Inspire Someone Today
Inspire Someone Today
E111 | Captain Calling | Shalmalee
When the sky beckons, who answers the call? Captain Shalmalee Joshi did, with a flourish that's nothing short of inspiring. From the wide-eyed wonder of her first ascent to the stratosphere, to the seasoned gaze from the left seat of a commercial airliner, Shalmanlee's tale is a clarion call to the curious and bold. Join us as we celebrate Women's History Month, embarking on a journey that charts not just the flight path of an extraordinary pilot, but also the silent strength and unwavering resolve that propelled her ascent in a traditionally male-dominated field.
A cockpit isn't built in a day, and neither is a captain's career. Shalmalee walks us through the minutiae of molding a pilot's path, from the foundational education right up to the adrenaline rush of takeoff as a commanding officer. But it's not all smooth sailing, or flying, for that matter. She peels back the curtain on the realities of the profession—addressing the myths of glamour, underscoring the unyielding commitment to safety, and highlighting the indispensable role of familial support. It's a narrative that intertwines the elegance of aviation with a raw look at the rigors and joy that co-pilot a life aloft.
As we bid adieu, our conversation with Shalmalee culminates with a heartfelt salute to her and all who dare to dream, this Women's Day. Her insights are a treasure trove for anyone yearning to navigate the turbulences of a challenging career with grace and resilience, and for those simply seeking the spark that ignites a passion. We sign off, hearts full and spirits buoyant, eager to escort our listeners to the next chapter of inspiration on "Inspire Someone Today." Keep your eyes on the skies and your heart open to the endless possibilities that life presents.
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You know I was 18 when I went out of home. It was my on my exact 18th birthday that I stepped out and the faith and the trust that this showed in me. You know I was across the Atlantic, it's a small bit from my side. I think it's very important to remain curious and you know that helps you maybe learn new things or notice the gaps that have not been there, and maybe you know, it could be the one to fill the gaps or you could be the one who becomes a person or learned person just because of your curiosity, and that will help you take, that will help you go places.
Speaker 2:Welcome to inspire someone today podcast, a show where we dive into the stories and insights that has the power to create repels of inspiration in your life. I'm your host, shri Khan, and I'm thrilled to be with you on this journey of inspiration. Month of March, the world around is celebrating women's day and we at Inspire Someone today are celebrating this, not for a day, but all through, and this month is special. We're hearing four inspirers in different walks of life joining us and sharing their wonderful stories, sharing their life lessons and also reason why they are inspiring us. Hey, my dear listeners, welcome back to yet another episode of Inspire Someone today. Today's guest is flying in the skies, literally and figuratively. Somebody who takes pride in moving from the right hand side to the left hand side. For you and me, it's like child's play, but it is something more special for our guest today. It's an absolute joy and pleasure to have Shalmani Joshi on this episode of Inspire Someone today. Shalmani, welcome to the show.
Speaker 1:Hi, thank you so much for having me here.
Speaker 2:So we did talk about you are flying in the skies. So what I meant by that was you are a captain flying in commercial aircraft. When did this dream of becoming a pilot surface, and how did you go about doing this, shalmani?
Speaker 1:When I was a child, like 15 years, I was pretty clear about what I did not want to do. So, considering I wasn't wearing good as mathematics, I was not going to be an engineer and you know, so on and so forth. And at the same time there was a lot of newspaper coverage about shortage of pilots, and my dad pointed that out to me. So you know, I gave it more thought and eventually I went for my medical first and then I went to my flying school. Once I tasted flight, as we call it, yeah, it became a dream. I realized this is what I want to do and I couldn't go back again.
Speaker 2:So it was coming from a point of view what you didn't want to pursue engineering and you took on to this. It was very childhood passion that kind of propelled you to take on this journey as well.
Speaker 1:Not really, I'll be honest. I was actually interested in biology, and in medical field in fact, but I realized that I didn't have so much patience that the doctors put in you know, the efforts of yours together Wasn't sure if I had that in me. So, yeah, I zeroed it on flying and, like I said, that first flight, that first takeoff that I did in my flight school with my instructor, I just knew, you know, I just knew this is what I needed to do and I want to do.
Speaker 2:This is what you needed from that first flight experience, and there was no looking back and no-transcript. How did you build your roadmap towards becoming what you have become now? If you can give a brief of what are you, what is a captain flying a commercial aircraft mean, and how did you go about doing this process?
Speaker 1:It's actually a long process and I'm not from aviation background as such, so we had to go find, through some of our acquaintances, we got in touch with a captain who was already flying a long-haul aircraft, so he was the one who guided me through the actual process and keep it short. So after you finish your 12th grade in science, you can go for flying. You can fly either in India or abroad. For me, I flew in Florida and then I came back and there's a process of converting the license, so you have to give multiple exams and once you clear all that, the regulator will approve your license. But on top of that, for me, through my peers, I got an advice of completing something called a type rating, which I initially did on the Boeing 737 aircraft, and that's how I ended up getting my first job. You have to build a certain number of hours and experience, so you join always as a first officer, and once you build that experience, there's another bunch of training that you undergo to become a captain. And yeah, that's how it is.
Speaker 2:And how critical was the role of your support system, of your family, in this buildup, because during those time a woman pilot was not heard of. It's only off late. You see a lot of folks coming to the mainstream of some of these not so familiar roles, but you see a lot of women folks coming in and taking on some of these roles. So how critical, how important it was for you in terms of encouragement, in terms of support, how did that pan out?
Speaker 1:Because, I mean, I don't think I would have done it without my family, even in. That was true even today. My parents and my sister, they've been my strongest support during my training days. You know I was 18 when I went out of home. It was my on my exact 18th birthday that I stepped out, and the faith and the trust that they showed in me. You know, I was across the Atlantic and there was no easy access. We barely.
Speaker 1:You know those were the stay days when Skype had just started coming in, so we would video call, maybe on alternate days, but those helped me stay on track, because it's very easy to give so much independence to an 18 year old. You know, just imagine, even after coming back, you know we have to travel the whole country to give the different exams. The examination centers are all over the place and I remember I had my leg fractured. I was literally limping to the center, but my dad, you know, he traveled all over with me. So, yeah, families, extremely important. I've been married for some time now, almost six years, and my laws have also been so understanding and supportive. There are multiple festivals or family functions, you know, which I cannot attend. I'm not there and it has never been, you know, even sent out. Of course, the fact that I miss them, I mean I miss the functions, or that's a different story, but there's never an undue expectation. So kudos to them as well for being not so conservative, to put it mildly.
Speaker 2:Absolutely kudos to them for that unconditional support to see where you are today and as you kind of do all of this, how have you built some of those coping mechanisms? I'm sure you have your own moments missing out some key milestones, not being there when the family is there, stuff like that, and this is so true in many professions as well. So how have you built those coping mechanisms within you?
Speaker 1:It's honestly very difficult, but whoever is there at the moment with my kids or they'll always send me videos and if I'm on ground I'll try to attend through a video call and that's one of the new coping mechanism, as you put it. But even like from regular flying, you know it's just difficult but you have to get on with it, I think.
Speaker 2:And what have you figured out ways to do this balancing act? You are a working mother, so how do you kind of do the best of both the words be there when your employer needs you and be there when your family needs you.
Speaker 1:Okay, can I say something? Probably not a popular opinion, but I think that balancing act is a myth. Okay, because when you're at work, things will happen. You wish some things don't happen back home, but they will. You know, sometimes it's an unplanned pattern, you're away longer, or, you know, sometimes you're just late on a school project for your kid. I feel it is important to like prioritize and remind ourselves that priorities also keep changing and mainly, you have to be kind, you know, or to yourself also give yourself grace. Plus, the important thing is that micromanaging at home is not impractical. I mean, it is impractical, especially when you're away. You know, at work, me in aim is to see that your children are happy and healthy, and I think that's what matters Sometimes at least this is what I try to do Like whoever is the caregiver, you know, we try to do something a little extra special for them, so that at least you know they are also emotionally satisfied and happy and your kids are also taken better care of.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. I think the new phrase that is out there now is it's no longer a work life balance, but it's more like a work life harmony. Right, you want to kind of find the harmony between what you do on the personal friend, what you do on the work friend and I love what you said, kind and grace. I think if you can give yourself that bit of kindness and grace and an element of leaving, I think you'll not be under undue stress. And for an outsider, the role of a pilot is very glamorous. You are always flying, you are in multiple locations, multiple geos. What's it like on the other side?
Speaker 1:It's actually not bad. But yeah, it is physically challenging In terms where we don't have specific timing. Our sign Canadian reader, ms Laine, all over the place, honestly. Also, you know you're away from the family a lot. It's great during the bachelor days, you know.
Speaker 1:But speaking purely physical fitness point of view, you know I try to carry my own food on flights or if it's a new, I try to get fresh food for somewhere. You know Swingy has made things much easy, or tomato, whatever, delivery people. Also, I try to stick to the Indian timings, even when abroad, because right now, luckily I'm not flying long haul, luckily you're unlicity. But yeah, so like, even if it's same for example Bangkok or Jeddah on the other side I try to stick to Indian timings as much as I can. For me that helps. And I try to get afternoon naps if I'm not flying. So like, even if next day is an early flight and I have to sleep early at night, I still try to get that one hour in the afternoon. You know, I think everybody realizes their own needs and everybody figures out a way how to work around it eventually.
Speaker 2:So these are the adjustments that you have made. What other adjustments have you made by becoming a pilot?
Speaker 1:I think the main adjustment is time away from home. You know, emotionally it's more difficult once you become a mother.
Speaker 2:I think and along the way, you did mention to me during an offline conversation that, while you had a fantastic journey of going from the right side to the left side or left side to the right side I'm interchanging the trees out here Try to left, try to left and that's not an easy journey as well. And along the way, you also had to kind of go through two maternities and you had to kind of come back reprove yourself. So walk us through that whole experience of going from the right to the left and having some of those career breaks. How did you adjust? What did it mean to you when your career was just taking off?
Speaker 1:So I've been on the as a first-office. I've flown for almost six years before I started my command training. For command training we are under both thorough you know ground classes first, which cover a lot of legality and safety, so to say. Also, then we have a lot of simulator sessions and we have two checks at the end of it. Then we go through line flying, which happens in an aircraft, and we do almost 100 hours of line flying. And then we have route checks at the end of it. All the route checks. There are 10 route checks and any of the checks you fail, you go right to the beginning and start from ground classes again.
Speaker 2:And what are these route checks?
Speaker 1:So they are just. They're just normal flights but you are tested.
Speaker 2:You try from point A to point B.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:But you know you'll be asked questions and you know general your knowledge level and your technical level. When we check these are carried out by designated examiners who are actually appointed by the DGCA or the government and they conduct these test checks. So you can't even the smallest of the slip is, you know, not taken lightly. So we do that and then finally you become a captain. But for me so I've been for pilots when you go on maternity leave it's actually a very long leave because from the point you declare your pregnancy you cannot fly. It's not good for the baby. So it's almost a 15 month break and then when you come back there's again intensive training because of such a long break. So I've done that twice.
Speaker 1:What has really helped me is the fact that my husband is also flying. You know he has sort of always helped me to stay on track with the procedures and all of our manuals and all the reading. So he's always been there like he's my biggest inspiration, motivation and also my support, you know. So he's always been there sort of to keep you on track. We have done something what we call chair flying at home, where we just do, you know, verbal call outs and we just sort of with our hands literally, we touch all the controls in the air, so like a practice flight. So he's always been there. So for me I think coming back to flying after breaks has been overall a smooth ride.
Speaker 2:It's very interesting, so very amazing, how you and your husband have teamed up to kind of stay on course so that you don't miss out a big deal of not flying at all. Yeah, and no better than people sitting in the cockpit can share some of these views, which is you're chartering into multiple directions. You are in charge of safety of so many individuals. The flight that you're in charge of. Does it overwhelm you Is the enormity of the safety of people taking to the location being on time. There are some of those things really overwhelm you all. The fritterity at large.
Speaker 1:You know it's a big responsibility, no doubt about that. The job needs you to perform on each flight. But for me it's like I've found my place and I think it's the same answer you will get from any pilot. You know, I've been asked this questions many times. If you know, I've been scared, but right from my training days till now, I've never been scared, you know, because I think there's no place for that in your mind. You're busy doing your job. You know You're doing your procedures, you're making sure you're not getting into, for example, say, a cloud on the way. Or you know you're avoiding thunderstorms, you're looking at traffic. So you're busy, you know, and even though if there's something which is not happening as per the plan, then you're busy making sure you come back on. You know the planned flight procedures.
Speaker 2:Is it?
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's no room in your mind to be scared. That's what I feel.
Speaker 2:Okay, there's no room in mind to be scared. However, the changes in what you're doing is so instantaneous, right, the change is instantaneous. How do you respond to those changes? Are there preparations that goes behind the scenes, trainings or some kind of mental conditioning that happens, so that when change happens, you are in the moment and you kind of respond to the change rather than reacting to the change?
Speaker 1:Yes, of course, an enormous amount of work happens behind the scenes. Our training definitely includes, you know, responding to the changes and with experience, with more and more flying, it sort of becomes a muscle memory and you're always thinking if it's a normal flight from place A to place B, you're always thinking, okay, what should I do if something happens on the way? It could be a simple thing like a passenger feeling unwell, or it doesn't necessarily have to be an aircraft thing, you know, because in a passenger aircraft you know the cabin is full of sensitive people, if I have to put it lightly. So yeah, you know it could be anything and you're always thinking in your head you know what to do, you have a backup ready, you have a plan of action in mind, that so, even if there's any you know undesirable situation, because you already know what to do, you're quick to do it also.
Speaker 2:Anything that you can share with our listeners as to how do you prepare to managing such changes, what tips or tricks that you have or you have learned that you can pass it on to our listeners.
Speaker 1:I think, like I was just saying earlier, you know you have to be prepared in your mind, be ready to face a situation that you do not want to happen. So if the mental plan is ready, I think it's easier to adapt to any change that happens. Let me try to maybe expand on that. So, like, from example, if you're going to Bombay, to Delhi, as you keep passing, as you keep moving north, you know there's Barwada on the way, there's Antapad on the way, there's Udaipur on the way, there's Chepur on the way. So as you keep passing these airports, in your head you're like, okay, you know now that option is gone, but my next option is so. And so I feel, because in an emergency, main thing is a safe landing, correct?
Speaker 2:Yep.
Speaker 1:May it be a passenger medical emergency or an aircraft emergency. What do it is? So? Yeah, it's basically. You know, you keep updating weather for each airport on the way and you make sure it's worthy of a landing. As the so, yeah, that's, that's sort of the mental preparation that we are, you know, keep doing.
Speaker 2:Okay, so feeling is out of the equation. You prepare for such kind of eventualities. What else is in the pilot's checklist to ensure safety of the passengers as well as safety of the flight?
Speaker 1:So weather and you know, carrying enough fuel and just being mentally prepared. I think these are the main things you know. Okay, it's very simple. You keep yourself safe. You keep everyone safe, okay.
Speaker 2:That's a good month lock and how would stress Shalmali, does that play a big role in an occupation like this? And what does the pilots do to manage this? And, of course, covid there's so much of stress on mental fitness as well mental health so does that play a big, significant role in the profession that you are in?
Speaker 1:Yeah, Mental and this really important. And, like you said, you know it's become post COVID, you know it's become a difficult profession in terms of maintaining that harmony. Lot of changes happen to the schedule. You're significantly away from home. To manage that stress, I think you need to give yourself breaks. At least you know when you're away from home. Do things that you like Listen to music, maybe, or catch up on a movie. Do whatever you will need to do to keep yourself happy. I think that's the main thing.
Speaker 2:So in the end of the day, what you're saying is there are also normal human beings, so they need the same set of stuff than anybody else would need. So treat some of these things in the same fashion, same manner that you would treat any otherwise Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Great.
Speaker 2:Here we are with Shanmali, with the power of three round, the first of the power of three round. Question, shanmali, is what are the three best routes you have flown and three best airports to land and aircraft?
Speaker 1:Okay, the best routes is Mumbai, srinagar. It's a very beautiful road. It's also one of the nicer airports to land. I don't know if people will agree Then Singapore, it's a beautiful airport and, yeah, that's a good flight too, and I also like just flying to Dubai and back. They're very efficient in the UAE, so their efficiency is something to marvel at. Thanks to one of your guests, welf, who was there on the last Women's Day episode.
Speaker 2:Nice, three inductions you would like to have on board and fly them.
Speaker 1:Well, I've already flown Miss Sunita Williams once, and yes, I was. Oh, that was one of her verbal flight on a Bombay Ahmedabad sector.
Speaker 2:Apart from that, but if we had a choice, if we had a choice and wish, yeah, yeah, so for sure she's number one because I've already done it.
Speaker 1:Every second I've taken my grandparents on board. You know, never got a chance to do that. But yeah, and the last person. It's one of the authors that I really admire, mr Douglas, who wrote Hitchhiker's Galaxy to the Space.
Speaker 2:Oh okay, Nice, oh nice. What's been the reaction of your kids? Have you flown them and what has been the reaction?
Speaker 1:I've not flown them yet. My younger kid is still too small to understand that I. What exactly I do? Well, the one you know she's come to terms with it now, the fact that I go out and fly Sometimes I've seen her talk to her friends about it, Sneaky-neak, but it's difficult for her also. I see, you know, at times. But she's like super happy when I come back and you know we just spend the entire time together. So yeah, Nice they understand it now.
Speaker 2:So, Shalmali, if you were to give three advice to your older self, what would those three advice be? Has Shalmali ten years from now or five years from now?
Speaker 1:Read more. That is never enough. Travel more and Eat a little less.
Speaker 2:I think one night, two you can easily do by much of your profession. You can travel more and because you're traveling you can read more.
Speaker 1:I don't get to read while traveling. You know I'm actually working.
Speaker 2:I agree. So, since you mentioned about reading, this is something I'll definitely ask you. What are the three book recommendations or podcast recommendations that you will go to?
Speaker 1:Okay, I like a book called the Elephant Whisperer by Mr Lawrence Anthony. It's a beautiful book. I don't read a lot of non-fiction but this is one of my favourites. Of course, he checkers guide to the galaxy. It is at all time number one. And the third book that I read recently was called Momo. I forget the author's name. It's an Indian book. It's about, you know, girl, child. It's a very interesting read. It's a very short book and I didn't like it, so I would recommend.
Speaker 2:Interesting. What are the three micro experiments that you would recommend to other listeners?
Speaker 1:Okay, so I'll go number one as a leader, you know, with your teammates very. I found it super nice that if you're just smiling and welcoming to them, they listen to you more and they perform much better. Thus, from the professional point of view, to not feel guilty, I always look at my kids' pictures, my husband's pictures, and when I see them smiling in pictures, you know I feel, yeah, you know it's fine. Also, it's super nice to relieve my stress. I always call up my sister, and I know she's quite busy these days too but yeah, that is a super strength. First step.
Speaker 2:If she's listening to this podcast, she'll definitely make some time for our pilot Captain and have some conversations with you. So, like we mentioned at the beginning, we are celebrating Women's Day all through this month. So, as part of the Women's Day celebration, I think the theme for this year is inspired inclusion. Question that I would want to ask you is what have you seen as the importance of role models or mentors or sponsors? What can people do to embrace into it and how can they maximize this option?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I feel you know, if you have a strong support in terms of maybe a mentor or a sponsor things, it automatically motivates you to perform better, because you know someone is watching over you and you know someone is going out of the way to help you. And it's only right for you to come to that level of expectation and you know, work harder. So I think having a role model is quite important. Having a mentor is quite important, as it motivates you to do your job better.
Speaker 2:And you did mention about having the choice to pursue your passion. You were provided with that particular choice, but it also comes from a space of having the clarity of thought. If somebody were to pursue in an area that is still not very familiar with, how can one develop that clarity of thought?
Speaker 1:It's important to, I think, to strike out the things that you don't think will work for you. It helps develop your clarity itself and if it's a new field, if it's something that you don't know, I think it also helps to break things down. You know in parts and then just go about. You know, just go about your day one by one. You aim big, but you make sure you cut it short and make it achievable by finding the right staircase.
Speaker 2:It's a good one. So aim big, take small steps, get to that milestone.
Speaker 1:Why not?
Speaker 2:Yeah, why not Absolutely? How do you celebrate success?
Speaker 1:I love spending time with my friends and my family. So for me, you know, a nice vacation with everybody, or a brunch which turns, which you know along, gets into a dinner party also.
Speaker 2:You know that sort of stuff.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I would call that a celebration of success, absolutely Basically, you know, just spending good time, you know, with your loved ones.
Speaker 2:You know you're still own right, so there's no universal definition of what success should look like.
Speaker 1:True.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean, I would not, you know, go to the mall and buy a Mendo. I would rather, you know, spend time with my friends.
Speaker 2:So, Shalmeri for all young girls out there wanting asperin to be pilots, how can they go about starting their journey? What should they be doing? What should they not be doing?
Speaker 1:This has happened. Just two days back on my flight, I met a young girl who was going for one of her exams. She was just so post after the flight, you know she came ahead and you know we were topping in the cabin and she was asking me this exact same question. And I don't think, you know, it's only for the girls, it's for anybody, because in flying it's the same job, it doesn't matter who you are. So simple advice is to you know stay focused and be extremely patient, because I've had friends who have taken more than five years to find a job and but they have stuff to it. So it's important to you know stay focused at the same time, not stay idle and keep at it.
Speaker 2:Keep at it. If there's one thing that flying has thought to all the years, what would that one thing be? Shalmeri.
Speaker 1:You know being meticulous and preparedness that whole package. Yeah, Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Great. So we had some lovely conversation, shalmeri. We are at the end of this discussion. Before we wrap up, this show is all about creating repulse of inspiration. So what is your inspired someone today? Message for all of our listeners.
Speaker 1:It's a small bit from my side. I think it's very important to remain curious and you know that helps you maybe learn new things or notice the gaps that have not been, that are there, and maybe you know you could be the one to fill the gaps or you could be the one who becomes a person, a learned person, just because of your curiosity, and that will help you take, that will help you go places.
Speaker 2:Or the one who becomes the next Shalmeri. You never know. Kind of you to say that. Well, on that note, take your. Yes, shalmeri, it has been an absolute joy of having this conversation with you, getting to know a bit of our airline industry. What does it goes in the minds of the pilots. Thank you so much for taking time and wishing you flying success, and may you so hire and hire.
Speaker 1:Thank you so very much. Thank you so much, and wishing everybody out there a very happy women's day.
Speaker 2:Thank you for joining us on this episode of Inspire Someone Today. This is Shri Khan, your host, signing off. Until next time, continue to carry the ripples of inspiration, stay inspired, keep spreading the light.
