This 20-year-old Mumbai girl is India’s youngest female pilot

(Image credit: Indian Express)

Ayesha Aziz wanted to fly planes for as long as she can remember. When she got licensed as a pilot at 16, that childhood dream suddenly became her reality.

Now 20, Aziz is India’s youngest female pilot. “I’ve always wanted to something challenging and unconventional all my life. I’m happy for being the country’s youngest female pilot, but I’m more proud for having achieved my childhood goal,” she says.

Her dream of becoming a pilot and her fondness for flying and airports took shape during the trips her family used to take from Mumbai to their native place, Kashmir while she was growing up.

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“My brother who would be scared would always sleep during the flight while I would be giddy with excitement during take-off and landing,” she reminisces.

Ayesha joined a flying school right after passing out of high school. She took ground lessons there and passed five viva sessions. She was awarded her student pilot license in November 2013.

Currently she pilots single engine Cessna 152 and Cessna 172.

Four years back, she was unable to start her training in commercial flying due to financial constraints.

Not one to let that demotivate her, Aziz is now in her third year pursuing B.Sc in Aviation from the Bombay Flying Club, she will finally gain her commercial license once she completes 80 hours of the total 200 hours of flying.

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According to her, her family is the reason behind all her sucesss. “When I told my father I wanted to be a pilot, he not only supported my decision but even pushed me into it right after I completed high school,” she adds.

Aziz also had the opportunity of visiting NASA and meeting John McBride. But, still considers meeting astronaut Sunita Williams, her “second greatest inspiration” her favourite moment.