I was raised on a South Carolina farm and have a Master’s degree in modern European history. I taught history at the university level for ten years and have done advanced work at the University of Bonn and the London School of Economics and Political Science.
I possess the Airline Transport Pilot certificate with multiengine rating, was named a two time Master Instructor, a Gold Seal Certified Flight Instructor, hold Multiengine, Instrument, Advanced Ground, and Instrument Ground Instructor certificates.
I’ve flown charter, corporate, headed up an aviation department at a community college, created a Part 141 Flight School and a Part 135 operation, managed a flight department at an international airport and served as a FAA Lead FAASTeam Representative.
What got you interested in aviation, and what was your first flight like?
I got interested in aviation later in life. I was managing the policy and planning office for a North Carolina Governor. When the Governor was no longer able to succeed himself, a new Governor came into office and the man who took over my job took me on my first ride at a local airport in a WWII Swift. We flew through a rainbow, and I thought that was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! I determined to fly then and there.
As we came in for a landing, the pilot got really quiet. I asked him what was happening.
He said, “You see that yellow light? I don’t know if the gear is down and locked.”
We did a low pass by the FBO and was told the gear was down but they could not tell us it was locked. The pilot said he would make a soft field landing.
When he slammed it in, I looked up and said, “The gear is locked.” That man became my flight instructor.
If you fly for a living, what’s the most challenging part of your job?
I am now retired but have had a varied career in aviation. The most challenging part of the job was dealing with people’s expectations.
When I walked into my first Advisory Board meeting as Head of a community college Aviation Division, one of the members greeted me with, “Margaret, welcome. We’re glad to see you but we really preferred a man to be a role model for our students.”
I answered with “Glad to be here.” How else do you handle a remark like that?
What do you like most about flying?
The most satisfaction for me has come from instructing. Getting people to realize that they can do something as demanding as flying an airplane and realizing that they can achieve goals that few other people have mastered, gives me the greatest feeling imaginable of contributing to an individual’s development.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in aviation?
Go for it! Every job has its hurdles and expectations, and we have to prove ourselves every time we try something new. Flying is so challenging that when we successfully become a pilot, we gain a sense of achievement that is without measure. We know we can do anything we set out minds to do!!
Very interesting and motivating. I am extremely proud of the women out there who climbed their highest mountain to succeed in achieving their dreams! My dreams are different from my children’s dreams, but my dreams are just that…mine. I dreamt of being the best mother I can be once I learned of my first, second and third pregnancy. I may not have been the best my children deserve, but I did and continue to try my best to be loving, caring, supportive, and be as present as possible for each of my children. I know every mother claims to love their child, but my love for my 3Rs is my highest mountain.
I wonder if Margaret Riddle is a mother or not. She’s one person I’d like to read more about. It’s amazing what the mind can do. My daughters amaze me daily with the mountains they’ve climbed to success.