Professional Asian Pilots Paving the Way for the Next Generation By Benson Truong For anyone interested in aviation, flight, and travel, the idea of entering the aviation industry as a professional can seem overwhelming. Many members of the Professional Asian Pilots Association felt the same way growing up. In 2017, a group of regional pilots sought to change that to make it easier for those following in their footsteps to achieve their aviation goals. “As a scholarship recipient, PAPA has helped me alleviate a huge financial barrier of attending flight school so that I can focus on studying and flying!” says PAPA member and 2021 Scholarship Recipient, Megan Esqueda. Interested in a career as a pilot, Esqueda hit a roadblock when trying to begin her studies, but now she’s working through her commercial pilot certificate, well on her way to becoming a professional pilot. “My PAPA mentor Emily has been a huge support while I navigate the aviation industry. PAPA has helped turn my dreams into reality, and I’m so honored to be a part of this organization!”
In April of 2017, with a mission of helping more young aviators see themselves in the field, they created Professional Asian Pilots President Harley Pasiderio (right) Association (PAPA), a 501c3 non-profit organization. The organization has grown from a group chat to a nation-wide network of aviation enthusiasts, who participate in PAPA’s mentoring programs, social meet-ups, careers events and more. Just last year, PAPA hosted its first-ever industry expo, which it will be hosting again this year. In the United States, fewer than 3% of airline pilots identify as Asian, but PAPA is seeking to change
PAPA member Felix Wong (left) and PAPA director David Takahashi (right)
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