At age 17, Akruthi Balaji is living out one of her dreams of as she pursues a private pilot's licence through a course on Vancouver Island.
Balaji became an air cadet when she was 12, and since then has taken many flying courses in Western Canada.
What infatuates Balaji, a warrant officer, is the feeling of control she possesses when flying an airplane.
“Whatever you do makes the plane move. It is a feeling of power and you are making this happen,” she said. “It is always exciting.”
By the end of the summer, Balaji hopes to earn her private pilot's license. She is already licensed to fly a glider.
“I love the flying... I've always had an interest in aviation,” said Balaji. “I'm proud of myself and I know my parents are proud of me too.”
She attending an eight-week power pilot's course at the Canadian Forces Base in Comox, B.C. She's learning how different atmospheric conditions affect a pilot's ability to fly in addition to instruction from professionals on how to improve her skills in the air.
As she enters her final year at St. Patrick High School, Balaji said she is looking forward to sharing her knowledge with fellow cadets.
“I don't see myself staying with cadets when I turn 19 but hopefully next year I can teach aviation to my squadron,” she said.
Although conflicted about whether she is going to pursue aviation as a profession, if Balaji were to become a full-time pilot she's aware that she'd be at a disadvantage. According to data from the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., there are 39,187 certified women represented in aviation worldwide. That means women represent just 6.7 per cent of the industry.
However, the under-representation of women pilots worldwide is not felt specifically in the North.
In 2011, Yellowknife was awarded the most female-pilot-friendly airport by Women in Aviation International, a U.S. organization dedicated to providing networking, education, mentoring, and scholarship opportunities for those who seek careers in the aviation and aerospace industries.
It was one of those scholarships that has propelled Balaji to strive to become a pilot, said Balaji.
The course concludes on Aug.18 after Balaji writes her private pilot's exam.
- with files from Avery Zingel