A Journey of Leadership, Learning & Expression
My professional and personal journey has moved through three interconnected worlds — aviation, teaching and mentoring, and writing.For more than three decades, aviation has given me the opportunity to work with airports, people, systems, organisations and complex operational environments. The journey gradually took me from engineering and airport operations to senior leadership positions, including responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Airport Officer.Along the way, professional experience naturally evolved into teaching and mentoring. As an ICAO-certified instructor, course developer and training manager, I have had the privilege of training aviation professionals in India and overseas, while also teaching BBA, MBA and executive-level students.Writing has travelled alongside both. It began as a personal passion and gradually became another important dimension of my identity through short stories, humorous essays, newspaper columns, contemporary articles, translation and books.Today, these three pursuits continue to define me:
TEACHING & MENTORING
Experience Shared.
Future Shaped.
Bringing the airport into the classroom — and the classroom closer to the real world.
Teaching emerged naturally from over three decades in aviation leadership. From ORAT and airport operations to strategy and people development, my mission is simple: translate real-world experience into meaningful learning and mentor to the next generation of aviation professionals and leaders.
The Beginning of a Teacher
I grew up in a family of teachers, and that environment naturally planted in me a deep respect for education. During the final year of my engineering studies, I was invited to teach at Natarajan Institute of Science and Technology (NIST), Chennai, where I taught Basic Electronics and Applied Mechanics and Strength of Materials. At that time, teaching was not yet a career plan, but the experience planted a seed that would remain with me throughout my professional life.
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Early 1990's
NIST, Chennai: Taught Basic Electronics and Applied Mechanics & Strength of Materials while completing engineering studies.
2003-2007
Goa: Conducted classes for Trade Wings and Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostesses
2009-2014
UPES, Dehradun: Guest Faculty for BBA/MBA Aviation Management; taught Airport Planning & Management and guided projects and dissertations.
2014
Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Philippines: Training and mentoring during airport transition.
2015-2018
GMR Aviation Academy: Head of Operations / Senior Aviation Specialist; designed and delivered ed and customize and ICAO-compliant trainings in India and overseas. Trained airport professionals across multiple stakeholder groups.
2019-2021
Taught Basic Electronics and Applied Mechanics & Strength of Materials while completing engineering studies.
Professional Journey
Experience in Descending order
Aviation Teaching and Consultancy (2024 - Present)
- Provided consultancy to TATA Semiconductor Assembly and Test Private Limited for for setting up helipads.
- Imparted training to the Executive MBA batch of students conducted by School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal.
- Imparted classroom sessions to BBA/MBA students of Galgotias University, Greater Noida.
- Conducted Online courses for aviation aspirants.
Chief Airport Officer, (VP-Level) Guwahati International Airport Limited (2021-2024)
- Transitioned Guwahati Airport (VEGT/GAU) from government to private mode with zero disruption while ensuring full regulatory compliances (ICAO/DGCA/BCAS/AERA).
- Directed Aerodrome Manual, SMS Manual, Sustainability Plan and Airport Emergency Procedure.
- Served as Accountable Executive for operations, compliance, HR and P&L ownership.
- Developed the 50-year Master Plan of Guwahati Airport and finalized the design of the upcoming terminal building.
Chief Airport Officer, Adani Airport Holding Limited, Ahmedabad (2019-2021)
- Developed transition strategies for six Indian airports: Mangalore, Trivandrum, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Guwahati.
- Led the team in preparing takeover plans for all six airports and served at Chief Airport Officer (Accountable Executive) during the transition.
Chief Operating Officer, Kannur International Airport, Kerala (2018-2019)
- Led ORAT and spearheaded commissioning of the new Greenfield airport.
- Achieved operational excellence with zero non-compliance.
- Established international connectivity from Day-1.
- Installed non-aero commercial sources from the beginning.
Senior Aviation Specialist (GM level), GMR Aviation Academy, Hyderabad (2015-2018)
- Achieved substantial revenue growth via training diversification.
- Imparted training in India and overseas on aviation subjects.
- Developed customized courses for stakeholders for specific needs.
Associate General Manager - Business Integration, Delhi International Airport Limited, IGI Airport, New Delhi ((2008-2015)
- Designed ORAT strategies for IGI Airport, Terminal-3, New Delhi (2009) and Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Philippines (2014)
- Served as Shift In-Charge of Operations (Airport Duty Manager) and aligned the operational requirements of aviation stakeholders during commissioning of Terminal-3.
- Coined and introduced "GMR-DIAL Clearance (GDC)" for managing charter flight movements at IGI airport, still in practice today.
Terminal Manager, Goa International Airport, Dabolim, Airports Authority of India (2001-2007)
- Served as Head of Terminal Management and achieved the highest Customer Satisfaction Index among airports in India in 2007.
- Served with commercial department to enhance non-aeronautical revenue.
- Assumed responsibility of Managed Moto Transport pool and managed the fleet of vehicles.
Aeronautical Communication Service Engineer, Airports Authority of India, Imphal, Guwahati, Tezpur airport (1993-2001)
- Delivered responsibilities of operating and maintaining NAVAIDS - NDB, DVOR, DME, ILS- LLZ, GP, LPDME.
- Served in the department of Aeronautical Information Service handling NOTAM and AIP (Aeronautical Information Publication) Supplements and Amendments.
Continuing the Aviation Journey
Open to meaningful aviation leadership, advisory, ORAT, training and consultancy assignments.