a person, and I continue to learn. No, I am not giving up, not then, not now.

My journey to become a pilot has taught me a lot. I believe in taking the best of all it could teach.

Am eagerly waiting for getting my uniform, epaulets and the wings!! Counting days to the time I first board the magnificent aircraft and make my first ATC call “Flight### is ready for take off”!!

It’s taken much, much longer than what it takes for many, a lot has been lost, a lot endured, but I still believe one must always strive to make it happen, not all factors are in our control but don’t give up. So, to anyone out there, who’s struggling now, I hear you, just hold on and keep working you’ll get there.

Stay hopeful. Stay safe.
Happy landings!!