Since childhood, I have always been an incredibly curious person. I had questions about almost everything around me. That curiosity naturally led me to LEGO, where I would spend hours building and rebuilding different vehicles that fascinated me.

One day, my parents took me to the airport. I watched airplanes take off and land and was completely mesmerized. The sheer size of those machines and the precision with which they moved through the sky left me stunned.

When I returned home that evening, I did what any curious kid obsessed with building would do. I tried to recreate an airplane using LEGO.

I spent the entire night building it. By morning, my airplane was finally ready. It wasn’t powered by jet fuel but by something far more powerful: passion and imagination.

That night planted a quiet seed within me. A connection to aviation had formed, slowly growing inside me without me even realizing it.

After completing my 10th grade, I gathered the courage to tell my parents that I wanted to become a pilot.

They weren’t convinced.

My entire family comes from a commerce background. My father is a Chartered Accountant, my mother is a teacher, and my sister works as a French translator and teacher. Aviation was completely unfamiliar to us.

I still remember my parents saying:

“We are Gujaratis… this field is not meant for us.”

Disheartened, I decided to follow a more traditional path and began preparing to become a Chartered Accountant through B-Com and CA studies.

But fate had other plans.

Just before my CA Inter examination, I came across an article explaining that students from Commerce and Arts backgrounds could still become pilots by completing the required Physics examination through NIOS.

Until that moment, I believed my aviation dream had ended because I had not taken science after 10th grade. Suddenly, there was hope again.

The first person I spoke to was my sister. She was surprised at first, but could see the excitement in my eyes. That evening, I spoke to my parents during dinner and explained everything I had researched.

My mother remained hesitant, but my father said something that has stayed with me ever since:

“You are going from Plan A to Plan B. But after this, there will be no Plan C. You must make sure you see this through.”

It was a daunting decision, but deep down I knew this was the path I truly wanted.

Once the decision was made, the next question was where to train.

I visited several pilot training institutes in Mumbai to understand the pathway to a Commercial Pilot License (CPL). Opinions varied, but many recommended training abroad, especially in the United States, New Zealand, or South Africa.

Because I hold a Canadian passport along with an OCI card for India, obtaining a U.S. M-1 student visa was easier for me. After extensive research, the United States clearly stood out due to its fast training pace, excellent aircraft maintenance standards, and vibrant aviation environment.

So in September 2022, I left Mumbai to begin my flight training in Long Beach, California.

The dream that started with a LEGO airplane was finally preparing to meet the real sky.

If I had to describe my training experience in one word, it would be incredible.

The aviation ecosystem in the United States is remarkable. Airports are everywhere, the skies are busy with aircraft, and the general aviation community is thriving.

I was fortunate to train under two exceptional instructors, Bosco Chowdhury and Kevin Yuan. They did not just teach me how to fly an aircraft; they taught me how to think like an aviator.

Pilot training in the United States revolves around a series of checkrides. These are skill tests required to progress through certifications such as the Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, and Commercial Pilot License.

Each checkride is conducted by an external examiner known as a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). The process involves an oral examination followed by a practical flight test.

In my case, I ended up taking all three of my checkrides with one of the toughest DPEs in our region.

His philosophy was simple:

“I will not lower my standards for you to pass. I want you to rise and meet my standards.”

It was intimidating, but it pushed me to perform at my absolute best. I passed all three of my checkrides on the first attempt.

Before leaving the United States, I met him one last time to complete my documentation. As we finished, he said something that stayed with me:

“You are among the best students I’ve had the pleasure of training.”

Those words meant more than just passing an exam. They reassured me that the difficult decision to switch careers had been the right one.

I returned to India in June 2023 to convert my FAA CPL into an Indian DGCA CPL. What followed proved the most challenging phase of my journey.

Because I hold an OCI card, several procedures involved additional security verifications. Even obtaining my Computer Number, required for DGCA exams, took longer than expected.

I cleared all my DGCA written examinations on the first attempt, but delays continued with my RTR (Radio Telephony) license.

After months of waiting for a Canadian license conversion that never arrived, I finally appeared for the Indian RTR examination in March 2024 and cleared it successfully.

However, the delays caused my flying hours to lapse under DGCA regulations, meaning I had to complete an additional 15 hours of flying in India before applying for my CPL. Due to heavy student demand at flying schools, completing these hours took more than three months.

Even after applying for my CPL, my RTR license required another round of security verification from the Department of Telecommunications.

All I could do was wait.

Finally, in July 2024, almost a year after returning from the United States, my Indian Commercial Pilot License was approved.

That phase tested my patience more than anything else, but the unwavering support of my family helped me stay focused.

Sometimes the hardest part of chasing a dream isn’t flying. It’s waiting.

In August 2024, I travelled to BAA Training Vietnam to complete my Airbus A320 Type Rating.

Transitioning from training aircraft to a modern commercial jet was both challenging and fascinating. The A320 is an incredibly sophisticated aircraft, and understanding its systems requires intense focus.

Then, in September 2024, an opportunity appeared. IndiGo Airlines announced a vacancy for A320 Type-Rated pilots.

While completing my type rating, I prepared for the selection process. Those weeks were filled with studying, simulator sessions, and exam preparation.

With the support of my mentors and family, I successfully cleared all the stages of the IndiGo September 2024 selection process.

Today, I am awaiting my induction and ground training with IndiGo, preparing for the next phase of my aviation journey.

Sometimes I think about that curious kid who stayed awake all night building a LEGO airplane.

I hope he’s smiling at how far we’ve come.

If aviation has taught me one thing, it is patience.

Not everything happens when you want it to. The industry is dynamic, filled with delays, challenges, and unexpected turns. The key is to stay patient, stay prepared, and keep moving forward.

Aviation is also a surprisingly small community. The people you meet along the way often cross paths again in unexpected ways.

And perhaps that is the beauty of aviation.

It is not just about flying airplanes.

It is about the journey that shapes you along the way.