Srinagar: She is 25 years of age and hails from Kashmir.
Meet Ayesha Aziz, India’s youngest female pilot.
Sky has been the limit for Ayesha from her early teens. In what can be termed as a meteoric rise, Aziz became the youngest student pilot to get a license in 2011, when she was just 15. A year later, she was off to Russia to undergo training to fly a MIG-29 jet at the Sokol airbase.
She then graduated in aviation from Bombay Flying Club (BFC) and obtained a commercial licence in 2017.
Not only is she a source of inspiration for young women with dreams, Ayesha is also a role model for Kashmiri women.
“I think Kashmiri women are doing very well, especially in education. Every other woman in Kashmir is doing her Masters or her doctorate. People of the Valley are doing great,” she was quoted as saying by ANI.
Her job is extremely challenging and not entail regular working hours. But that does not bother Ayesha one bit.
“I chose this field because I have loved travelling since a very young age and was really fascinated by flying. One gets to meet so many people. This is why I wanted to be a pilot. It is quite challenging because this is not like a normal 9-5 desk job. There is no fixed pattern and I have to constantly be ready to face new places, different types of weather and meet new people,” she said.
“In this profession, one’s mental state should be very strong because you’ll be carrying 200 passengers and it is a great responsibility,” she remarked.
Expressing her gratitude towards her parents, Ayesha said they had helped in achieving her dreams.
“I am very lucky that I have parents who have supported me in everything. Without them, I would not have been able to get to where I am today. I am constantly looking for growth, on a professional and personal level. My father is my greatest role model,” she said.