I’m proud to have helped launch the first domestic cargo airline
Tulsi Mirchandaney, Managing Director - Blue Dart Aviation
My fascination with and admiration for the aviation industry began decades ago. An unexpected turn in my career saw me working in the less stylish entrails of the aircraft, aiding in the effort to deal with stranded cargo – from issuing air waybills to loading freight. This was the beginning of a career-defining move with airlines and, subsequently, Blue Dart. It began with a phone call from the then-Managing Director and one of the founding fathers of Blue Dart on a fateful day in June 1995. He was planning on launching India’s first domestic cargo airline and asked me if I would like to join him to help set it up – a job after my heart; and thus began my more than 25-year stint with this wonderful organisation. It was a great privilege to be part of the team that helped to launch India’s first domestic cargo airline. Each day has brought an exciting challenge of the unpredictable environment, changing regulations, and our response in building capacity, capability, and a high performance, professional team to sustain the country’s important lifeline and an enduring organisation. The hours have been long and hard, but the thrill of seeing an aircraft take off with a full load is still an unbeatable experience.
The general impression was that logistics was a masculine domain in which prospects for women were bleak. Yet, the reality is that opportunities abound. Blue Dart actively promoted gender equality at a time when the movement itself lacked impetus. Today, the initiatives are striding ahead. We have women in almost every department in Blue Dart Aviation that was known to be maledominated – flight crew, engineering, quality, technical services, flight dispatch, flight operations, and materials. As part of the ‘Women in Aviation’ effort, we work closely with the Airports Authority of India each year, to familiarise young schoolgirls with various aspects of the aviation industry. We try to attract more women to our industry by encouraging them to visit our facilities and witness our operations.
Finally, it is up to the individual to take the first step toward realising her potential and fulfilling her dream. Air Express is a purposeful, dynamic, result-oriented, and fast-paced industry with a diverse range of functions, including aviation. The pandemic specifically highlighted its importance in keeping the global and domestic critical supply chains alive by moving essential and non-essential items when every other form of transport came to a grinding halt. Early adoption and innovation in technology, as well as changing customer demand, provide renewed momentum and make for a promising future.
The general impression is that logistics is a masculine domain in which prospects for women are bleak. Yet, the reality is that opportunities abound. But Blue Dart promotes gender equality