At 18, This Bijapur Teen Became India’s Youngest Commercial Pilot
For every travel enthusiast, a window seat on an aeroplane offers the perfect view — a glimpse of the sky’s vastness and tranquillity. But while most of us admire the side view, have we ever wondered what it would be like to see the world from the front of the aircraft?
Well, Samaira Hullur did. Her fascination with aviation led her to become India’s youngest commercial pilot, earning her Commercial Pilot License (CPL) when she was just 18 years old.
But this remarkable achievement wasn’t hers alone — it was shaped by the support and encouragement of one person — her mother.
Samaira Hullur, who is now 19 years old, from Bijapur, Karnataka, has always had a thing for adventure sports like horse riding, rock climbing, and swimming. But her aviation journey started because of one simple reason — her mother’s fascination with the uniform.
“When I was in Class 5, we got the opportunity to go on a helicopter as a part of the Navaraspur Utsav in Bijapur,” recalls Samaira. “My mother was sitting in the cockpit and was fascinated with the experience, especially the uniform.”
From sitting on her mom’s lap in the cockpit to controlling her aeroplane, Samaira has come a long way.
A few years later, another moment left a mark. “When I was at the Delhi airport, I could see the crew members walking, and people looking at them with respect. I wanted Samaira also to get the respect for the job she did,” says Nazeeya Hullur, Samaira’s mother and a coordinator at Delhi Public School, Bijapur.
“When I was in Class 9, I was sure that I did not want to do a desk job, nor did I want to pursue courses that required a lot of study,” shares Samaira, who lived in Vijayapura back then. “That’s when my mother suggested aviation as a career,” she says.
“In Class 10, I took an orientation class from Captain Thapesh Kumar to understand how to get into the field,” says Samaira.
Samaira’s mother is the reason why Samaira has chosen to become a pilot.
Around this time, her mother, too, was actively helping her explore the aviation path. “Thapesh, who was a part of Akasa Airlines, had clearly explained the roadmap to aviation, which helped us understand the field better,” adds Nazeeya.
By Class 11, Samaira was sure she wanted to become a pilot, however, an uncertainty persisted. “A friend of mine said something that made me look at things differently: ‘How many parents tell their kids to become pilots? Consider yourself lucky and give it your best.’ And there was no turning back from that point,” Samaira shares.
Flight license in 18 months of training
Soon after her Class 12 board exams, Samaira moved to Delhi and joined Vinod Yadav Aviation Academy. There were six papers in aviation – Air Regulation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Technical General, Technical Specific, and Radio Telephony “And one needs to secure 70 percent to clear the papers,” she explains.
While an average student might take one or two attempts to clear the exams, Samaira, with her focus and hard work, passed all five papers in the first attempt. “I spent my entire time in Delhi studying and giving my best,” she shares.
“I couldn’t appear for the radio telephony exam because the age bar for it was 18,” shares Samaira. Samaira’s candidature was rejected thrice for attempting the radio telephony paper as she was underage. However, she managed to clear her ground training in seven months.
Samaira was able to clear all her exams in the first attempt.
In April 2024, Samaira enrolled herself on Carver Aviation, Baramati, Pune, where she had to finish 200 hours of flight training to obtain her CPL (Commercial Pilot License). From starting ground classes in early 2023 to earning her CPL in mid/late 2024, the journey took around 18 months.
“Before flying the aircraft myself, I had to sit in the cockpit next to my instructor for my air experience and observe how it is done,” Samaira explains. “We get to feel the control column, and my first air experience was around the evening, during the sunset. It was a beautiful scene as I flew above the ground,” she recalls.
The instructors do a lot of manoeuvres to test the trainee’s tolerance and also to see if they have motion sickness. “While my instructor was making these moves, she looked at me and asked: ‘Apko maza aaraha hai kya’ (are you having fun),” smiles Samaira.
Flying solo – a dream for every pilot
One of the most remarkable moments in a pilot’s journey is their first solo flight. “Only when the instructor is convinced that you are capable of handling the aircraft all by yourself, will they let you fly solo,” she adds.
For Samaira Hullur, this milestone came early. Most pilots fly solo after 36 hours of training, but Samaira did it in just 28. “That accomplishment made me feel really good,” Samaira recalls.
But the road to solo wasn’t without turbulence. Samaira faced her share of challenges. She initially struggled with landings and felt nervous about flying alone. Her instructor advised her to take a deep breath and focus when landing; a simple yet effective piece of guidance helped her overcome this obstacle.
Samaira now holds the title of India’s youngest pilot to obtain a CPL.
The moment finally arrived – the aircraft felt incredibly light, as if it carried no weight at all. The surreal experience of taking off alone, relying entirely on her skill and judgment, marked a defining step in her aviation job, which ultimately led her to become India’s youngest individual to own a CPL at 18 years of age.
“When the instructors at the academy told me that Samaira would be the youngest to finish both ground and flying training in India and get the license at 18, I simply couldn’t believe it,” shares the proud mother.
“We have a ceremony where three stripes are placed on the shoulder to symbolise that you’ve earned your commercial pilot licence,” shares Samaira, who was attended by her friends and family. “When that happened, I could see my grandmother and my mother tearing up, they were proud of me,” a proud Samaira shares.
Samaira is satisfied that her grandmother acknowledges her achievement.
“My grandmother’s validation was important for me since she was a little disappointed that I did not have a good educational achievement. But when she saw me get my license, she was very happy,” Samaira adds.
It was also a great experience to go back to her own school as a chief guest post her accomplishment. “My principal always used to tell us that we must achieve something so that we return to our school as a chief guest. And when it happened, I was very proud of myself,” Samaira shares with a smile.
Aviation — an expensive career to pursue
Pursuing an aviation career requires not just passion and skill but also significant financial investment.
“I spent Rs 2.5 lakh for my ground classes, and the flying fees at Carver was around Rs 42 lakh. Just in a year, this has gone up to Rs 49 lakh,” she explains, highlighting the rapidly rising costs in the industry due to the demand.
Even after obtaining a CPL, pilots must undergo a type rating — a specialised training program on a specific aircraft model required by airlines. “We need 20 hours of simulation training, and the cheapest one in Vietnam costs Rs 12 lakh. It can go up to Rs 20 lakh since it’s not economical to fly a bigger jet without passengers for training.”
By the time a pilot completes the type rating, the total investment reaches approximately Rs 68 lakh. Additional airline training programs cost another Rs 6 to 7 lakh, bringing the total expenditure to nearly Rs 75 lakh for those following the conventional path.
Samaira is currently waiting for a job vacancy in aviation.
For those opting for a cadet pilot programme, which is offered by individual airlines, the total cost ranges from Rs 95 lakh to Rs 1.2 crore. These programmes typically increase the chances of job placement with the airline, provided the candidate meets all training and performance requirements. Samaira opted for the independent route instead, which was more affordable and flexible, though it meant job placement wasn’t assured.
With aviation being a private-sector industry, financing options are limited. “We can’t take an educational loan, nor do we have any scholarships for the same. So we had to take a property loan,” Nazeeya shares. Her family had anticipated this financial need early on and began saving in 2020. “My grandparents also pitched in to pay for my flying school,” says Samaira.
Given its high costs, many who enter aviation come from affluent backgrounds or have family members already in the industry. The financial commitment can be a significant barrier, making early planning and support essential for aspiring pilots.
As Samaira Hullur stands at the finishing line of entering her professional career, she remains patient yet prepared for the next step. Currently, I am waiting to hear from airlines. If things don’t work well, I will pursue my type rating training,” she shares.
With a clear vision and determination, she is ready to adapt to the industry’s demands. “If you are really passionate about becoming a pilot, give it your all, and it will pay back,” Samaira concludes.
Edited by Vidya Gowri Venkatesh; All images courtesy Samaira Hullur
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