The first time I ever flew in a plane was soon after I started working. From then to now, I have done countless hours of domestic and international flights. But even after all these years, it makes me happy to hear the voice of a woman from the cockpit. In fact, I barely recall one or two instances where my flight was piloted by a woman.

Not surprising though. Globally only 4% of pilots are women. India does have better statistics than at 12-15% but there is big room for improvement here as well.

Which is perhaps why I was both intrigued and excited on discovering that a new friend I made after moving to Istanbul was an airline pilot. Despite all my years of flying, I had never actually met a pilot in person before – not a man and certainly not a woman. Until then, pilots had mostly been voices over the intercom at 35,000 feet, telling us the weather conditions and the city we were flying over.

The story got even more interesting when she told me that of three sisters, two of them were pilots! I knew then that I not only wanted to know more about them but also wanted to share their story with the rest of the world, especially young girls dreaming about flying a plane.

So, without further ado …. (drumroll) let me introduce you to the two sisters Aparna and Archana Raghunathan.

The beginning of a dream….

Aparna, Archana and Aruna (also triple A just like my sons!) grew up in Delhi in what they describe as a fairly typical middle-class family. Aparna, the eldest of the three, had originally wanted to become a doctor. But life had different plans. When she was just 16, their mother fell seriously ill and spent a long period in and out of hospitals before she passed away. The trauma left a deep and lasting mark on Aparna to the extent that she simply could not face the idea of working in hospitals anymore.

A couple of years later, her dad, an airline pilot himself, gently suggested that she could explore flying as a career. Aparna wasn’t entirely sure she could do it, but her father believed in her. With his encouragement, she decided to give it a try. That decision went on to impact not just her life, it also paved the way for her younger sister Archana, who followed in her steps. Five years younger than Aparna, Archana says that she can’t remember a time when she did not want to become a pilot. She had always been in awe of her father and perhaps watching Aparna begin her flying career during Archana’s teenage years helped turn that early fascination into a clear goal. They would talk hours and hours with their dad about aviation, with Aparna getting ready to get her license and Archana weaving her dreams around the day she could fly too.

All for one and one for all

Archana says that they grew up in a very open and encouraging environment. Their father was always encouraging and empowering his daughters. Aparna believes that he instilled so much confidence in them, they never felt apprehensive operating in the male dominated industry. He taught them the value of time, the importance of professionalism, and led by example.

However, tragedy struck once more and within a couple of years of their mother’s passing, the girls lost their father as well. It was sudden and unexpected. Once again, the girls felt the ground slipping beneath their feet. Their grandmother then took over the reins and theirs became an all-woman household. In a place like Delhi, this presented its own challenges. But this brought them even closer. They braved tough times together, guided one another other through their personal and professional decisions and were always there for each other. They played the Devil’s Advocate, discussed and consulted among themselves for all important decisions.

Archana believes that each of the three sisters has played an important role in shaping where they are today. “We show up for each other, without fail, every time”, she proudly shares. The three sisters have grown up rooting for each other – they are their biggest critic as well as the strongest cheerleader. And having a sister in the same profession, in a male dominated field, has been a great blessing. It allows them to talk through challenges openly and offer meaningful support. Not everybody can understand what they may be facing, but they are able to share their doubts, challenges, feelings easily. For example, many phases of aviation such as command training can be particularly demanding. A pilot can use all the love, care and support available to him or her at that time. And the sisters were lucky to have that in each other.

“I can’t imagine my life without the support of my father, my sisters and my grandmother”, says Archana.

Breaking stereotypes

By simply being a woman pilot, one challenges the long-held assumption that piloting is a man’s profession. And every woman pilot helps bust this myth.

We have all heard the old stereotype – one that some people unfortunately still believe – that women are not good drivers. Extend that logic to women pilots, and it is not hard to imagine the kinds of comments they often encounter.

Aparna recalls one such incident from a domestic flight where both she and her co-pilot happened to be women. After the flight landed, a male passenger approached them and admitted that he had been quite worried after learning that the pilots were women but was relieved that everything had gone smoothly.

While her co-pilot was understandably angry, Aparna chose to brush it off. At least, she said, he was honest enough to say it out loud. Many others might think the same thing but never admit it. And not just Aparna, most women pilots would have faced similar comments at one point or other.

Another interesting stereotype Aparna has faced is the belief that women pilots are somehow “manly.” Funny how a woman choosing a technical, demanding profession must mean that she must then not be feminine enough! When in reality, the job is about skill, training, and responsibility – none of which are gender dependent.

Archana also points out that many people assume the job is very glamorous. And yes, it can appear that way – the travel, the uniforms, the sense of adventure. But the reality is far more grounded – it is a profession that demands discipline, long hours, irregular schedules, time away from family and a constant focus on safety and precision.

So yes, as Archana says, this is a high maintenance job. One that requires dedicated and constant professionalism, regular practice, medical checks every year and proficiency checks every six months. One can’t be complacent about this job.

Breaking barriers

When Aparna and Archana started their training in the early 2000s, the number of women were very small. Both of them were the only girls in their training batch. In Archana’s class, a lady with kids had also joined. But she had to leave within two weeks because apparently her children could not cope.

There is indeed a fine balancing act a woman needs to maintain for this kind of a career. Perhaps more so than women in most other fields. Dynamic flight schedules, long stays away from home, less than ideal maternity policies and benefits, all contribute to dissuading women from opting such a career.

Physically too, this profession is gruelling. The long flying hours, sleepless nights, it all plays with the circadian rhythm and affects women’s hormones more than men.

Aparna makes an astute observation. She points out that Xennials and Millennials are something of an in-between generation — one where many women have taken on both professional responsibilities and the bulk of responsibilities at home. In earlier generations, roles were more clearly defined along gender lines. And perhaps by the time Gen Z and Gen Alpha come into their own, we may see a more balanced sharing of these roles. (Amen to that.)

Which is why, she says, many women are only able to move forward when they have strong support systems in place — and a family that truly supports their ambitions.

BUT….

As our conversation moved forward, I wondered that cabin crew are mostly women and are navigating similar demands. Many of the day-to-day realities of the job – long hours, time away from home, unpredictable schedules – are not unique to women pilots. The question then is not just about the challenges of the job, but about something deeper: why do so few women make it to the cockpit in the first place?

The answer, it seems, lies in a combination of perception, opportunity, and exposure. For many young girls, becoming a pilot is simply not presented as an obvious career path.

Far fewer girls grow up seeing flying as a career option. Aviation is still seen as highly technical, male-dominated, demanding and “not for everyone” and therefore even when not explicitly discouraged, women may self-select out early. “Pilot” is still not a default aspiration for many young women and lack of visible role models plays a big role. (I hope my blog inspires some girls at least!

Becoming a pilot is very expensive, often requiring significant family investment. And families may be more willing to invest that kind of money in sons rather than daughters.

Moreover, training and early career years often overlap with higher studies, early career decisions and societal expectations around marriage/family. These factors can also influence entry or continuity.

This is what makes stories like Aparna and Archana’s stand out. Not just because of what they have achieved, but because they chose a path that most girls don’t even consider.

What would it take to see more women in the cockpit?

From what I gathered through these conversations, the answer lies less in ability and more in access, awareness, and support.

Visibility and Role Models

The more we see women pilots, the more normal it becomes. Stories like Aparna and Archana’s matter because they expand what young girls believe is possible.

Making Training More Accessible

Pilot training is expensive, and for many families, it requires a significant financial commitment. Scholarships, financing options, and institutional support can make a real difference in opening doors.

Early Exposure

Many girls simply don’t consider aviation as a career. Introducing it early – in schools, through outreach, or even conversations at home – can plant that seed.

Strong Support Systems

As Aparna pointed out, having a supportive family and environment is often what enables women to pursue and sustain such demanding careers.

Shifting Perceptions

Perhaps most importantly, it requires slowly changing how we think about certain professions. The idea that some roles are “naturally” suited to men still lingers – and needs to be challenged.

None of these changes happen overnight. But every story, every conversation, and every woman who chooses to step into the cockpit moves the needle forward.

And finally, to all women…

I simply loved one thing that Archana said in our conversation – and it does not apply just to women pilots – it applies to all of us women – regardless of whether we have chosen a career or are homemakers or in between. She says women can have it all – it all depends on our choices. And each one of us has different priorities, different values and hence we all take different decisions, make different choices. The world will ALWAYS question your choices, if you leave your career for family – “she didn’t value her career” and if you continue with your career – “she is not prioritizing her family”. But it is not the world that decides whether you have it all – it is you. So you do you! Be happy in the choices you make. Life is hard any way, regardless of the choice you make. A homemaker may find her life hard, surrounded by kids and housework, a career woman may be struggling at her workplace, trying to manage home and work or just trying to get a promotion. So yes, life is not easy anywhere, but remember your choices and why you made them and choose to stay happy!

And cheers to having more and more women pilots! And cheers to the Raghunathan sisters and gratitude for sharing their story so generously! May they inspire the next generation of girls!

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ 
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla 

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Thanks so much for reading! Please comment, share and spread the word!

Regards, Sakshi aka tripleamommy
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