Mundakkayam (Kottayam): A girl of Koottikkal village is set to become the first Keralite woman pilot in London at a tender age of 17 years. Aiswarya Biju, the grand-daughter of Dr. Balachandran of Chembankulam, Kottayam is yearning for hitting the aerial routes.
Aiswarya is the second daughter of Biju Balachandran and Rajitha, the couple who have been living in Britain for the last 25 years. Aiswarya is vying to get the recognition as the first woman pilot among British Keralites. She has passed 13 admission tests, group tasks and interviews to qualify for pilot training.
The girl started her training by scoring full A-Levels in science and mathematics in GCSE examination at New Home College in London. She studied at L3Harris Airline Academy in Crawley, West Sussex. As the company has campus recruitment contracts with companies of more than 30 countries, a job is almost guaranteed. More than Rs. 8 million was spent for her studies.
Biju is working as a driver in a transport company in London, and Rajitha as a manager in a company there.
Though government loans are guaranteed for most of the courses in London, pilot courses are not covered by the loan as it incurs huge expense.
Rajitha is a daughter of Sreedharan of Valiyavalavil, Varkala. Aswathi, the sister of Aiswarya, is a final year medicine student in Bulgaria. Biju Balachandran and Rajitha told Madhyamam that they were elated by the achievement of Aiswarya.