Captain Marvel Annydivya

Sunanda Sugendran

“Some of us have great runways already built for us. If you have one, take off! But if you don’t have one, realize it is your responsibility to grab a shovel and build one for yourself and for those who will follow after you”. – Amelia Earhart

Anny Divya is one such who shovelled and built the runway for herself and for others to follow after. Growing up we all would have heard of stories which often reminds us to never give up on our dreams one such story is of Anny. A fascination which led her to make history by becoming the world’s youngest woman to command a Boeing 777. Divya challenged the odds that came her way and at the age of 17, she enrolled at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi, a government-run pilot training academy in Uttar Pradesh. She was recruited by Air India right after she wrapped up her training when she was just 19. Later she started to learn to fly a Boeing 737 and far along the way she found herself in the cockpit of Boeing 777, flying the largest twin jet in the world. She is an example of how diligence can lead to success.

She now mostly commands longhaul flights, 14 to 16-hour nonstop journeys, from India to the US cities. Despite her schedule Capt. Anny Divya settles down for a quick tête-à-tête.

Q.WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT FLYING?

When I’m not flying, I’m mostly in to music, dancing, yoga and boxing.

Q.IN A MALE DOMINATED PROFESSION, HOW DIFFICULT WAS YOUR JOURNEY TOWARDS REACHING YOUR DREAM?

It’s been a long journey right from where I started. I come from a modest background. My family faced financial issues and we had to take a loan for my education. And also I had to go through a cultural change, moving from a small town to a big city was prodigious for me. I had difficulty adjusting and speaking English. At times, I thought of going back. However, I didn’t. I was determined from the beginning, and I was lucky enough to get a job with Air India immediately after I completed my training. As a woman I faced similar challenges like any other profession. I think women have same issues everywhere. I agree that our profession is outnumbered by men, but I am honoured to say that India has taken lead over rest of the world including the developed countries like the US, Far East or the Middle East, when it comes to the number of woman pilots. In India, 15% woman fly as airline pilots, while internationally, it is an average of roughly 5%.

Q WHEN DID THE LOVE FOR FLYING STARTED FOR YOU?

Since my childhood, right from when I was in Class 5, I always wanted to be a pilot. I was tenacious about my dream and luckily my parents were very supportive and helped me achieve my dream.

Q.DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A WORD?

Determination

Q.HOW IS THE SUPPORT FOR A WOMAN TO FLY IN OUR COUNTRY?

I would say very supportive, the people here are open minded. They are extremely happy and proud to see a woman pilot fly the plane. They walk up to me and compliment me every time. I have even had a little girl walk up to me and say how much she was inspired by reading my story. I feel one has to be courageous and vigilant in whatever we do.

Q.IF NOT A PILOT WHAT WOULD HAVE YOU BEEN?

I would have done so many things, but right from childhood this was the one thing I always wanted to do. I followed my dreams and here I am commanding the largest twin jet in the world

Q.YOUR INSPIRATION?

I didn’t have any inspiration from the professional side. My family has been my constant support and inspiration, my mother and grandmother they both are strong woman and they were my motivation. I believe that the most important thing we can do in life is by being inspired by our own self. I always like to see me do better. I’m also inspired by the people around me, which makes me to relentlessly do better and better each day.

Q.LIFE MOTTO?

To become a better version of myself every day. I want to be very strong and keep learning more and more.

Q.ANY MEMORABLE MOMENT IN YOUR FLYING CAREER?

I have plenty of memories, from the first time I entered and flew an aircraft. But to command a Boeing 777, would always be the best one.

Q.YOU SPEND ALMOST HALF THE YEAR TRAVELLING, WHEN DO YOU GET TO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY?

I try to spend most of the time with my family whenever I am not flying.

Q.A WORD OF ADVICE TO ALL THE KIDS WHO ARE ASPIRING TO FLY LIKE YOU?

Follow your dreams and be persistent about it.