From neta to natty pilot, Rudy soars high

New Delhi: BJP spokesman and Rajya Sabha member Rajiv Pratap Rudy is the first MP who has turned a commercial pilot and that too at a ripe age of 47.
There have been earlier instances of pilots turning to politics and entering Parliament. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was the most illustrative example followed by his buddy and one-time co-pilot Satish Sharma. The late Rajesh Pilot was also a pilot who changed course mid air and landed in the Lok Sabha.
But Rudy is turning the wheel the other way round. The man, whose Rajya Sabha term comes to an end in another six months, is already flying passengers, albeit occasionally, between Delhi and Mumbai on Indigo flights. Once his term comes to an end in the Rajya Sabha one may hear his voice more frequently from the captain’s cockpit.
“It all started way back in 1978-81 when I was a student in Chandigarh . I was so keen on learning to fly that every morning I used to cycle down from my hostel to the Chandigarh bus stand, take a bus to Patiala and from there take another bus to go to the Patiala Flying Club. I had just put in 17-18 hours of flying when the Pushpak aircraft of the club was hit by an IAF chopper and the club was closed as a result of the controversy.”
I came to Lok Sabha in 1996 and again in 1998 and 1999. I first became a Commerce Minister and then handled the Civil Aviation Ministry. However, I could not find time to pursue my passion,” says Rudy.
Once the NDA government, led by Nitish Kumar, assumed power, Rudy prevailed upon Nitish to allow him to set things in order at the Patna Flying Club. “On February 7, 2006, I started flying again and on October 30, 2007, I obtained my pilot’s licence,” says the MP.
24/01/10 Faraz Ahmad/The Tribune