Blog : Page 3 of 34 : Aviation Blog

Making of an Unemployable Pilot

17 February 202617 February 2026 Captain Akshay

Becoming an airline pilot is a dream many share and aspire. An ambition filled with wander lust, sense of accomplishment, good life and thrill. However, the journey to cockpit is very challenging as the first hurdle is financial. Then comes knowledge and its application which is seldom taught. Most students get lost in its glamour as they are ill-prepared for challenges like – sharing the burden of responsibility of a safe flight which comes with meticulous preparation and studies, frequent professional exams, medical tests and self discipline. And this unfortunately is story of a professional pilot.

Memoirs: Vayu Shakti 1999

12 February 202612 February 2026 Captain Akshay

Down here, in sand and spectacle, the Indian Air Force prepared for Vayu Shakti. Air Power in capital letters, preferably bold font, preferably televised. Guns. Missiles. Precision. Geometry behaving on cue. The brief sounded simple, in the way that briefs always do when written indoors.

Do Birds of Same Feather Flock Together?

11 February 202611 February 2026 Captain Santosh Kumar Tripathi

This article is not a critique of expatriate professionals, many of whom contribute valuable experience during periods of rapid fleet expansion. Rather, it examines whether persistent compensation asymmetry for identical operational responsibility undermines morale, distorts workforce planning, and ultimately weakens safety culture in a sector where human performance remains the last line of defence.

Catch 22 and Captain Fady

9 February 20269 February 2026 Captain Akshay

Fady nodded with the steady gravity of a man who had long ago stopped expecting justice from rostering software. Autopilot engaged. Autothrust active. LNAV and VNAV glowing like obedient deities. The airplane was doing everything correctly, which left the humans dangerously free to think.
The interphone chimed.

When Status Meets the Weather: VIP Air Crashes, Invisible Pressures, and the Lessons Aviation Keeps Relearning

30 January 2026 Captain Santosh Kumar Tripathi

In aviation, gravity is impartial. It does not recognise rank, reputation, or reason.
It responds only to decisions.

And decisions, ultimately, reflect the systems that shape them.

Pilot Competencies in Civil Aviation Training: Part 3

14 January 202614 January 2026 Captain Santosh Kumar Tripathi

Pilot competencies are the essential skills, knowledge, and behaviors for safe and effective flying, extending beyond basic stick-and-rudder skills to include non-technical abilities like Situational Awareness, Communication, Leadership & Teamwork, Problem Solving, Workload Management, Application of Procedures, and Aircraft Management (Manual & Automation).

Pilot Competencies in Civil Aviation Training: PART 2

10 January 202610 January 2026 Captain Santosh Kumar Tripathi

When industries mature, their language evolves before their structures do. Aviation was no exception. By the early twenty-first century, accident reports had shifted decisively; from hardware malfunctions and procedural lapses toward cognition, behaviour, and decision-making.

Pilot Competencies in Civil Aviation Training: PART 1

7 January 20267 January 2026 Captain Santosh Kumar Tripathi

CBTA focuses on performance-driven training and assessment, ensuring that learning objectives align with real-world competencies. This approach applies across all aspects of pilot training, from aptitude testing and initial licensing to instructor/evaluator training and operator training.

Open Letter to DGCA India.

5 January 20265 January 2026 Captain Akshay

An open letter’s significance lies in its ability to amplify voices of individual or marginalised groups to reach powerful figures. It also serves as a tool to increase public awareness, rally support and serving as a democratic voice for individuals demanding accountability. I hope this letter will create broader dialogue amongst aviators and also pave way for changes in Civil Aviation Regulator.

A Year of Aviation Blogging

31 December 202531 December 2025 Anil Goyal

Every day is a new flight. Every day is a new beginning. Every blog is a new challenge. I love this medium of blogging as I am able to reach out and share my stories with others. It has been a long way, since Feb 2020 when I first published my blog.