Meet Young Student Pilot Sana Nazeer

By Novak Chen & Maryam Naseer Staff Writers

While most students at MSJ were learning how to drive, Senior Sana Nazeer embarked on her journey as a pilot at Reid Hillview Airport in the fall of 2021. Since then, she has dedicated two to three hours to flying each weekend. After logging 45 flight hours, she recently went on a solo flight, a feat both difficult and rare for teenage student pilots.

Nazeer’s interest in aviation was piqued after a family friend, who had just gotten her own license, took her on a flight. “I was always interested in flying, [because] from far [away], it looked cool. Then, my friend took me on a flight,” Nazeer said. This positive experience prompted her to pursue her own pilot license. After searching for nearby places to acquire her pilot license, Nazeer enrolled in AeroDynamics Aviation in San Jose. Throughout her flying lessons, Nazeer was able to practice landings, navigate different airspaces, and perform maneuvers. While these accomplished skills may appear to be the primary focus of piloting, it is also crucial to have a clear understanding of the limitations of the aircraft. To fly safely, Nazeer studies aerodynamics, the influence of weather conditions, and the engineering of the plane itself. Although she initially wasn’t interested in learning such aspects, Nazeer now finds understanding them helpful.

During her time spent flying, she had to perform certain maneuvers in her small aircraft, the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, such as stalling and taking steep turns. “It was really exciting, but also very nerve-wracking because all that responsibility is in your hands,” Nazeer said. Despite the demanding conditions, Nazeer still finds flying incredibly rewarding. “What I love the most [about] flying is feeling the freedom of being in the air [and] not having to worry about anything else in my life,” Nazeer said.

Although there are many highs of flying an airplane, one of the challenges Nazeer faced was the time commitment required to study flying material and learn about the plane’s structure — all in addition to being a student at MSJ. “There’s a lot of time that you have to dedicate to [learning, and] the airport is around half an hour away,” Nazeer said. However, she hasn’t let that stop her from achieving her goals.

She plans to obtain her pilot’s license this summer, having recently achieved the milestone of flying solo for the first time at the end of De-