In the tumultuous year of 2020, as the world grappled with the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Muhammad Mugees Khan, a Kashmiri pilot, remained unwavering in his pursuit of a childhood dream. While the global community faced lockdowns and uncertainties, Khan diligently worked across various subjects to fulfil his ambition of becoming a commercial pilot.
Undeterred by the disruptions caused by the pandemic, Khan’s determination saw fruition by December of that year when he successfully cleared the pilot exam conducted by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Subsequently, he secured a coveted spot at a prestigious flight school in Maharashtra, embarking on the journey to turn his aspirations into reality.
Today, Muhammad Mugees Khan stands as a testament to resilience and dedication, holding the position of a senior commercial trainee co-pilot with Air India. His remarkable achievement marks a milestone for the region, as he is believed to be the first pilot from Kashmir to reach such heights amidst the challenges posed by the ongoing global health crisis.
In a candid interview with Greater Kashmir’s Correspondent Gulzar Bhat, Mughees shared his insights into his aspirations and achievements.
Before we discuss your achievements, tell us something about yourself.
I was born and brought up in Srinagar with my roots in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. My mother is an Assistant Professor in the Higher Education Department while my father is a computer engineer, working in the IT service sector.
Where did you receive your primary education?
My parents enrolled me in Tyndal Biscoe School where I studied up to class 10, after which I joined Government Higher Secondary School Rawalpora. I passed my 12th grade at this school only.
Let us now come to your journey of becoming a pilot. What inspired you to become a commercial pilot?
It was a much-cherished dream. Since my childhood, I wanted to become a pilot and would look towards the skies. I had a strange itch for flying. Aircrafts would fascinate me like anything and I always wanted to be in the cockpit. These majestic machines flying in the air would always attract me.
So, how did you land in a flying school?
As I said I had a penchant for flying, so after my class 12, I started studying aviation. It was in 2020 when the entire world was caught in the covid crosshairs, I was in Delhi studying aviation. Finally, I cleared all the papers—Meteorology Regulations, Navigation, Technical General and Radio Telephony Restricted( RTR) in December 2020.
How difficult is it to clear the exam?
See, I found Technical General and RTR difficult. It may vary from candidate to candidate. What is difficult for you may be easy for me.
Did you join any coaching institute?
Yes, I received coaching from a Delhi-based institute via virtual mode. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, all institutes were shut down and offering online coaching. I think it is crucial to receive proper coaching before you write your exams.
And what followed after the exams?
I continued to tread on the path towards becoming a commercial pilot. In 2021, I joined Redbird Flight Training Academy in Maharashtra where I received the flying training. At this academy, I successfully completed my 200 hours of flying. Following my Commercial Pilot Licence ( CPL), I went for a type rating to Egypt Air Training Centre where I did my type rating on Airbus 320.
Would you please give a rundown about type rating for our readers?
I will try to simplify it. Let us draw an analogy with driving a car. If you get a licence for driving a light motor vehicle like a car and want to drive a heavy vehicle, you need to undergo another driving test. In aviation it is somewhat similar to type rating—a certification issued by the aviation authorities to pilots who have undergone training and testing for a specific aircraft type, enabling them to operate that particular aircraft. To retain this certification, pilots need to undergo recurrent training and testing every 6 or 12 months, depending on regulatory requirements.
What were the key challenges that you faced during the entire process of becoming a commercial pilot?
There are challenges in every field. But again, as I said, I started my career during covid and it was a challenging time as everyone was leaving aviation. But my unwavering dream of flying aircraft motivated me to persevere. Another significant challenge, I faced was on financial count. The cost of realising my dream in aviation turned out to be a huge financial challenge.
Does it cost an arm and a leg?
Yes ( wearing a smile) you have to spend a lot of money before you become a commercial pilot. The cost is around Rs 40 to Rs 50 lakh and after spending such a large amount, you have to struggle to find a job in the competitive job market within the aviation industry.
Does the aviation industry also experience saturation?
From 2020 to 2022, the aviation industry went through a rough patch. There were no vacancies for the pilots during this period. Moreover, there are only fewer airlines in India which is another reason. Over the years, India has witnessed many failed airlines either going out of business or being crushed under huge debts. The list of such airlines is long with Go First and Jet Airways as the recent additions. Then again it comes to type rating. For instance, if you are type rated for an Airbus you could not be hired for a Boeing. And for that, you have to again go for type rating.
Let us come to your flying experience. How did it feel like when you first time took control of an aircraft?
The moment finally came in July 2021. My instructor released me solo, a defining moment in pilot training when you fly an aircraft alone. As I embarked on this solo flight, floating in the skies for around 30 minutes, an indescribable sense of satisfaction washed over me. It was a unique experience that left me feeling on top of the world.
Tell us about your experience in the cockpit. Is it intense or do you sometimes crack jokes with your co-pilot?
It is not about cracking jokes. There are SOPs and we are supposed to strictly comply with them. Whichever aircraft you pilot, there are these SOPs that you have to follow. The objective is to ensure the safety of all passengers on board.
Of late we learnt about the incidents involving unruly passenger behaviour on board flights. How do you handle such situations?
The captain of the flight has the authority to de-board such passengers and hand them over to security.
There are many people who are scared of air travel. Can you please tell us how safe is this mode of transport ?
Air travel stands out as the safest mode of transport. It is much more safer than travelling in a car. If you compare the number of car accidents with the air incidents, you will find a huge difference between the two. Modern technology has made air travel safer, comfortable and enjoyable. I say that one should trust his or her pilot. They are highly qualified and take full care of passengers on board.
Have you been hired by any airline?
Yes, recently I have been hired by Air India as a senior trainee co-pilot. It is very difficult to get hired by an airline like Air India. Only a scant percentage of pilots make it to Air India –10- 15 percent.
What is your message for the people aspiring to become pilots?
Well, I would say that they should only join aviation if they are passionate about flying. It is very difficult to become a commercial pilot. They should really work hard on their aviation studies and then nothing is unachievable under the sun.
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