Aakash and Simrin’s journey is one of love, ambition, and shared passion for aviation. From their early meeting at a DGCA exam to balancing demanding schedules, they’ve navigated the highs and challenges of being two pilots in a partnership. Their story is filled with moments of connection, whether it’s discussing training during their early days, celebrating career milestones, or supporting one another through the unique demands of aviation.
The Beginnings of Your Story
Q1. How did you two meet, and was it "love at first flight"?
We met in 2011. At one of DGCAs (Indian Aviation regulator) exams. We wouldn’t call it “love” at first flight, but a definite attraction. But it was short lived since we didn’t meet or see each other again for 5-6 months.
Q2. Was there a specific moment or experience that made you realise you had a special connection?
We met a couple of times through a common friend. Went for pet walks and that’s when we realised a connection.
Q3. How did working together in aviation influence the early stages of your relationship?
Working together gave us a lot to talk about. We were both in the training phase back then and it was super easy to discuss and understand the field, also help each other out, bringing us closer. It was also a good excuse to keep talking every now and then.
Pilot Jobs
Posted 26 days ago
Posted 1 hour ago
Posted 1 day ago
Posted 1 day ago
Posted 2 days ago
Balancing Work and Relationship
Q1. Aviation can be a demanding field with unusual hours. How do you both manage the challenges of balancing your work schedules with your personal lives?
Quite demanding. Luckily for us, we work in the same airline and the airline has been helpful enough to provide us the same days off every month. We travel a lot and plan vacations every couple of months, giving us time to recoup and get away from aviation. Not to mention, whoever is at home cleans and prepares food.
Q2. Do you find it challenging to separate “work talk” from personal time, or does it bring you closer?
Work talks get us closer since we discuss everything. Helps us improve and take examples from. A definite boon. As I mentioned earlier, we take a lot of vacations, 3-4 every year at-least. Gives us time away from work and work talks.
Q3. What are the perks and challenges of being in a relationship where you both understand the demands of each other’s roles?
There is no pressure on each other from one another, since we both understand each other's work completely. Challenges, at times it is tough to get time together more than a few hours due to our schedules, but it never gets on our nerves since we know the job profile and work together. Even impromptu dinners at times help us smoothen it out.
Professional Growth Together
Q1. Has working in the same industry influenced each other’s professional growth or career decisions?
It has only helped us grow and make better decisions. It helps to be from the same field and understand the challenges it brings. Suggestions among each other give us better decision making for our career and growth.
Q2. Are there any career milestones you’ve shared that were especially meaningful because you could celebrate them together?
I joined the airline 8 years ago, whereas my wife joined about 2 years back. I was up for a promotion to be a commander and my wife was undergoing her First officer training. Fortunately for us, both of us were in the training phase at the same time. Made it easier for us to study and help each other out. Luckily we both got released at the same time as well. It was a double celebration.
Q3. How do you support each other’s goals in aviation? Are there any aspirations or future roles you’re both excited about?
Goals are very clear since there aren’t a lot of options in aviation. We both support each other based on what the other person wants from aviation. We both have different ideas for the future however, we understand and support both.
Memorable Moments in Aviation
Q1. Do you have any memorable flights or on-the-job experiences that you’ve shared?
Unfortunately in India, couples can’t fly together. However, one of my wife’s first flights to Singapore as a passenger was with me as the operating pilot. It felt amazing, she even recorded the announcement I made in an extremely conscious manner. Thankfully I was able to land smoothly that day - it certainly was a memorable flight.
Q2. What’s a funny or unexpected moment you experienced together at work?
My wife was travelling in the cockpit on a jumpseat and I was the operating captain. Travelling with us was a very new first officer who had no clue that she’s my wife. A new guy with very little experience being so shy in the cockpit and trying to impress the only girl travelling in the cockpit. Only to realise a few hours later that she’s my wife. I wish I’d taken out my phone and captured his reaction. It was very funny at that moment!
Q3. Have you ever been on a flight or in a situation where one of you had to assist the other in a professional capacity? How did that play out?
Unfortunately, in India, family members aren’t allowed to fly together. So we have been on a flight as an operating crew together. We do assist each other out whenever there’s a confusion or a situation where one of us isn’t clear what is to be done. Being in the same field definitely helps in certain situations professionally.
Teamwork and Understanding
Q1. How has working in the same industry helped you understand and empathise with each other’s day-to-day challenges?
We understand the level of fatigue or stress each of us goes through after a long day of flying. We try to make a happy cocoon when both of us are home after flights.
Q2. In what ways do your skills complement each other, both on and off the job?
We both assist each other. Knowledge sharing, stress and sleep management, teamwork etc are the skills which we use day to day to support each other.
Enjoying the article?
Follow us and never miss an update on the aviation industry.
Advice for Other Aviation Couples
Q1. What advice would you give to other couples who are in the aviation industry or who work together?
Be open to suggestions and discussions. Try to be supportive and maybe talk less about aviation and more about personal things. Make the other person feel confident in opening up about work. Just be available.
Q2. Are there any strategies you’ve found for making the most of the time you get to spend together, given the travel and scheduling demands?
We inform the company to provide us with the same weekly offs. We take a lot of vacations and try to manage leave first and then decide on a place once each of us gets leave approved. We try to travel with each other on layovers depending on the other person's off or duty schedule.
Q3. How do you keep the relationship exciting despite the unique challenges of aviation careers?
We discuss the field to the point it needs to be discussed. Not more, not less, to keep things personal. We take trips together, go out on dinner dates, and sometimes maybe coffee dates if we’re on a tight roster.
