I’m currently working on my private license. I’m learning to fly in a Diamond DA-20, and I’ve been pursuing my license for about 5 months.
What got you interested in aviation?
I grew up around flying. My dad pursued his PPL (Private Pilots License) and eventually attended USAF (United States Air Force) Pilot Training when I was a little girl. I’ve always been enamored with airplanes and flight, but I felt a little daunted following in my dad’s footsteps, so I initially decided to pursue a career in Clinical Exercise Physiology. That wasn’t for me so I decided I could at least also be in the Air Force like my dad is and pursued a career as an Intelligence Officer. I genuinely love that job. I’ve learned so much and grown so much since I started my USAF career three years ago, but aviation still holds my heart.
How did you get started flying?
I decided to make the big leap and pursue my private license in October of 2019. After a few years of working with aircrew but never getting to fly myself, I decided it was time to pursue my dream. My family supported me 100% and have even donated financially towards my training. I contacted a local instructor, we met up, and the rest is history!
What was your first flight like?
My first flight was a wide spectrum of emotions. It was so fulfilling because I was finally actually, sort of flying the plane myself! It was also scary because I worried I wouldn’t be good at it or would hate it. All those emotions got a little overwhelming and I ended up getting air sick at the end of the flight, but I was hooked. I knew then and there that being an aviator would be just as exhilarating as I dreamed it would be.
What do you like about flying?
I love being up in the sky. I love seeing the earth laid out below you. It’s a whole new experience, a whole new way to see the world. I also like the order and discipline. There’s a checklist that you can always refer to when in doubt. There’s a routine to things that’s comforting.
What’s the most challenging part of flying?
Landing has been the biggest challenge so far. Most of the hang up has been mental, and thankfully I have an awesome instructor (Thanks Bill!) who has patiently coached me through. I’m a very self-critical person so when I muck up a landing my first instinct is to beat myself up over. Bill always talks me through the stuff I did well to reinforce the good habits and dissects the stuff I didn’t do so well. Having a good instructor that you trust makes such a difference, in my opinion.
Did you encounter any roadblocks on your path to your licenses?
One of the biggest roadblocks to flying has been finding the time to dedicate on top of a full time job and grad school. I ended up taking a break in my masters because I wanted to have more time to devote to flying. Thankfully, I have a very supportive spouse who always encourages me to take every second of spare time I have to fly.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue aviation?
Just do it! There will never be a “perfect” time to pursue aviation, but I know I’d rather make some adjustments now and pursue this than regret not pursuing it later in life. It can seem like a massive undertaking, but I think the reward of being up in the sky far outweighs any adjustments or sacrifices you might have to make along the way.
