Capt. Aarohi Pandit Flies Solo Across Atlantic And Pacific, Creates History

Captain Aarohi Pandit, a 23-year-old pilot becomes the first-ever woman to fly across the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean solo. The Borivali resident measured the oceans in her Light Sports Aircraft (LSA). She started her journey from Alaska's Unalakleet city across the Pacific Ocean's the Bering Sea all the way to Anadyr Airport in Russia's Far East region of Chukotka. She reached Chukotka at 01.54 a.m. on Wednesday after a stopover at Nome (Alaska). Pandit marked her victory by waving the Indian flag proudly at Chukotka.

Besides flying across treacherous Greenland ice-cap in her LSA, she has registered several records on her name in this duration. One of them is flying across Canada from the North East to the North West via the South. Pandit considers the Pacific Ocean crossing as the most significant sector for the Women Empower Expedition circumnavigation. From Unalakleet to Anadyr she covered 1,100 km.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Captain Aarohi Pandit becomes the first-ever woman to fly across Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean solo.
• From Unalakleet (Alaska) to Anadyr airport (Russia) she covered 1,100 km in her Light Sports Aircraft (LSA).
• She launched the world's first all-woman team to circumnavigate the Earth in her LSA, “Mahi” along with her pilot friend Keithair Misquitta in 2018.

Read Also: Five Female Pilots Granted Licence To Fly Planes In Saudi Arabia

Flying LSA

During her expedition, Pandit crossed International Date Line, also known as the Line of Confusion. The date changes and all instruments conk off for a few minutes. “I lost one day of my life which I will never get back,” said Pandit. Although she further said that “I'll do it again if given the opportunity in a heartbeat.” reported NDTV

Last year Pandit launched world's first all-woman team to circumnavigate the Earth in her LSA, “Mahi” along with her pilot friend Keithair Misquitta. Mahi is a tiny single-engine Sinus 912 aircraft, weighing less than a Bullet motorcycle. It is manufactured by Slovenia's Pipistrel and is the first LSA registered with the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) India. These 'flying-buddies' Pandit and Misquitta have covered Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Serbia, Slovenia, Germany, France and Britain, together.

Before the big expedition, she went through a rigorous training schedule in India, Greenland, Siberia, and Italy. She flew across oceans, high altitude, snow, extreme weather conditions, and different terrains to test her physical and mental capabilities.

Before the big expedition, she went through a rigorous training schedule in India, Greenland, Siberia, and Italy. She had to fly across oceans, high altitude, snow, extreme weather conditions, and different terrains to test her physical and mental capabilities.

On Creating History

All the colleagues, family members and friends are proud of Pandit and are congratulating her on creating history. “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,” said Lynn de Souza, founder of Social Access Communications. Further adding to this she said, “Now, the expedition will continue westward to fly back from Russia to India after spreading the message of girl-power and friendship beyond boundaries.”

“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,” said proud Arohi.

Read Also: IAF’s All-Women Crew Creates History, Flies A Medium Lift Helicopter

Divya Tripathi is an intern with SheThePeople.TV