Durba Banerjee

Durba Banerjee was the first pilot of Indian Airlines in 1956 and the first Indian woman commercial pilot.

As a child while growing up Banerjee liked planes and flying, becoming a pilot was her passion. She was the first woman of her times to break stereotypes and venture into this field.

Banerjee started her aviation career flying a Dakota with Air Survey of India as a DC3 pilot in 1959.

She moved on to join Indian Air Lines at the Calcutta base in 1966 and later retired in November, 1988. It is heard that when she first approached then Central Aviation Minister Mr.Humayun Kabir to apply as a commercial pilot he was reluctant and instead offered her the post of a flight attendant.

She has to her credit the most flying hours with 18500 hrs.

• She became a Commander in the F27 turbo prop Aircraft
• With the arrival of the B737 200 series she got herself type rated as a Jet Pilot to fly the Boeing737
• She also flew the Airbus 300.