Mehak Bandey/New delhi

Owais Manzoor, a 21-year-old from Hangishart village in North Kashmir's Kupwara district, has made history by becoming the first commercial pilot from the area. He has recently joined Air India.

Mehak Bandey sent him a few question to know about him and his opinion on issue through email. Owais shared his journey and his challenges in the following online conversation:

Was it your childhood dream to become a pilot? Please tell us about  your journey to becoming a pilot and the challenges you faced.

Yes, it was my childhood dream. I used to get very fascinated by looking at the cockpit and always thought about how the plane flies. So, about my journey, I did my schooling in Kashmir, and soon after 12th, I joined aviation, cleared my DGCA exams, and completed my 200 hours of flying from Redbird Flight Training Academy in Karnataka. Then I applied for the Air India vacancy and cleared it.

Owais Manzoor as a trainee pilot

How supportive were your parents in achieving your goal?

My parents have been my backbone; they supported me immensely throughout my aviation journey.

From a remote village in Kashmir to Air India—how was that journey?

It was a journey full of patience, as that’s what aviation teaches us and tests us.

Since you wanted to fly, did you ever consider joining the Indian Air Force?

While I have immense respect for the army personnel who serve our country, my sole goal has always been to fly for a commercial airline.

Flying commercial planes means taking full responsibility for all passengers. How do you cope with that?

It comes with experience and the confidence that builds over time. No one is perfect, but anything can be mastered. I feel confident in my ability to make decisions that ensure the safety and well-being of both the aircraft and the passengers.

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What message would you like to give to the younger generations of Kashmir?

My message is to stay patient, set a goal, and work on it. We can achieve anything if we set our minds to it and not let other things overpower us..