Priya Adhikari is a source of inspiration for many women in Nepal, for, she is the lone female rescue helicopter pilot of the country. She spends her days in a rescue chopper, carrying out search and rescue operations in the Himalayas.
“I went from being a medical student to changing into being a cabin crew for five years. But then I got a free joy ride in a helicopter,” Adhikari told a portal. She confesses that the exhilaration she experienced during a certain take-off encouraged her to turn to aviation as a career choice. “I asked the captain how to be a helicopter pilot and within four months I went to the Philippines for the training. It’s now been seven years and I’m flying the same helicopter that I flew in as a passenger,” she added.
Until now, she has rescued injured climbers from Mount Everest. “No-one has flown as a single helicopter captain as a lady in Nepal; I’m the first one who is doing it flying solo. I don’t want to do a single mistake, so I just want to get my confidence and gain more knowledge.”
Adhikari explains that it wasn’t an easy journey for her. “Starting out [there was comments] like, ‘she won’t be able to do it because she is lady.’ But now I’ve proved myself — I’ve not only become a captain, but I’ve become a high-altitude captain as well.”
She hopes she has paved the way for other women pilots. “It will not be questionable again about whether they can do it or not, because I did it. I’m know I’m the only one in Nepal but there are so many female helicopter pilots across the world.”
Article Credit: m.femina