Is it time to fly?

Most teens look forward to getting behind the wheel of a car for the first time, but some WHS students have their sights set on airplanes. The first time Ritika Shroff piloted a plane is an experience she will never forget. “Flying is a magical experience,” Shroff said. “You cannot even believe [it] happened until it already happened.” Shroff, a senior, has been flying for a year and a half, ever since she turned 16. Even all these months later, “the excitement does not ever go away,” she said. Ritika has always known she would eventually fly an airplane. “When I was in elementary school, I used to live in Singapore. Singapore was a quick flight from anywhere in Asia. My family took full advantage of this, and we traveled a lot.” She enjoyed airplanes and airports so much that she started researching places to begin earning her license. She currently has her student pilot’s license and is working to earn a full private pilot’s license.

“The feeling of knowing that you are in control of such a large and powerful machinery is a feeling I don’t think I will ever forget. Flying is a magical experience “Even now, I still get giddy every time I fly!”  Her advice is just to put your entire effort into it! “Flying, like any other activity, can be highly frustrating, but it also can be one of the most exciting things you will ever do.” “To people who want to get into flying, make sure you have the passion! I cannot recommend the activity more!”

Unlike Shroff, junior Akshat Valse recalls how he felt on his first time flying: he was “terrified”. He now feels a lot safer from his first solo flight. He enjoys flying at night and seeing the beautiful city. Akshat has been flying since January, with his first flight being in August of last year. Akshat decided to become a pilot with the free time he had during quarantine, he went to flight schools and continued on. Valse does not yet have his pilot license due to the age requirement of seventeen, although he does have his student pilot certificate which does allow him to operate an aircraft alone. His advice for those who’d like to start flying is, to begin with, a discovery flight and see if it’s something you’d really like to do!

Students can get a pilot certificate, which is called a student pilot certificate. It is given to pilots that are in training. It is suggested to apply for this certificate during your training. This allows you to be able to fly an aircraft alone, or “solo. You don’t need a student pilot license to begin flying lessons, but it is recommended that you start your application early to avoid delays once you reach the solo level of flight training. To meet the requirements for a pilot certificate you must be sixteen years old and have a driver’s license. As Well as being able to speak, read, and understand English. You must also have a medical, called an FAA Airman Medical Certificate. It is not needed for flight lessons but is required for you to fly an aircraft solo. There are many resources online to get started with becoming a pilot, here is one. https://iowadot.gov/aviation/learning-to-fly

  These students here display a great example of doing what you enjoy, being a pilot is one of many careers in life. It can also just be something joyful to do. The benefits of a pilot open up an entirely different universe of opportunities for business and individual travel, and at times, might prompt vacations in flight. Take to the skies and discover what you have missed.