My Aviators - My Journey as a Woman Pilot

On July 20th 2010 when I went to the airport for my introductory flight I hadn't given much thought to how many women pilots there were in the United States (or world). It never even occurred to me that it was still an issue in this modern day. I was raised with the mindset that I could do whatever I wanted and I haven't really given my gender a second thought in anything I have set out to do. Well as my time in aviation has continued I have realized that I am a minority and bias does exist.

The stats show that about 6% of pilots in the United States are women, this boils down to about 45,000 of us. That is not very many. We can all fit in most major sports arenas (which would be awesome)!

Every new airport I land at has at least one skeptic eyeing me precariously as I enter the FBO after securing my plane. At first I thought this was my imagination, but as time has gone on, I realize it is just fact. For some reason a lot of male pilots are still very reluctant to share the air with women. I am a realist and I know that not all women are capable of being pilots, some don't possess the mechanical knowledge or will to learn that mechanical knowledge, but the fact is that if they don't possess that skill the likely hood that they will earn a certificate is pretty slim. So what I say to all those skeptical male pilots out there is that I put in my time and took the same tests that you did and I passed. Gender differences aside, I am just as capable as you.

My challenge to women pilots of the world is to prove that we are strong, capable, safe pilots and to encourage any woman you know that has a dream to fly to pursue that dream. If you encounter prejudice, persevere; if you encounter acceptance, rejoice.

I finally got to take my first passenger today! A long time ago (ok it has only been a few months) when I started my training I promised my husband he could have the first ride when I had a license. Well, in my mind I thought maybe that would happen a day or two after I got my license. Not so much. 5 weeks later, we both finally got our schedules coordinated and the weather cooperated (sort of) and we got to go. Dan actually facilitated it by incorporating it into our date night. He called the FBO and booked the plane then he called me and said get your work done because we are going flying at 3:30 today. Who was I to argue!!!

I actually decided to go do some touch and goes before Dan met me at the airport. This served two purposes, one it burned some fuel so we wouldn't be too heavy and two it made sure I could handle the wind today. My first landing of the day was ugly!! Cross winds have always been my nemesis and today was no different, I know I can handle them, but dang it, the wind had the better of me on that landing. The second and third landings were pretty good and I was right at my personal max crosswind component 10kts (270@11 on runway 33). I was confident I could make the landings today and so I came in and waited for Dan to get to the airport.

While I was waiting I talked to my Flight Instructor for a while. He seemed pretty bored, things are slow, especially because the weather has sucked. It was good to talk with him, I really need to make some pilot friends so I have someone to talk shop with occasionally, didn't realize how much I missed it.

Well 3:50 rolls around and Dan walks in the airport, I am so excited I am about ready to jump out of my skin. We go out, I do a really quick pre-flight since I have already checked everything and flown for about a half hour. I talk Dan through a few things and then we climb in. We get all situated and I explain some of the instruments to Dan and what he needs to avoid being in the way of, especially on take-off and landing. He says "I am not going to touch anything!" That made me smile a bit.

We taxi to 33, do a run-up and line up to take-off. Full throttle, 60 kts, rotate and we are off, it was a pretty smooth take-off, Dan hardly noticed we left the ground (at least this is what I will tell myself). We departed to the Northeast and headed up the Mississippi for a while. We talked about some of the gauges and what things did. We had a discussion about leaning the mixture and why we do it. Overall it was a lot of fun for me to share flying with him. I wish we could have gone for longer or had a destination, but overall it was just a lot of fun.

We turned around right before the widest part of the Mississippi and headed back to Davenport. The skies were busy today and there was one other plane in the pattern and one waiting to depart when we got back. I jumped in as #2 in the pattern for runway 21. I slowed down and extended my downwind a bit for the other plane to land and then as I was turning final the plane on the ground announced they were departing, I again radioed that I was on final and the guy said he would hold for traffic. Phew, thought I was going to have to yell at him for not listening for traffic.

I was a bit unstable coming in and I missed the center line, but the landing stuck and it wasn't my worst. I had wanted it to be better, but Dan commented that he thought it would be rougher so I guess that is a good thing. Dan said he would go up with me again, so I guess that is a as good as I can ask for. Now I am ready for my next passenger, I love sharing aviation, who wants to go?!

So I woke up this morning and the sun was shining for the first time in like 10 days. I did a quick calculation and figured that I haven't been flying for 20 days and decided that I would take advantage of this nice day!

I worked my butt off this morning so that I could take off some time this afternoon. When 12:00pm rolled around and the sun was still out, the TAF was good, it has me clear until 4pm then overcast at 8000ft, I decided I should go.

I worked up a quick route. I have been trying to land at new/different airports to get some experience in navigation, finding new places and landing in different conditions (smaller runways etc). I found KSFY wasn't too far out, I could fly up the Mississippi which I have been wanting to do and it was a relatively small runway 4000ft x 75ft.

I called up the FBO and they had a plane available at 1:30 so I jumped at the chance. I grabbed my flight bag and headed to the airport.

When I arrived I was super pumped! Then the plane wouldn't start :( Not a new occurrence given the planes are pretty old and it is still nice and cold here in the midwest. This is the first time that I have not been able to get her going at all. Dan (assistant manager) came out and taught me to intentionally flood the plane and start her from a flooded state. His commentary while doing this was very helpful, I once again learned some things about the plane. Anyway it started, he jumped out, and off I went.

I headed to the east and was going to fly around 3500 since KSFY had ceilings predicted around 4000 as the afternoon went on. Well 3500 was hazy and skt so I climbed a bit, still hazy and skt so I dodged some clouds and rode in a bit of turbulence while I took in the scenery. No big deal. I flew over KSFY at 3500 and then flew to the east a bit while I descended down and made some radio calls that I was coming it on 13. This was a pretty cool approach because you come in over the frozen Mississippi, I imagine you might get some interesting up/down drafts sometimes. Landing was decent, I came in a bit high and fast but it was a solid landing. A quick back taxi and I was ready to depart again.

Once I was up the ceiling seemed kinda low so I checked the weather and it was reported at 3200, I hung out at 2500 and flew to the south west, I was out of the weather in a few minutes and I climbed up to 4500 for the rest of the trip to davenport. Davenport had a busy pattern, 3 planes plus me. I jumped in the downwind for 33 when I saw an opening and made a touch and go, I was high and fast again (damn it) but it was another solid landing. I made one more trip around the pattern to try and get the high and fast thing taken care of. My final landing was a bit off the center line but it was a good one and I was finally on the glide slope.

Glad I went out and knocked some rust off. Got in 1.3hrs and I can't wait to go again!

This is hilarious I couldn't resist reposting. I admit I have an iPad and it is amazing, but always remember to fly the plane!!

http://www.aopa.org/aopalive/?watch=dpczgxMjqhzgA49OfCP6osVD-0bznKEL&WT.mc_id=110211epilot&WT.mc_sect=sap

Well it appears that the weather has once again foiled my plans. I had been planning to take the hubby up for a ride today (I have been watching the weather for a week hoping it would work out). Well it appears it isn't going to happen.

Current METAR: KDVN 221752Z AUTO 06004KT 7SM OVC012 M03/M06 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP244 T10281061 11022 21039 51021

Although I could take him up for some pattern work that wouldn't be a fun first ride, so I guess it is postponed once again. Someday I will get to take up a passenger.

On another note, my official license came in the mail today! How awesome is that?!