Mumbai pilot Aarohi Pandit has become the first woman pilot in the world to fly solo over both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, in a Light Sports Aircraft (LSA).
Flying from Alaska’s Unalakleet city across Pacific Ocean’s Bering Sea, she landed safely at the Anadyr Airport in Russia’s Far East region of Chukotka at 01.54 a.m. After landing, she cheerfully posed before her LSA waving the Indian tricolour.
In May this year, Pandit also became the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean solo in an LSA. At just 23 years, she has managed to accomplish two remarkable feats.
Aarohi has broken several other records as well, including becoming the world’s first woman to complete a solo flight over the treacherous Greenland ice-cap in an LSA, and the first woman to fly all across Canada from the North East to the North West via the South. She also launched the world’s first all-woman team to circumnavigate the Earth in her LSA, named “Mahi”.
Lynn de Souza, founder of Social Access Communication, that organised the Women Empower Expedition (WE!) told IANS,
Aarohi truly represents all that young Indian women are capable of, given an opportunity. We are very proud and she has set such a great example for all other girls to emulate.
She hails from Borivali, northwest Mumbai and underwent a seven-month preparatory training schedule in India, Greenland, Siberia and Italy over oceans, snow, high altitude, testing her physical and mental capabilities.
On her journey across the Pacific Ocean, she crossed the International Date Line, also called the Line of Confusion, where the date changes and all instruments conk off for a few minutes. Talking about her flight she says,
I lost one day of my life which I will never get back (on crossing IDL). The Pacific Ocean flight was more beautiful than the Atlantic Ocean crossing and it was also one of my most enjoyable. I feel honoured to achieve these records for India and women all over
Till date, Aarohi has logged in 29,500 kms in 50 legs across three continents and 20 countries in her small LSA.