Many might recognise Saravanan Ayyavoo as the host of TV shows Hello Vasantham and Vasantham Star.
Few, however, know that the 43-year-old is also a licensed commercial pilot with Scoot Airlines.
Saravanan’s aspirations for flying existed long before his stint with the radio and television – as a childhood dream, in fact.
Growing up, he was fascinated by airplanes.
“During my school days, I used to visit the viewing gallery at the airport just to see the planes take off,” he told tabla!
“My mother further encouraged me to follow my passion. She previously worked in (aviation solutions firm) SATS and because of that I got a rare opportunity to travel to Chennai on a jumpseat (an additional seat located in the cockpit or cabin of an aircraft). I’ve always treasured that experience.”
After completing his mechanical engineering degree at the National University of Singapore in 2006, Saravanan applied to Singapore Airlines’ pilot training programme, but it was during the financial crisis and the airline was not accepting trainees.
An unexpected opportunity to enter the media industry soon followed when he accompanied his friends to a Hello Vasantham audition. Thanks to his wit, charm and natural screen presence, he was shortlisted to be the host for the show.
From there, Saravanan carved out a niche and identity for himself, all while earning accolades aplenty, including the best host award at Pradhana Vizha not less than seven times.
The dream of flying, however, never strayed far from his mind.
“I realised that no matter how much I liked being in the media, the idea of flying never left me,” he said.
In 2015, when Scoot airlines introduced its pilot training programme, Saravanan gave his aspirations another go. Training spanned two-and-a-half years, including a stint in Perth for more than a year.
“I was already married during that period. My wife Aakarshana was an air stewardess with Singapore Airlines previously, and so she understood the situation.”
Saravanan describes his first solo flight as a life-changing experience.
“My first flight was to Harbin, in China. Scoot does not fly to that destination now. I was so excited and nervous. So many passengers were dependent on me,” he said.
Over the last eight years, Saravanan – who still hosts TV shows occasionally – has flown to Australia, India, Greece, Germany and all over Asia. He hopes to fly to Paris one day.
As a pilot, Saravanan faces numerous challenges such as turbulence and managing the passengers. However, whenever he flies, the scenery in the sky makes his efforts worth it.
“I have seen shooting stars and satellites in the sky. Recently, I got to see the India-Pakistan border and was so fascinated by it,” he said.
“My journey from a media personality to a pilot is more than just a career shift. It’s a testament to following my heart, no matter how impossible a dream may seem.”
