Page 18 - MASALA LITE ISSUE 92 | MAY 2018

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Flight instructor and pilot

Naveen Singh proves that

when it comes to pursuing

your passion, the sky really

is the limit.

BY ASHIMA SETHI

In the pursuit of a thriving career path in aviation, Naveen Singh’s fervent
dedication has led to profound success at an early stage. At only 22 years old,
the passionate pilot had already gained fl ight experience in both the United
States of America and Thailand. Through his experience, he developed a greater
understanding of what it takes to fulfi l his role, which he now shares with many
cadets as a fl ight instructor at the Bangkok Aviation Center. However, his
inspiring journey of transforming a dream into reality proves that you can’t reach
clear skies without a little turbulence.

When did you realise your dream to become a pilot?
I don’t remember a time where I wasn’t fascinated by airplanes, and to be in control
of fl ying one, has always been a dream of mine. At a young age, I didn’t think it was
possible to become a pilot because I didn’t personally know anyone who was one,
so it never struck me as a possible career choice until much later.

What was the process like to become one?
I completed the training for my pilot license at a fl ight school called L3 Airline Academy
in Orlando, Florida. Afterwards, I was hired by the academy to work as a fl ight instructor,
where I trained cadets of diff erent airlines from around the world for two years.
The training process itself was brutal. I remember my fi rst fl ight instructor telling
me that it was going to be the most stressful experience I would ever go through,
and I’m not trying to intimidate anyone, but he was right! Although it was extremely
diffi cult, I was lucky enough to make incredible life-long friends, and having a close-knit
aviation family was truly a blessing when things got hard.

What were some of the challenges you faced during the training process?
One of the biggest challenges came before I even began any of my training. There
were many people who didn’t believe it was possible for a Sikh pilot who wore a
turban to enter the aviation industry after the 9/11 attack. However, I proved them
wrong when I received a job off er at one of the biggest fl ight schools in the world.
So for anyone out there who has a dream and was told that it might not be possible
to fulfi l, all you need to do is believe in yourself.

What was it like to transition from a pilot to an instructor?
Whenever I was in a position where I didn’t understand something, or I was having
a diffi cult time fi guring out a problem, all I had to do was ask my instructor for
answers. But to be that person for someone else was extremely nerve-wracking
at fi rst. But just like any other job, you become increasingly comfortable with time
and experience. As a fl ight instructor you have an extra responsibility of not only
keeping your students safe when you’re fl ying, but also teaching them how to fl y
the plane without needing any extra help. It’s quite a task!

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