“Avion.” That was the first word that came out of Jai Vir Mehta’s (‘23) mouth. Even before saying “Mama” and “Papa,” his first word was aviation-related. After listening to his Peruvian nanny say it over and over again, aviation had already become a huge part of Jai Vir’s life, catalyzing a lifelong interest.

“It was just that fascination from my youth,” Jai Vir said. “Looking up into the sky and being enthralled by airplanes flying overhead was something that’s always been there.” 

Since going to the airport frequently with his father when he was younger, Jai Vir has always been fascinated with planes. While he’s not as interested in flying professionally, he’s fascinated with all its neighboring aspects, such as the passenger experience. After delving into economics within high school, Jai Vir later realized he wanted to do airline route network planning.

Jai Vir’s passion for aviation has been noticed by the people around him. Close friend Michelle Dorfman (‘23), who Jai Vir met in ninth grade, describes her admiration for his dedication to his goals and interests. 

“It’s really cool watching him go up to random people and talking to them about his passion for aviation,” Michelle said. “He also has a whole Instagram account dedicated to planes, and he’s also really good at photography. It’s so cool that he’s pursuing his passion.”

Jai Vir also takes individual action to spread his love for aviation through participation in the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 20, based in San Carlos Airport. The association allows him and other teenage volunteers to work on the plane ramps and direct aircraft and occasionally give plane rides to other children.

“We are responsible for telling the kids how to behave when they are inside the airplane, like to listen to their pilots and just be safe,” Jai Vir said. “We also sometimes marshal airplanes with sticks. It’s really exciting to be able to volunteer with kids and give them free flights once a month.”

Yet, he has also faced some challenges when it comes to pursuing this passion. Due to airline planning being a very niche field, few opportunities are available. As a result, Jai Vir struggled with gaining professional experience in network planning due to age limitations.

Still, despite these difficulties, Jai Vir persevered, approaching the situation from a different perspective. Rather than looking for professional possibilities directly, Jai Vir made connections with others through his aviation account on Instagram. In turn, the relationships enabled him to access previously unattainable professional opportunities, creating friendships along the way. 

“This past summer I was able to get this mentorship with Delta in sales development,” Jai Vir said. “It wasn’t exactly the area that I wanted to be in, but I was still really grateful for that [opportunity] because it helped expose me to the industry and helped give me my first professional experience.”

Jai Vir’s perseverance and determination are not the only traits that stand out about him. Close friend Emmett Chung (‘23), who he met in third grade, talks about Jai Vir’s consistency and how his strengths and personality have remained constant throughout the years they’ve known each other.

“A lot of people change in middle and high school. It’s what every adult likes to talk about,” Emmett said. “The fact that Jai Vir really has remained the person he is, all his positives remaining the same is, I think, one of his greatest attributes in that respect.”

Furthermore, upper school math teacher Caren Furtado also remarks on Jai Vir’s ability to stay consistent amidst all the changes in high school. His ability to adapt to change while staying the same and being able to bring together different people is an admirable feat.

“His biggest strength is his ability to deal with all sorts of people,” Furtado said. “He really has a way of bringing all types of people together, and he can get along with all kinds of people and be that glue that keeps them together.”

While Jai Vir has grown as a person, adapting to and overcoming the obstacles he faces, his friendly and approachable personality and love for aviation have never wavered. While other interests and hobbies have come and gone in his life, he knows that aviation will always be something he is passionate about. 

“Over time, my respective interests within aviation have really changed, but my passion for aviation as a whole has stayed super constant,” Jai Vir said. “I always knew I liked airplanes. I like being around them. I like being in them. I like to fly.”