Tell us a little about yourself.
Hello, my name is Ayush Sharma. I recently turned twenty-four years old. I have a big appetite for aviation. I have been into flying and everything related to it since I was a kid. I have always wanted to start on a path that would take me into a professional career. Getting into corporate flying or the airlines (after flight instructing) is the end goal.
What got you into flying?
My family and I came to the United States in 2007. At the age of seven, when we landed at JFK International Airport, just seeing the planes was quite the out of the world experience. I also lived only ten miles from Newark Liberty International Airport, and I got to see the airplanes always landing and taking off. Flying has always been on my mind and kind of my go-to thing.
How did you go about choosing a flight school?
I did a lot of research about the flight schools near me, and I reached out to a variety of people on LinkedIn who were at different flight schools.
What made you choose American Flyers?
Talking to pilots who were already training with American Flyers, I found that they were the ones who tended to have the best experience with flight training. American Flyers’ training and scheduling also aligned with how I wanted my training to go. At the end of the day, American Flyers felt like a good match.
How much outside studying did you have to put in during your time with American Flyers?
On a daily basis, I put in about two to three hours of studying just to stay ahead and make sure I’m prepared for the day’s lesson. It makes flight training a little easier on myself.
What is your most memorable moment at American Flyers?
My private pilot checkride was my most memorable moment because it kind of brought together everything that I had put in (all the hours, all the studying). To receive the certificate made all the hard work I put in seem worth it.
Looking back, what advice would you give someone interested in starting pilot training?
Start as soon as you can, and do not wait around. Look at your options and how often you can train, and definitely hit the books. Make sure your knowledge is sufficient, and get ahead of the game before you even start your flight training.
What’s next for you?
My instrument checkride is coming up this month, and I am on track to get my commercial certificate soon after. After that I look forward to training for my CFI.
If you could fly anywhere, go to any flying destination, where would it be?
I would go to Australia. I would love to see the coral reefs and how they look from the air.