Learning in the Skies with Aadarsh Teli

  

Today I am super excited to share my interview with Aadarsh Teli. He has a fascinating passion for flying planes. We talked about his journey into aviation, and some of the amazing experiences he's had so far. During our discussion I really connected with him! Here are some of the questions I asked him.

1. Before we get into discussing your passion for flying, I would love to know about your educational background?

Aadarsh went to high school in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Olentangy Liberty High School in 2017. It was very exciting to learn that Aadarsh had attended the same high school I will be enrolled in the near future. After high school, Aadarsh enrolled in a program called NEOMED, which is a program for students aiming to secure a spot at medical school. When COVID-19 hit, Aadarsh decided not to make a commitment to medical school. A few months later, he transferred to Ohio State University and took up a degree called PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics). He shared that he enjoyed this course a lot. After completing his degree at OSU, Aadarsh took a six-month course to become an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). Finally, he went to New York and completed his master's degree in public health in June 2024.

2. What inspired your passion for flying?

When Aadarsh was 16, his mom got him to do an intro flying class. After taking that class, he immediately fell in love with flying. When he first started, he wasn't consistent and he took several breaks. In hindsight Aadarsh said that flying is about learning and being consistent, not letting your basic skills get rusty. Aadarsh mentioned that, for him, flying has always been such a fun challenge!

3. How did you continue to convince your parents to support your passion?

Aadarsh was committed to becoming a doctor. His passion for flying was considered secondary compared to his medical career. Eventually, his parents saw the confidence flying gave him and also his consistency to pursue it. Over time, they became more supportive.

4. Where did you take your training? What did the overall program look like and what were logistical aspects such as fees and timeline?

Aadarsh started his training at the Delaware Municipal Airport in Columbus, Ohio. He attended a flight school called Spencer Aviation. Aadarsh trained in a smaller plane because smaller planes are cheaper to rent. His training was self-paced, which meant Aadarsh could fly whenever he wanted. Later, when Aadarsh went to New York to complete his master’s degree, he finished his training there. Aadarsh said that flying in New York was a very interesting experience for him because there is so much air traffic there that every time you fly, so you have to be at your best.

5. How old were you when you learnt how to fly? Is there a certain age you need to be in order to learn how to fly?

When Aadarsh was 16 years old, he was introduced to flying. There is no age requirement to become a student pilot. If you are under 15, you start flying with an instructor and build up the minimum number of hours needed to take a test. This test determines if you are ready to start flying by yourself.

6. When you were learning how to fly, how many hours did you need to complete each day?

Aadarsh soloed for 80 flight hours. He says that at first, he was a bit slow because flying was a hobby for him. Aadarsh also mentioned that he needed 40 to 80 flight hours to move up to the next level. He normally flew once a week.

7. What are some of the biggest dangers and your personal challenges while flying?

Aadarsh said that as a pilot, you are going up against Mother Nature. There are three dangerous natural phenomena one has to take care of while flying: ice, clouds, and thunderstorms. Aadarsh has not experienced any of these phenomena yet. One of his biggest personal challenges was managing the radios while flying properly. Since Aadarsh was flying in open airspace, there were air traffic controllers giving him instructions. He had to report to his instructors, and if they were giving him instructions, he would have to repeat everything they said word for word.

8. Did you get your license? And what were your biggest learnings?

Aadarsh got his private pilot’s license in June 2023. He earned his instrument license in July 2025. The two biggest lessons from aviation are that there is no room for error and that being prepared is crucial. If a difficult situation were to occur, there is always a checklist to help navigate through it. Aadarsh has also learned the importance of being prepared. He loves the challenges that aviation presents him with, the first one is multitasking and the second important one being always prepared. These experiences help him to keep developing to be the best version of himself.

9. How do you plan to continue to pursue your passion?

Aadarsh plans to try flying bigger planes as time goes on. Another goal for him in the distant future is to become a commercial pilot. However, realistically, Aadarsh would like to own his own plane and fly whenever and wherever he wants.

10. From your life journey and learnings, what advice would you give to me?

Aadarsh said that if you want something, the journey to achieve it will not be easy. When you come across an obstacle that seems to prevent you from getting what you want, try to think positively about the challenge. Keep telling yourself that whatever you are working on is worth it. Aadarsh also says to find something you enjoy. Don’t worry about how it will affect your future or your generally what others think—just have fun with pursuing your activities.

I would like to thank Aadarsh for taking the time to talk to me! I really enjoyed our conversation. I was very excited to write this blog and I learnt very many valuable lessons from Aadarsh including trying to fly in the future!

I would really love to hear your feedback and comments. Please reach out to me@hanikachhajer.com.