I didn’t grow up wanting to be a pilot. I only went to flight school because the Army said it was a really tough school and I like a challenge. I have an uncle who became a pilot a couple years after I did, but I didn’t know anyone who could fly when I was growing up.
I’ve had a few different flying jobs since I was 24 but I first learned to fly in the military on UH-1 “Huey” Helicopters. I also flew C12s (King Air 200’s) in the military in Germany and to South and Central America. When I left the Army, I went to work for a regional airline flying Beech 1900s. I left there to fly for a private (fractional) airline, on both the Citation V and the Beechjet. Most recently I worked for NetJets flying the Citation X, which I LOVED! I am currently training to become a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI).
I like flying mostly because the sun and sky are so beautiful up above where everyone else may be having a cloudy, rainy day! I love going to work where I can look down at big cities and small towns and everything in between. I do not like sitting in one place very much, like in an office, and I do like to travel and see new places.
If you want to be a pilot, you can’t hate studying, because pilots have a test at least once or twice a year to keep their license. Pilots need to keep up to date on the different rules and regulations the government has put in place to keep flying safe.
Many people are surprised when I tell them that I am a professional pilot. Most people don’t know that women have been flying since 1910, and there are more and more girls getting their pilots’ licenses every day. When I’m in my uniform, people are always assuming I’m a flight attendant. In fact, one day when I was settling into my seat in the cockpit, a woman passenger called out to me, “Stewardess, Stewardess. I can’t get my seatbelt fastened.” So I said to her, “I promise to help you with the seatbelt if you promise not to call me stewardess.” Her husband leaned over to her and said; “I think they call them flight attendants now.” I had to explain to them that, no really, I was a real live pilot!
I founded Girls With Wings several years ago because I think there needs to be a greater awareness in the community that women can be and ARE pilots – and good ones at that. We do presentations to girls’ groups so that they know that “Yes, Girls Can Fly!”
Find me at: http://www.girlswithwings.com
1 comment
gretchen
Lynda – what a great idea to give girls a hands-on experience with flying… Love your site!
I’ve flown across the US a few times here recently and I noticed that it is a rarity to see a female pilot. It’s great to see women like you who chase after your dreams and good for you for correcting people who think you’re the flight attendant. People need to get away from their stereotyped views. I bet they had some very shocked looks on their faces when you spoke up. ;)