New Jersey Teen Is Flying High After Earning His Pilot License

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Patch recently got a chance to pick Gupta’s brain and learn more about his journey towards becoming a pilot. Our questions and his replies follow below.

PATCH: Tell us about the moment when you first realized you wanted to become a pilot… what was the “aha moment?”

AG: Flying has been a huge part of my life ever since I was a kid. The first time I flew was actually at 2-months-old, and since that day, I have never stopped. I was always fascinated by planes, and as a kid I always ran up to the cockpit to meet the pilots. They seemed so stoic and unreachable at the time, and I never thought I could also become a pilot just like them. The moment I realized I wanted to get my flying license was when I went onto the Eagle Flight’s free orientation flights. I was always interested in aviation, but I was hooked since my first second in the Cessna 172’s cockpit. Holding the yoke in my hand and staring at the analog gauges, I knew I was ready to become a pilot. As I kept on flying, everything started to make more and more sense, but I still remember the first time I held that yoke in my hands and all I could do was smile.

PATCH: How did you first get involved with Eagle Flight Squadron? What are some ways that the nonprofit helped you accomplish your dream of becoming a pilot?

AG: I first got involved with the Eagle Flight Squadron because I needed to find an affordable way to chase my dreams of becoming a pilot. The nonprofit is the ONLY reason I accomplished my dream of becoming a pilot. Without them, it wouldn’t have been possible for me and my family due to the expensive nature of aviation. Beyond finances, the program has made me into the person I am today. The military drills help instill discipline, and are the only reason I passed my checkride (pilot test). During the test, my examiner asked me to wear these glasses which restrict your vision, called “foggles.” They are used to simulate the conditions of clouds, and prepare pilots for bad weather. The military drills had instilled in me an instinct and ability to react in essential situations, that helped me pass my checkride and become the best pilot possible. Eagle Flight has also helped me in other parts of my life, in school, supported all my interests, and over the years, they have become my family. Now, I am working to give back the nonprofit by gaining flight instructor certificates to become a volunteer flight instructor at Eagle Flight.

PATCH: What do you plan to do in the aviation field/industry? What are your career goals when it comes to flying?

AG: My goals are to use aviation to give back to my community, both as a relief pilot and volunteer flight instructor for students like me at a nonprofit. I am planning on pursuing a career in archaeology, and becoming an environmental archaeologist. I am so excited to use aviation in my research to help with aerial reconnaissance, and combine the two things I love (aviation and archaeology) to create an impact with my research. It is becoming more common to use aviation with different techniques like LIDAR and GIS to identify new archaeological sites, so it is extremely interesting to me that I can use aviation in archaeology.

PATCH: Did your age make it harder to get your pilot license – or did it not make a difference?

AG: Being 17-years-old and pursuing a license made it both harder and easier. I think, when I first started flying at the age of 14, I didn’t really have any fear related to flying and was confident I could do anything. In that way, being young helped me. But balancing school and pilot training was extremely tough. I still remember all throughout my junior and sophomore year, I would exclusively study in the car on my way to flights. I spent every car ride with my notes from class open because I had no other time to study. The airport was 45-minutes away, and I was taking four dual enrollment classes at the local community college during those two years, so it took a lot of studying in the car for me to maintain a 4.0/4.0 gpa in all my classes while flying almost every day! My schedule was usually, get home at around 3 p.m., pack my flight bag and get a snack till 3:15 p.m., then leave for the airport and be there for my 4 p.m. flight (studying on the car ride there). Then my flights usually took four hours, including pre-flight and debriefs, so I would get in the car at around 8 p.m., then get home at 8:45 p.m. (studying on the car ride back). Every flight was exhausting because of the amount of mental attentiveness and preparation that is necessary, but I was hooked since my first flight lesson.

PATCH: What advice do you have for other young people who are chasing their dreams?

AG: My advice for other young people chasing their dreams is never give up and seize every opportunity possible. I always took the opportunity to fly, and I made time for it, moving everything else around. I found time, and I made time to succeed as a pilot, no matter what else was happening in my life. I think this is essential to succeeding in anything. Also, I want to say, never hesitate to take advantage of the opportunities available. I had to be proactive and find free resources, talk to current private pilots, and make connections with people to gain my license. I have seen too many people that are too shy to seize opportunities, but the only reason I succeeded was because I was proactive, found Eagle Flight, and put everything I had into getting my license.

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