Udupi: A childhood fascination with an airport has turned into a remarkable achievement for Insha Taskeen, who has earned her commercial pilot licence and become the first woman commercial pilot from Udupi taluk.
The daughter of Iqlaq Ahmed and Syed Tabassum of Bailoor in Udupi city, Insha pursued her dream with determination, completing her schooling from LKG to Class 12 at Little Rock Indian School, Brahmavar.
A dream that took flight
Insha later joined Redbird Flight Training Academy to begin her journey towards becoming a commercial pilot. During a one-year programme in Delhi, she underwent ground training and prepared for the examinations required for her licence.
Her hard work paid off as she cleared all the examinations in her first attempt.
She then moved to the next stage of her training, completing 200 hours of flying training at the Belagavi Flying Base before successfully obtaining her commercial pilot licence.
An inspiration for young women
Insha’s achievement has brought pride to her family and community while offering encouragement to young women in Udupi who dream of pursuing careers in aviation.
Her family has also supported her journey. Her brother serves as a senior executive officer with Air India at Delhi Airport.
Recalling how her ambition began, Insha said she initially had no plans to become a pilot. During a visit to Delhi while studying in SSLC, seeing the airport sparked her interest in aviation.
“With the support of my family, I was able to fulfil my dream,” she said, adding that she hopes to work as a commercial pilot and achieve greater milestones in the aviation sector.
From a chance glimpse of an airport to earning her wings, Insha Taskeen’s journey shows how a dream can take flight when determination, preparation and family support come together.