Tag Archives: Airline Pilots of India

Assam’s Shakeel Talukdar is flying his dream in USA

April 21, 2025NRI's / PIO's, TransportAbul Kalam Talukdar, Airline Pilots of India, Ariful Islam, Assamese Airline Pilots, Assamese Muslim Airline Pilots, Assamese Muslims, Indian Muslims, Muslim Airline Pilots, Muslim Airline Pilots of Assam, Muslims of Barbeta District - Assam, Muslims of Barpeta District, Muslims of India, Muslims of India - Positive News, Positive News of Assamese Muslims, Positive News of Indian Muslims, Positive News of Muslims of Assam, Positive News of Muslims of India, Positive Stories of Indian Muslims, Positive Stories of Muslims of India, Shakeel Talukdar, Shakeel Talukdar - Airline Pilot, Shakeel Talukdar - Barpeta District, Shakeel Talukdar - L3Harris Flying Academy - Floridampositiveone@gmail.com

Bahri Village (Barpeta District), ASSAM / Florida, U.S.A :

Shakeel Talukdar in front of his aircraft

This is an inspiring story of a young man’s journey from a remote village in Assam to a flying club in the USA. Shakeel Talukdar of the Bahri village in the Barpeta district of western Assam, about 100 km from the capital Guwahati, has realized his childhood dream to touching the skies in a plane bringing glory to his family and people.

His achievement is extraordinary as he didn’t give up his dream of flying even after failing to make it to the the National Defence Academy (NDA), premier Military training institute, and made it happen.

He has been training at the International L3Harris Flying Academy in Florida since August.

His father Abul Kalam Talukdar said, “He had a big dream of flying since childhood. I told him I couldn’t make this dream come true. I asked Shakeel to study other subjects. Shakeel also underwent coaching in Delhi and wrote the examinations for the NDA. Here his dream was shattered as he did not qualify for the medical tests.”

Shakeel Talukdar with his instructor

Shakeel was hugely disappointed and fell into mental depression for some time. “We also felt bad about it,” his father said.

However, Shakeel Talukdar did not give up chasing his dream. He completed his commercial pilot training course. He completed the first phase of training during the holy month of Ramadan 2025 and it was an Eid gift to his parents.

The trainers at the International L3Harris Flying Academy praised Shakeel for his excellent performance. After successfully completing the first phase of training, Shakeel gained confidence. He had reached the threshold of his dreams.

“Shakeel did not break down after failing the medical test at the NDA in Delhi. He then took the pilot examination at the Director of Civil Aviation of India. After passing the examination, he was sent to the US by Air India for training. Shakeel is currently training at the L3Harris Flying Academy and can fly solo,” his father Abul Kalam Talukdar said.

Apart from studying, Shakeel Talukdar has been a sportsperson since childhood. As a child, he played cricket and badminton. He also participated in a national-level badminton tournament held in Hyderabad.

Shakeel Talukdar’s mother said: “As a mother, I am proud of my son’s achievements. We are all happy. Please pray for him. Shakeel tried his best to fulfill his dream. He would sleep only 3-4 hours a day and sit with a laptop or a book in his hand most of the time. He has now been recognised as a pilot. I appeal to everyone to pray for him.”

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Ariful Islam, Guwahati / April 21st, 2025

Indigo pilot Aafrin Hirani’s inspiring journey from grocery store to cockpit

October 24, 2022Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)Aafrin Hirani, Aafrin Hirani - Female Pilot, Aafrin Hirani - Malla Reddy College - Hyderabad, Airline Pilots of India, Alnoor Hirani, Aziz Hirani, Female Airline Pilots of India, Female Muslims Airline Pilots of India, Indian Female Airline Pilot, Muslim Indian Airline Female Pilot - Aafrin Hirani, Muslims of Adilabad, Muslims of Telangana, Navina Hirani, Positive News of Indian Muslims, Positive News of Muslims of Adilabad, Positive News of Muslims of Telangana, Positive Stories of Indian Muslim Women, Positive Stories of Indian Muslims, Positive Stories of Muslims of India, Positve Stories of Muslims of Adilabadmpositiveone@gmail.com

Indervelli Mandal (Adilabad District), TELANGANA:

A few months ago, she was appointed as the first pilot of Indigo Airlines.

Hyderabad:

The journey of 28-year-old Indigo pilot Aafrin Hirani from her family’s grocery store to the flight cockpit is a motivation to youngsters, especially girl students.

Aafrin who is the daughter of Aziz Hirani, owner of a grocery store located in Indervelli Mandal, Adilabad district is now a pilot of Indigo Airlines.

As becoming a commercial pilot was her dream since her childhood, she opted for Aeronautical Engineering after completing intermediate from a college in Hyderabad.

Later, she was selected for two-year rigorous training in Australia. Though she completed training in 2020, she waited for two years as the appointment process was halted due to the pandemic.

A few months ago, she was appointed as the first pilot of Indigo Airlines. After the appointment, Aafrin said that the encouragement and support received from her parents helped her in achieving success.

After her appointment as an Indigo pilot, she became the second woman commercial pilot from Adilabad. Earlier, Swathi from the same district was appointed as a commercial pilot and she was the source of inspiration for Aafrin.

Who is the commercial pilot?

A commercial pilot is a trained professional who flies airplanes or helicopters for the transportation of passengers, cargo, emergency rescue, etc.

They are skilled enough to handle aircraft and ensure passengers’ safety in different weather conditions.

In order to become a commercial pilot, obtaining a Commercial Pilot License from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is mandatory.

This license is given to those who are medically fit and successfully undergo training at a flying school.

Indigo airlines

Indigo is a low-cost airline headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana. Its domestic market share as of August 2022 was 57.7 percent.

The airline not only operates domestic but also international flights. As of July 2022, it operates over 1500 flights daily to 98 destinations in India and abroad.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Telangana / by Sameer Khan / October 17th, 2022