South Mumbai-based Ayesha Aziz (20), India’s youngest woman pilot, will soon add another feather to her cap by completing her training flying hours.
South Mumbai-based Ayesha Aziz (20), India’s youngest woman pilot, will soon add another feather to her cap by completing her training flying hours. Ms Aziz earned her commercial pilot training licence at the age of 16 from Bombay Flying Club in November 2011. She had enrolled in flying school in June 2011.
Born in October 1995, Ms Aziz has finished her flying course and will soon complete her training flying hours to start her career as a pilot for commercial aircraft.
Daughter of a Kashmiri mother, Ms Aziz was born and brought up in Mumbai with a dream of becoming a pilot. While talking to The Asian Age, she said, “Every teenager has big dreams, but they are forgotten with time. Indian families are also uneasy when their child says she wants to become a pilot as this field requires constant hard work. My goal remained consistent and I achieved it.”
According to Ms Aziz, she decided to become a pilot when she was in Class 5 and enrolled in flying school when she was studying in Class 11 the age of 16 (the minimum age for flying). In 2012, Ms Aziz went to NASA for space training and also started her flight training.
The five-year flying course requires good grades in written exams 200 hours of flying. Ms Aziz has already finished a total of 120 hours on aircraft like Cessna 172 and C152. She finished her exams along with her graduation in the first week of May.
Commenting on the achievement, Ms Aziz said, “I’m not thrilled by the fact that I will fly as the youngest pilot, but I am happy that people are getting inspiration from me and showing interest in aviation.”
