{{short description|Indian aviator}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} '''Prem Mathur''' is the first Indian woman commercial pilot and started flying for Deccan Airways. She obtained her commercial pilot's licence in 1947.<ref name="Modern General Knowledge">{{cite book|last=Kumar|first=Ganesh|title=Modern General Knowledge|year=2010|publisher=Upkar Prakashan|isbn=9788174821805|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DbnFSqKSVb0C&q=prem+mathur&pg=PA173}}</ref><ref name="One hundred years of flying high">{{cite news|last=KRISHNASWAMY|first=MURALI N.|title=One hundred years of flying high|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-youngworld/article2587819.ece?css=print|access-date=22 March 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=1 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="Women in the cockpit">{{cite news|last=Neelam Raaj|first=Amrita Singh|title=Women in the cockpit|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/Women-in-the-cockpit/articleshow/2128487.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130426160427/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-17/special-report/27959326_1_women-pilots-commercial-pilot-woman-pilot|url-status=live|archive-date=26 April 2013|access-date=22 March 2013|newspaper=The Times of India|date=17 Jun 2007}}</ref> In 1949, she won the National Air Race.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://andersmoberg676.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/strong-indian-women/ |title=Strong Indian women |date=10 December 2012 |access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref>
== Early life == Mathur was born on 17 January 1910.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.idiva.com/news-womens-month/prem-mathur-indias-badass-first-female-pilot/17074806|title=Prem Mathur, India's Badass First Female Pilot, Was Licensed Back In 1947!|date=2018-03-01|website=iDiva.com|access-date=2019-03-08}}</ref>
== Career == Mathur was rejected by eight airlines before she got a job at Deccan Airways in Hyderabad in 1947.<ref name=":0" /> She was offered the job at the age of 38 where she became the first Indian woman to fly a commercial plane. She received her license from the Allahabad Flying Club. She flew her first plane as a co-pilot. During her career at Deccan Airways, she flew high-profile people like Indira Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Lady Mountbatten.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2016/09/first-indian-woman-commercial-pilot-ms.html|title=Navrang India: First indian woman commercial pilot - Ms. Prem Mathur|website=Navrang India|access-date=2019-03-08}}</ref>
Mathur wanted the full command of the cockpit but was denied the same by Deccan Airways, even after fulfilment of the required flying hours by her.<ref name=":1" /> Soon after, she moved to Delhi where she became G.D. Birla's private jet pilot.<ref name=":0" /> After that she joined Indian Airlines in 1953 and worked there for the rest of her career span.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
== Awards == In 1949, Mathur won the National Air Race.<ref name=":0" />
== Personal life == Mathur married Hari Krishna Mathur who hails from Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh and they had six children together. Mathur died at the age of 82 on 22 December 1992.<ref name=":0" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathur, Prem}} Category:Aviation pioneers Category:Indian aviators Category:Commercial aviators Category:20th-century Indian women Category:20th-century Indian people Category:1910 births Category:1992 deaths Category:Indian women commercial aviators