Durba Banerjee
Durba Banerjee was the first pilot of Indian Airlines in 1956 and the first Indian woman commercial pilot.[1][2][3]
Durba Banerjee | |
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Born | |
Spouse(s) | Not Married |
Early life
As a child while growing up Banerjee liked planes and flying, becoming a pilot was her passion. She was the first woman of her times to break stereotypes and venture into this field.
Career
Banerjee started her aviation career flying a Dakota with Air Survey of India as a DC3 pilot in 1959.[4]
She moved on to join Indian Air Lines at the Calcutta base in 1966 and later retired in November, 1988. It is heard that when she first approached then Central Aviation Minister Mr.Humayun Kabir to apply as a commercial pilot he was reluctant and instead offered her the post of a flight attendant.
She has to her credit the most flying hours with 18500 hrs.[5]
References
- "Indian Women in Aviation, Indian Airforce". iaf00.tripod.com.
- "First Indian woman to command jet engine aircraft retires - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com.
- Krishnaswamy, Murali N. (1 November 2011). "One hundred years of flying high" – via www.thehindu.com.
- "History of Airlines". Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- http://indiaconsole.com/durba-banerjee.html