Pilot And Vegan Activist Aashti Sindhu On Work, Veganism, And More

Meet Aashti Sindhu, a 36-year-old captain who began her flying career in 2007 with Kingfisher Airlines. Most weeks, she flies about four to five days. Over a career spanning 15 years, she has flown to almost every city in India with an airport, including Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Nagpur, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Raipur, Kochi, Trivandrum, Chennai, Patna, Dibrugarh, Male, Port Blair, Goa, Dehradun, and more. She has also flown to several international destinations such as Singapore, Thailand, the UAE, Qatar, and Hong Kong.

Sindhu had wanted to be a pilot from the age of five because her grandfather was a flight engineer with Air India at the time. He would tell her the most amazing stories, and that’s when she knew that flying a plane and being in the sky was her dream.

We had a tête-à-tête with her about what it's like to fly a plane and the intricacies of travelling as a vegan.

What is it like being a female pilot?

India actually has the highest ratio of female pilots in the world, and I am really proud of that. According to an article published in March 2021, female pilots make up 13% of the industry, which is higher than any other country. When I started flying in 2007, there weren’t too many female pilots, but it’s such a great feeling to see the number of women in aviation today. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, it can get a little challenging because you feel like you have to prove yourself constantly. However, I can say that the men and women in this industry are extremely professional, and I have never faced any major issues during my time here.

Tell us about the high point of your career.

I think the high point of my career was when I became a Captain in 2012. It was one of the happiest moments of my life, being able to sit in that left seat as the commander of a commercial airplane. I finally felt like I had realised my childhood dream, and I knew my grandfather would be proud of me.

What do you love about your work?

I love the amazing views that we, as pilots, are privileged to see. Magical sunrises, shooting stars, mountain ranges, full moon nights—the list is endless, and witnessing these wonders never gets old. Being in the cockpit makes me forget all my worries, and I’m transformed into a completely different person when I’m in that seat. I also love travelling to different cities and experiencing their culture, food, and meeting new people if it’s a long layover.

A memorable incident as a pilot?

I love flying my friends and family, although it can be nerve-wracking when you’re the pilot flying your closest family members. One incident I vividly recall is when my aunt was travelling onboard with me, and my schedule had changed at the last minute. I didn’t realise I would be flying her from Delhi to Mumbai. I was doing my regular walk-around (inspecting the exteriors of the aircraft before every flight) and bumped into her while she was boarding. It was such a pleasant surprise, as it was one of her first times flying while I was the pilot. It’s a moment I will always fondly remember.

Tell us more about your journey into veganism.

I started my vegan journey about five years ago. Initially, it was for ethical reasons, as I became aware of the horrors behind the meat and dairy industries. However, with time, I also learned about the health benefits of this lifestyle and even studied to become a plant-based nutritionist and health coach. I discovered that eating this way was the best thing I could do for my health. My doctors were surprised to see improvements in all my blood test results. I noticed I had a lot more energy, I slept better, and I recovered much faster after a workout.

I experimented with a lot of recipes and soon realised that vegan eating can be just as delicious as you want it to be. Besides flying, I think this is my second biggest passion. I love guiding people on how to transition into a plant-based lifestyle, knowing that the benefits far outweigh what you think you're giving up.

When you are working as a pilot, how do you ensure your diet stays vegan? What do you eat, and do you pack anything from home?

I normally pack most of my food for flights. The easiest options include overnight oats with fruits, tofu pulao, and a plant-based raita. For snacks, I carry nuts and dried fruits. I try to keep my meals very simple and cook with very little to no oil.

How does the food available on flights and at airports stack up for a vegan?

Most airlines now offer the option to pre-book a vegan meal, which is a great choice. In India, most airports have several accidental vegan options, such as dosa, idli, sambhar, and dal rice. I simply ask them to omit the ghee and butter to ensure my meals remain vegan.

What’s your advice for travelling as a vegan?

I think it’s quite easy to travel as a vegan in 2021. You just have to do some research before going to your destination. We are lucky in India to have a lot of plant-based options because most traditional Indian cuisine is very easily veganised. If you’re travelling abroad, it might be challenging depending on the country you’re visiting. However, South East Asia and Europe are extremely vegan-friendly. The only place where I have had a hard time has been the Middle East. My advice to vegans would be not to stress if they accidentally eat something that isn’t vegan. We all make mistakes, but we shouldn’t dwell on them. Instead, we can learn and try to do better next time.

As a vegan traveller, what difficulties do you encounter on holidays?

I love travelling to new places and trying out vegan food in different cities. However, I find that travelling to North India can be a bit challenging because they often add ghee and butter to nearly every vegetarian dish. To navigate this, I usually look for Asian or South Indian restaurants instead. Cuisines like Thai, Asian, Sri Lankan, and South Indian are very easily veganised, making them great options when I'm on holiday.

Any interesting anecdotes or incidents while you were travelling as a vegan?

I love exploring vegan restaurants in different cities and connecting with fellow vegans in various countries. Even though I might not know them personally, it still feels like we share a connection because we are all working towards a vegan world. One of my favourite places for a layover is Singapore, as it boasts numerous vegan restaurants. I’ve met some really interesting people there who are doing amazing things in their community to promote the vegan message.

What is the idea behind your Instagram page?

I started my Instagram page, @aashtis, back in 2018 to demonstrate how easy it is to travel as a vegan. Many people have reservations, thinking that vegan food is expensive or hard to find. However, in reality, vegan food is often the cheapest and easiest option available. Fruits, vegetables, pulses, grains, and rice can be found in every country. In fact, I saved a lot of money when I turned vegan, as I stopped buying my weekly supply of meat and seafood.

Note: This interview is a previously published piece that has been republished for your reading.