Be an Aviator Not a Pilot
by
Capt Ankisha Awasthi
» Synopsis
Be an Aviator Not a Pilot is a story of Pilots in Aviation who are unable to cope.
This is not a book to teach you how to get into an Aviation School or even how to live like a Pilot. In fact, it describes how one can become a Successfull Aviator not just an Airplane Driver [ So called Pilot ] with very small changes in life.
Be an Aviator Not a Pilot is a story of Pilots in Aviation who are unable to cope.
This is not a book to teach you how to get into an Aviation School or even how to live like a Pilot. In fact, it describes how one can become a Successfull Aviator not just an Airplane Driver [ So called Pilot ] with very small changes in life.
Also Why abroad trained Pilots are better Aviator and Why FAA, CASA, CAAP, CAA are better civil Aviation Authority then DGCA.
Capt. Ankisha Blog
http://capt-ankisha-awasthi.blogspot.com/
Capt. Shekhar Blog
http://www.capt-shekhar-gupta.blogspot.com/
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Shripad India Tours & Travels, B-110, Dindayal Complex,Near Ved
Nagar, Nanakheda, Ujjain, India T : 456010, 9406841345, 07344041397,
E shripadtravels@yahoo.co.in, www.shripadtravels.com
As a Son of AirIndia Captain I was always with Airplanes,
My Story seeks out the special few who have answered
the call of the skies, those with the discipline, aptitude
, and courage to become
Pilots. Life in hangars and homes, at Airport
restaurants and on ramps, My Story
tells the story of flight in the words of Pilots
themselves. What it means to fly
an airplane all alone for the first time on my 1st Solo.
What it means to fly an airplane for the
last time. The easy rapport one can have with a person
who is a complete
stranger but for the shared experience of flying.
And the excitement that consumes Pilots at the opportunity
to share this world
of aviation with non-Pilots, Airport communities,
community leaders, and anyone
else who will keen to listen a born Pilot.
My Story is a saga for anyone who has sat all alone in
an Aircraft, firewalled
the throttle, charged down the runway, and rotated. And
especially for those
who might if given the chance. For most people, the sky
is the limit. For a Pilot,
the sky is home and Airplane is my Office.
This is the story of the journey home. A Pilot's Story.
I am a Pilot
When I was young, I never even imagined that someday I
would simply be mad
about Aircrafts and flying. On my third birthday my dad
asked me what kind of Birthday cake
you wants ? My answer was so obivious an Airplane Shaped
cake.
On my trip abroad, to Singapore, I bought the Observer's
Book of
Aircraft by William Green, this changed my world
completly. It had all the different
kinds of airrafts one could see at that time with their
full specifications. The book
increased my vocabulary, I got to know technical details
of various Aircrafts, their
type, seating, powerplant, cruising speed, armament,
country of origin, dimensions,
service ceiling, endurance, range, etc.
Soon I was nicknamed Pilot by my friends, whenever they
used to see any Aircraft,
they used to enquire about it from me. I started to
correctly recognise even those
Aircrafts which were flying at very high altitudes. Even
my ears got trained for the
slightest sound which resembled the drone of an Aircraft
engine. I could tell well in
advance that whether the approaching aircrat was a piston
engine, a turboprop,
a jet or a chopper.
Just a single book changed my whole life, I became an
aviation enthusiast. Soon I
started to buy all the good books related to aviation I
could lay my hands on. By the
time I reached the age of 18 years, that is the time I
finished my schooling, I had a
library, full of books on Aircrafts and other related
fields.
One day when I passd my Schooling ,The next day my dad
took me to the office
of the local flying club and enrolled myself as a student
Pilot.
Within 14 months of my joining or after exactly 15 Hrs
of flying hrs on Pushpak MKI and
Cessna 150 Airplane, I was ready to go solo,
all alone, no one would accompany me, it would be just
me and my Cessna 150 Airplane.
glider, flying free, like a bird. I readied for the flight
, checked the elevator, ailerons, rudder and
airbrakes, they were all working, checked the altimeter,
variometer, slip-skid indicator,
pitot tube, speedometer, they all seemed well. Wow I am
a Captain [ Commanding and Piloting
Aviator In Navigation ] now.
Now I could call myself a Pilot, a real AVIATOR ....
MY 1st DREAM COME TRUE...
But actual problem started after my 1st solo. Now this
is the time I realise why
every Indian Pilot hates DGCA and Indian Officials. Now
I am getting my flights
once a week or twice a month making me so frusted. After
waiting for 17 months
I got my Indian Private Pilot Certificate. Now I decided
to continue it in USA.
Land in America
Capt Richard had tought time to get Pinaki back on right
flying. Every day he was learning
many new terms of flying. James Golfin [ Jimmy ] was his
flight Instructor. Jimmy was a very cool Pilot so Pinaki
was bit relexed to
learn flying.
2004
Back to India, No jobs available here, So again my old
flying club to
join as Assistent Pilot Instructor under the same CFI.
It is very difficult for Pinaki to Cop with
Indian Flying style as its still very old fashiond.
Adjusting with Indian flying culture he
started teaching Pilots in Indo - US style. He was not
at all happy with the culture but had
no option, his frustation was increasing as days passing. But his logboog getting hrs day by
day so he started prepration for his ATPL and he cleared
all his pappers too. Still he had
about 1200Hrs only 300hrs more to get an ATPL licence.
Aviation is not so much a
profession or a hobby as it is a disease.
AirIndia released advertisement for Trainee Co-Pilot for
Boeing 737 Aircraft. He applied and
left his API Job to prepare for his AirIndia exam.
AirIndia declared resut after 9 months and
by dafault Pinaki got no 1 position. Thanks to his
wonderfull US flying Experience and awfull
Indian Assistent Flight Instructor's Experience. He always
tell his student Pilot, Learn from
the mistakes of others -- you won't live long enough to
make all of them yourself. But they
are not ready to listen him much.
Pinaki met another Pilot Captain Sushmita [ Sush ] at
DGCA for her Conversion from
Canadian CPL into Indian DGCA CPL. She was trying to get
it since last 4 months but all
vain. Pinaki helpd her to get her licence within 7 days
with all formalities done. Of course
that cost them only couple of bucks before they could get
CPL in hand, but thats the culture
Indian DGCA has. Sush was so happy with her licence in
hand, as she had lost all her hopes
before. She kissed Pinaki in DGCA office only.
To celebrate this, Captain Pinaki Invited Captain
Sushmita [ Sush ] at Hotel Taj for Candle
light dinner, they both were so excited that both
reached Taj almost an hour before their
schedule time. Captain Pinaki proposed Captain Sushmita
just after the dinner, which Sush
accepted immidiately. This was most happening day for
Captain Pinaki and Captain
Sushmita both were flying on cloud seven.
Time flown very fast and its time for Sush to get back to
Canada, as her whole family lives
in Canada, even she born and brought up in Canada only.
Her Dad had a small flight school
and a Air Charter Services at a Monatoba, north Canada,
which was also not doing well due
heavy recession in Aviation. Captain Sushmita, was a CFI
there but she wanted to fly for an Airlines, which was
bit difficult in Canada due to recession, So she decided
to get her Indian CPL.
AirIndia was suffering from heavy losses, So they
cancelled further expansion plans and so no more hiring
for Trainee Co-Pilot for Boeing 737 Aircraft. Pinaki
wanted 300 more flying
hours before he could apply for issue of Indian ATPL.
So he decided to join one Indian company based out of
Guwahati to fly their King Air B 200. Though he was paid
very bad
he join to get flying hours. He was flying with Wg. Cdr.
Aman Sing who was an ex Air force Pilot, No civil
Aviation or International Aviation Exposure, but had a solid defence attitude
problem like any other defence Pilot. As soon as Pinaki got his 1510 hrs on his Logbook he
left this job and reached again Indian DGCA with lot of docments and lot of bucks to be paid
as and when required. At any cost he wanted to get his ATPA asap. He met with Mr Rajan same tout at DGCA who helped Captain Sushmita to get her Indian CPL. Pinaki paid him big amount then usual bribe and Rajan promised him to get his work in next 7 days. These
7 days were like 7 years for Captain Pinaki. The only relif he had was skype and black berry
calls of Captain Sushmita [ Sush ] as she was the only soul on the earth who could understand his situation.
Monday sharp 1000 hrs Pinaki was at DGCA looking for Mr Rajan, but he was not there till
1030 so he clled him on his mobile which was switchd off and No reply at home landline, so he reached DGCA reception, but his documents were not there. Receptionist was not ready to
listen him. He paid him a big bucks, to get him ready to listen him. After taking big bribe he
opened his mouth and inform him that no file is there in Indian DGCA office even. At 1300hrs Rajan picked up his mobile phone and informd him that he is in Banglore due some important work and DGCA rejected his ATPL application as he needs minimum 1000hrs as
PIC to get his ATPL issued. And if he needs his papers back he would needs to pay big sum of money to another DGCA agent Mr Kuldeep. He paid and got his original documents back. At least he has live Indian CPL in hand.
Captain Pinaki was so depressed with the situation, Captain Sushmita invite him at her flight school to get Canadian ATPL. He immidiately accepted the offer and flown to Monterial with Dad Captain Ravi who was operation same sector on Boeing 747.
Remaining part please read in book coming soon .........
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Shripad India Tours & Travels, B-110, Dindayal Complex,Near Ved
Nagar, Nanakheda, Ujjain, India T : 456010, 9406841345, 07344041397,
E shripadtravels@yahoo.co.in, www.shripadtravels.com
Amid of worries, when the young girl was unable to perform well in her basketball team she sat on a corner of court, worried and disturb.
Quiet upset she came home locked her in a room and cried.
Seeing her daughter so sad, the mother came in and explain her little angel to not to lose hope in any situations and always believe that you are not alone.
God always help good people. ‘Shraddha and Saburi ‘ (Faith and Patience)is the gods message to all. She was deeply touched by the word and since then had unshaken faith in the god which helped her to move ahead.
This is my story. Yes I strongly believe in god, and have never given up in my life. I am just a simple human like you all, with my own struggles and fear. Yet there are certain lessons which I have learned earlier and would like to share it with you all and hope that it may help you in some way or the other.
My life initially revolved around mountains, valleys and snow.
Being belonged to Shimla, I had spent my childhood in the lapse of nature.
I always loved my city and still do. Wanted to study and gain fame but my destiny had something else and I got married at 19, when I was doing my BSc.
My soul mate Bhanu , was aerodrome officer and was taking his training for CPL. Life changed , I knew my role now and responsibility increased with gift of my little baby. Got completely involve in supporting my family. I enjoyed that phase too, and I was always sure, that I still have preserved my dream. Rather felt lucky that I have my own family to support me and strengthen me. When my son got two and half years old, I started my career in aviation, as working in for ground staff. Which was something completely new. I felt as now I can contribute more to my family and this world. That was the time when my husband was struggling to get a job in airlines as an airline pilot. He got his CPL in 1997, and there were no vacancies then. I still remember, there has been days where I have asked commanders passing by after their flights –“Sir, my husband is also a CPL holder, can you guide him or update with the jobs.”
Sometimes they use to node head, some said yes and some of them just never replied. Soon I joined as a station manager in Deccan airways .Life became quite a hectic. Then went on becoming Senior Orientar in AHA. It was in 2005 when my husband joined in Jet airways as a first officer. I have seen him eagerly waiting for eight to nine years to get a job in airlines and meanwhile I always kept his spirit high as I knew his hard work will one day take him to the place which he truly deserves.
One fine day, when we were sitting out in our garden having our morning tea, he said me-“Richa , dear you not only are a perfect wife , but indeed a very hardworking individual. I know you can achieve whatever you aim for, would you like to be a Pilot.”?
I wasn’t sure if he really meant it , yes I always wanted to grow , but pilots are something way higher , I have always been surrounded with them , admire them but to be one of them , I never thought. But I loved the idea and my husband belief in me that I can. That was enough to push me or rather ignite a fire in me.
He was about to leave for his training in Mumbai , he handed me “From the Grounds Up” and said me to go through and see if I understand and am interested in it at all.
After my husband left for traning, I went with the book in all spare time I could take out. I can still visualise the day when he was back, it was 5th March 2005, he asked me few questions from the book, and to his surprise all my answers were precisely correct. He was startled. I just love the expression in his face. I felt so proud and confident and so did he.
Adventure ride begins.!!
He said let’s start with your medical. We took a date for my medical and got it done. Then came the exams I have heard a lot fuzz about-The DGCA papers!
People around said things like DGCA papers are big deal, you left your studies so many years back , you have a kid to look after , they keep on changing patterns , it’s totally unpredictable , course is vast , now days they ask JAR questions and many alike stuff. I was deaf ear to it all and targeted Metrology and Regulation. My husband provided me with the notes of subject from all over and I myself prepared and did clear them both.
With such a supportive husband nothings seems impossible. We took a date from US embassy and I got my Visa. Our next aim was finishing my flying hours.
We selected a flying club in Okhlama . Well to leave my family especially my son and going for training was a little hard for me , but it was required and I decided to be more strong by considering my situation and give more than my abilities because my success or dreams are not only mine but our families as well. As they are supporting me so much, it’s my duty to give nothing less than my best in the task.
I left my son with my sister and headed to U.S with full spirit and enthusiasm.
I took all my notes to my flying school and since I had a biology background I learned that I have to clear my maths exam also with other DGCA papers. Well in U.S along with my flying I also focused on studying and came twice in to India to clear my Navigation and 12th maths in between the flying training. Studying it all especially maths all by my own without any coaching seemed like impossible first but with continuous effort, it all was working.
After finishing my flying hours I headed back to India and went on preparing all the documents required by DGCA . Getting our license from DGCA wasn’t that easy I thought, but anyway with all the rounds there and pain, I got my Indian CPL issued. Receiving the license was a great feeling.
Now came the time to face some real competition. With large number of CPL being issued in the nation there were plenty of candidates available and handful of requirements by the airlines. I studied very hard and gave hours and hours of revising course. No one ever mention but I know now everyone does expect me to get in an airline soon.
I gave the exams for kingfisher and got selected. Soon there was vacancy in Jet airways too and with sincere hard work and practise I cleared there exams too.
Since my husband was in Jet, I preferred it over Kingfisher and got a Jet start of my career as a Commercial Pilot.
Now when I fly the machines and travel places I feel the worth of hard work and thanks my god ,because I know I was never alone ,it was my faith in him which kept me going. And patience for success which let me there where I am today. Now I understand precisely the words “Shraddha and Saburi “.When today I look back and see my journey, to manage everything with a nuclear family I feel proud. And after baba my god, I give the credit to my family, and especially my husband. He was not there beside just financially but mentally. His complete confidence in me, gave me wings, my sister and ofcourse my little boy, who was so supporting and understanding.
I have strongly believed and if ask to tell what I have learnt in my life then in a nutshell I will say that Girls , no matter where you stand , learn to be independent , it does not matter how much good family you go in , you can always support and the most importantly –Hard work always pay.Never give up and remember the words of wisdom-Shraddha and Saburi.
We request you to provide maximum information related to your travel plan in the "Requirements" field This will help us to process your information quickly and accurately.
Shripad India Tours & Travels, B-110, Dindayal Complex,Near Ved
Nagar, Nanakheda, Ujjain, India T : 456010, 9406841345, 07344041397,
E shripadtravels@yahoo.co.in, www.shripadtravels.com
Be an Aviator Not a Pilot
by
Shekhar Gupta
Capt Ankisha Awasthi
» Synopsis
Be an Aviator Not a Pilot is a story of Pilots in Aviation who are unable to cope.
This is not a book to teach you how to get into an Aviation School or even how to live like a Pilot. In fact, it describes how one can become a Successfull Aviator not just anAirplane Driver [ So called Pilot ] with very small changes in life.
Also Why abroad trained Pilots are better Aviator and Why FAA, CASA, CAAP, CAA are better civil Aviation Authority then DGCA.
“Some people work for money, some people work for their livelihood.
But son the happiest is the one who work for themselves, who enjoy their work”. These words from my father made me more firm on my decision.
Yes, I wanted to be a Pilot like my father. I want to lead my life the way he does. How he stand tall in his uniform, takes responsibility of hundreds of soul in each flight followed by the marvellous landings. His office- the attractive cockpit, with those mysterious lights and gadgets. The attitude with which my father goes to his plane with that sliding bag. The runway lights, the airhostesses, the company car, everything surrounding my father makes me more bend towards this option.
Finally I declared it to my parents that I have chosen my field, and like father I too want to become a Commercial Pilot.
They gave mixed reaction. Mom looks glad and excited but my father, his face turned little serious. I wondered is he not happy or do he doubt my ability.
I asked “Dad, what you feel about my decision”.
He said-“Son I am happy with it, you took a mature decision, but let me clear you, flying plane is a serious business. It demands precision, responsibility, patience; you have to be active and alert, always! “
“Dad, I will take care. I am ready for the challenge” I responded.
And there on started everything. I was enrolled in the flying school in my city.
I was very confident about my performance, as my father is a flight commander. I have it in my blood!
With basic knowledge of wings, avionics, twisted propeller, engines through my dad, I knew I will excel here.
My instructor was pretty impressed in our first flight, he found me quite familiar with the instruments and the manuvers. Flying went well till one fine day, when we had rough weather. There were high cross winds and heavy turbulence. It became impossible for me to control that flight; I was struggling rather fighting with the winds to keep my plane stable. It seemed unattainable because of unavoidable conditions prevailing such as updrafts, downdrafts, crosswinds, turbulence. The plane was off the course most of the time. I was exhausted
I didn’t want to try more. Seeing me inactive my instructor went ballistic.
He scolded me loud, I tried hard again to control, I was little better this time, but again a sudden gust took me far off the course. Instrument needles kept dancing on their wish. We landed back.
My instructor on ground scolded me saying “You have to stay ahead of the plane, we can’t afford to let plane go off course and then correct. Correct it as soon as you feel it’s going off”. I want you to work harder from now.”
I quietly nodded my head and left the room. Clouds of disappointment took over me.
I wondered, I have aviators blood, how was I not able to control that plane.
Discouraged, I left for home.
While driving back I kept on thinking why I could not make it, inspite being son of such a great pilot. My father never has such poor flight performance then how could I have.
I narrated it all to him and said I don’t want this career option I m not enjoying it now. It’s impossible to control the plane.
My father looking in my eyes, said-“Son, This is not how we lead life. Our mind is not really that happy by comfort as it is by growing. Every flight will give you a lesson and you have to grow with it. See it as you life, in life we have to make goals. So in flight we have to decide our destination. You need a flightplan that you file before you begin and that you see to guide you on your journey. Similarly in life we have to plan out things for future to make them work.
And what you believe , I don’t have bad conditions in flight ,no dear we too experience turbulence ,storms lightning ,and the earth’s magnetic field ,the plane tend to go off course all the time. Yet we announce before departure exact time of arrival and we do land at that time.
Son this is because we make countual course correction. Otherwise we will never make it. You have to be prepared for it in flight as well as for difficulties in life. And especially you must resolve in advance that you will keep going until you reach your destination. You can’t give up so easily like this”.
I was perplexed, deeply impressed by this connection of flights and life. That moment I rather felt proud of my decision and vowed to myself to lead my flight and life the way I should. That day I understood what really the aviators are.
We request you to provide maximum information related to your travel plan in the "Requirements" field This will help us to process your information quickly and accurately.
Shripad India Tours & Travels, B-110, Dindayal Complex,Near Ved
Nagar, Nanakheda, Ujjain, India T : 456010, 9406841345, 07344041397,
E shripadtravels@yahoo.co.in, www.shripadtravels.com
