Date:06/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/06/stories/2008030653420400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Reaching for the blue, wide skies

B. Madhu Gopal

Swati of Vijayawada became the first NCC girl cadet from the State to go on a solo flight in a microlite aircraft

- Photo: K.R. Deepak

Basking in glory: Timmaraju Swati, of 6 (A) Air Squadron NCC, has become the first girl cadet in AP and the third in India to independently pilot a microlite aircraft, in Visakhapatnam on Monday.

VISAKHAPATNAM: It has been a childhood dream for many to fly like a bird. But, how many have had an opportunity to take to the skies? The prohibitive cost of training makes the middle class youth abandon their childhood dream. However, T. Swati of 6 (A) Air Squadron NCC, Visakhapatnam, has carved a niche for herself in the history of flying when she became the first girl cadet from Andhra Pradesh and the third in the country to fly a microlite aircraft independently on Wednesday.

Swati was adjudged the best pilot (girl) in the AP Directorate at the All India Vayu Sainik Camp 2006, and at the Republic Day Camp in 2007. She had represented India at the Youth Exchange programme held in Maldives in November 2007.

Joy and pride were evident in the eyes of Swati as she came out of the cockpit after making a perfect landing at the airport. “I have been nurturing the idea of flying an aircraft right from my school days. I joined NCC and worked hard towards realising that dream,” she says. She has now set her sight on flying an A 380 by becoming a commercial pilot.

Swati who hails from Vijayawada, is presently pursuing B.A. (Journalism) from St. Joseph’s Women’s College (Autonomous) and had done her schooling from St. Joseph’s Girl’s High School. She hopes that more girls would take to flying, which was hitherto considered a male bastion.

“Flying solo isn’t easy. One should know the ins and outs of an aircraft as the question of making a mistake in the air has to be ruled out,” said Group Commander Capt. (IN) A.S. Baghel.

“Individual interest and hard work is of utmost importance, and Swati’s effort is commendable,” said Wing Commander A.L. Masand, who flew down from Indore Air Squadron NCC.

“Swati had qualified to fly solo in November last year itself but couldn’t take the test as she had to attend a camp abroad and later she had to take examinations at her college,” says Wing Commander A.K. Gupta.

Aero-modelling instructor Soma Sundaram, an expert in flying remote-controlled model aircrafts, teaches the subjects to the cadets.