📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Rishavraks
Jobs & Career
Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar says aviation wasn’t his childhood dream
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 01 Oct 2026, 10:38 AM
👁 19
In a past interview, Indian‑born flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar revealed that his career in aviation was not a childhood ambition but a later choice, highlighting the evolving aspirations of Indian youth abroad.
Smit Machchhar, an Indian national serving as a pilot for the Dubai‑based carrier flydubai, recently reflected on an interview he gave several years ago. In that conversation, he disclosed that unlike many of his peers, he did not grow up dreaming of the cockpit or the skies. Instead, his interest in aviation emerged during his college years, when he discovered the technical and logistical challenges of commercial flight.
Machchhar’s remarks underscore a broader trend among Indian professionals who initially pursue conventional career paths before pivoting to aviation, a sector that offers global exposure and competitive remuneration. He noted that the decision to train as a pilot required substantial investment in flight school and licensing, but the long‑term rewards have justified the shift.
The pilot’s story, highlighted by The Indian Express, resonates with aspiring aviators across India, many of whom now view piloting as a viable alternative to traditional engineering or medical careers. While Machchhar’s journey was not pre‑ordained, his success illustrates how personal interests can evolve into rewarding professions abroad.
Flydubai, which operates a fleet of narrow‑body aircraft across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, continues to recruit talent from India, offering pathways for those willing to undertake rigorous training. Machchhar’s experience may inspire a new wave of Indian candidates to consider aviation as a career, even if it was not part of their childhood imagination.
Machchhar’s remarks underscore a broader trend among Indian professionals who initially pursue conventional career paths before pivoting to aviation, a sector that offers global exposure and competitive remuneration. He noted that the decision to train as a pilot required substantial investment in flight school and licensing, but the long‑term rewards have justified the shift.
The pilot’s story, highlighted by The Indian Express, resonates with aspiring aviators across India, many of whom now view piloting as a viable alternative to traditional engineering or medical careers. While Machchhar’s journey was not pre‑ordained, his success illustrates how personal interests can evolve into rewarding professions abroad.
Flydubai, which operates a fleet of narrow‑body aircraft across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, continues to recruit talent from India, offering pathways for those willing to undertake rigorous training. Machchhar’s experience may inspire a new wave of Indian candidates to consider aviation as a career, even if it was not part of their childhood imagination.