What inspired you to pursue a career in aviation?
Growing up, my dad used to take me to every air show nearby. He would describe all the planes to me while we walked through all the displays together, and we would watch the aerobatic demonstrations together. I just enjoy being around like-minded individuals, and it really sparked my interest in aviation and kickstarted my passion. Then when we travelled, my parents would ask if I could meet the pilots or see the cockpit, which only increased my love of the industry. It made me realize that a career as a pilot could actually be possible for me at an early age. As I got older, this passion and desire to be a pilot just grew and grew, and it became something I wanted to be my reality, not just a dream.
Can you describe your journey to the cockpit?
There are so many different paths you can take to becoming a pilot, but I decided I wanted to go with the university route. I chose to go to Western University in London, ON, which was affiliated with Diamond Flight Centre at the time. It was a four-year program, where I got my degree in Business Management, along with an integrated CPL license, and then the Group 1 IFR rating. After I graduated from the university portion, I still had my multi-IFR to finish up, so I stayed in London to complete it, along with getting the extra hours to validate my IATRA. Once I was done with everything and fully licensed, I started applying for any and every job I could find. I ended up reaching out to a recent graduate who was working with Bearskin Airlines at the time, and they got me in contact with the manager who was hiring for pilots-in-waiting positions. Next thing I knew, I was packing everything up and moving to Sioux Lookout to start as a ramp agent in their pilot-in-waiting program. My timing happened to be perfect, and I only did 4 months on the ramp before moving to a flight line position. From there, I worked as a First Officer for a year and a half before upgrading to Captain. I’ve now been a Captain for about two years, and along the way, I’ve gotten the opportunity to become a Training Captain which means I help train some of the new First Officers during their line indoctrination.
What is your favourite part of being a pilot?
There’s honestly so many parts of being a pilot that I love, and I find it hard to choose just one. I remember this one flight where the sun was setting on our way back home. We were just on the tops of the clouds, going in and out of the waves, radios were quiet, and it was the most surreal feeling. I remember thinking how crazy it was that this was my job, and I actually get to experience this. Those moments are what make me so happy that this is the career I’m in, and I’m excited to get to experience more moments like that in the future!
What career moment are you most proud of?
I would have to say when I upgraded to Captain. Becoming a pilot had been a dream of mine since I was little, and although getting my first job as a First Officer was a huge accomplishment in its own right, I felt that when I got the chance to move up to Captain it was a pivotal moment for me. It meant I had proved myself as a First Officer and showed I was capable of taking on more responsibility. It really made me feel like I was completing another step in my dreams and helped me prove to myself that I was good enough at my job, that I was able to take on this next step and next challenge.
What advice would you offer to young girls who are in aviation?
It might come off as a bit cliché, but don’t stop chasing your dreams. If a career in aviation is what you want, it’s very attainable! There will definitely be hurdles and moments when you feel defeated, but you have to keep pushing through them and consistently put in the effort and time to reach each milestone! This industry is such a small world, and there’s a good chance you’ll likely end up running into someone again or working together at some point. Make connections and enjoy each moment as you progress as those are the times you’ll look back on later in your career!
