A story of skill, self-belief, and the journey of a Goan dreamer. Atul Ulhas Chari, a local from Ponda, went from running a modest dairy farm to becoming an integral part of the engineering division at FLY91, Goa’s ambitious regional airline.
Twenty nine-year-old Atul’s path to aviation wasn’t planned. Never would he have imagined finding himself in the midst of turbines, propellers and runways. But sometimes, opportunity knocks softly—in his case, it appeared as a newspaper advertisement for a driver’s job at a soon-to-launch airline. Intrigued and hopeful, Atul applied. He had no connections in aviation, just his love for cars, his hands-on
skills from helping his father in fabrication and carpentry, and a deep need to restart after a personal setback.
Born in a home where hands did the talking, Atul was an apprentice in his father’s fabrication and carpentry workshop. Over time, he learnt welding, wood-turning, and operating lathe machines—skills that made him technically inclined long before he knew what engineering stores even meant.
With a determination to be independent and a longstanding wish to start his own business, Atul set up a small dairy farm in Keri, in Ponda, with just two buffaloes in 2017. But in a fateful decision, he bought 10 milch animals at once—just before the COVID-19 pandemic. The losses were immediate and brutal. “I managed to sustain the business till 2023,” he says. “But financially, it became impossible. I had to take a step back.” Not losing hope, Atul started scouting for jobs again. That’s when he saw the advertisement about an airline being introduced in Goa that required drivers.
His journey at FLY91 began as a driver—one of the first local hires for the Goa- headquartered airline. His work did not go unnoticed by Manoj Chacko, MD and CEO, FLY91 and Chenna Reddy, the airline’s Chief Operating Officer. Gradually, he was given responsibilities with the ground operations team, assisting with line maintenance. It wasn’t long before he was transferred to the engineering stores department, where he helps manage aircraft components and ensures timely dispatches to the technical team. Today, he proudly says, “I used to change a WagonR tyre. Now, I can change an aircraft tyre in under 45 minutes.”
Currently working night shifts from 8 pm to 8 am, Atul manages inventory, monitors maintenance schedules and prepares essential equipment. Soon, he’ll be transitioning into the Ground Support Equipment department, further expanding his skillset. For a man who once felt defeated by bad timing and financial loss, this role means everything. “I’m living a life I never dreamed of. From being a local boy with no aviation background to working directly with aircraft—it feels amazing,” he says. “Hopefully, the day will come when I move from driving on the tarmac to flying above it.” And why not? Atul has completed his science education, and he’s not afraid of dreaming higher.
Atul’s story is made possible by Manoj Chacko, CEO and MD of FLY91, who personally believes in investing in local Goan talent. “When I thought of setting up the FLY91 base in Goa, many advised me against it, saying we wouldn’t find satisfactory talent here,” Chacko recalls. “But we saw aspiration and ambition. It’s endearing to see that Atul can work on the tyre of an aircraft with just as much skill as on the tyre of a car.” With roots in Goa, his personal connection to the state adds a layer of authenticity to FLY91’s hiring philosophy. “We’re not in a rush; we’re here to build something enduring,” Chacko says. “Goa isn’t just our base. It’s part of who we are.”
In just its first year, FLY91 has operated 3,500 flights and carried nearly 1.7 lakh passengers—a remarkable feat for a new regional carrier. Headquartered in Goa, the airline currently employs close to 300 staff, including 40 pilots, many of whom now call the coastal state home. Among them, people like Atul stand out—not because of their aviation background, but because of their attitude, commitment, and hunger to grow. FLY91’s inclusive hiring model is sending ripples across India’s aviation sector, proving that potential matters as much as pedigree.
Atul’s journey—from a dairy farmer struggling to stay afloat to managing aircraft equipment at an airline—is more than a feel-good tale. It’s a blueprint for reskilling, resilience, and the power of a second chance. “You don’t need to have everything figured out,” Atul says. “You just need to be willing to start somewhere.” With people like Atul on its team, FLY91 isn’t just connecting underserved destinations—it’s lifting the aspirations of everyday Indians, one opportunity at a time.
