Marol girl to be youngest commander

Mumbai: The sky is the limit for 21-year-old Bavicca Bharathi, who may soon become the country’s youngest commander after acquiring her advanced training pilot licence (ATPL). In 2008, the youngster from Marol got into the Limca Book of Records after she became the youngest pilot in India to have a commercial pilot licence at the age of 18.
“On my birthday this year, I got my ATPL and have become the youngest person in India to be eligible to become a commander,” Bavicca said.
Bavicca, who currently works as a co-pilot with Kingfisher Airlines, had to fly 1,500 hours to get her ATPL.
One look at Bavicca’s records and credentials show the effort and hard work the youngster has put in to achieve her goals. “Since I was the youngest CPL holder in the country, my next goal was to become the youngest commander. I had planned for my ATPL and by end of 2008, I had already passed the written and oral exams,” said Bavicca.
But, at that time Bavicca could not get her ATPL as she had not completed 1,500 flying hours and was not 21.
Bavicca and her mother Judith, 43, had hit the headlines in 2007 when they got their CPL together. Both of them had even thought of flying together some day, but unfortunately that did not happen. Judith became home-bound after the financial crisis hit the aviation industry.
“We still share that dream. Today, as my mother is also in working with Kingfisher Airlines, I am sure we will make it in the near future”, Bavicca said.
15/05/10 Naveeta Singh/Daily News & Analysis