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Advice for the ATPL theory exams Form a study group My advice to students currently taking their ATPL exams is to form or join a study group, rather than always studying on your own. Although studying independently allows you to focus without distractions, there are benefits to having group study sessions as well: A) You can bounce your ideas off each other. B) You can ask each other questions. Sometimes instructors are busy, and if you’re someone like me who asks lots of que

About me My name is Namita Gupta, and I am 25 years old. I was born in the Netherlands and have lived here for most of my life. I attended an international school and was raised with an Indian upbringing. I have also lived in India, the UK, and the USA. My decision to become a pilot Before my flight training, I studied at Maastricht University. I took classes in Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Neuroscience. While I was enjoying the course, I couldn’t see myself

By Zoe Cameron-Casey I have always wanted to be a pilot. I set my sights on the career when I was still in primary school and never wavered from the plan as I grew up. Even a near-fatal aircraft accident during my initial flying training in New Zealand, long before joining an airline, didn’t stop me from following that dream. However, that experience did open my eyes to the importance of Human Factors. The engine of the single-engine aircraft I was flying failed, something th

Like many things in aviation, leadership and crew management styles were originally developed from the military. Military-style leadership is a hierarchical, top-down approach characterised by traditionally masculine traits such as assertiveness, decisiveness, and confidence. This method is valuable in high-stakes environments where clear authority is essential. However, an overly hierarchical approach can be inefficient in modern aviation operations, where teamwork and adapt

I never would have guessed I’d be a pilot if you had asked me when I was 18. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, and, like so many, I went to college. I received a degree in Psychology in Business and started a career in Corporate America doing sales for a logistics company. Quickly, I realized I wanted to challenge myself and learn something new. I took a discovery flight in a Piper Cub and, as is the case for so  many others, my life changed. I fell in love with

Nicola Winter joined the German Air Force in 2004, becoming the country’s second female fighter pilot, flying the Tornado and later instructing. In 2015, she was retrained on the Eurofighter Typhoon, one of only three women to do so. After leaving military service in 2018 as a Major, she transitioned into management consulting, emergency medical service, and space research, while earning advanced degrees. In 2022, she was selected for the European Space Agency’s Astronaut Res

The aviation industry is truly inspiring. Somehow, humans managed to achieve what was biologically impossible and turn it into our new everyday. In 1903, the 12-second flight achieved by the Wright Brothers was considered an unbelievable feat. 122 years later, a metal object soaring at 36,000ft in the sky raises no eyebrows, and typically up to 1.7 million people fly at a time in these machines. However, it is not unknown that the way we fly comes with a cost to the environme

My name is Roxanne Scott-Williams, and I’m currently a Senior First Officer for Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, flying the Airbus A320. I’ve been with Wizz Air for nearly three years. Unfortunately, the company is closing our base, so I’m now facing a possible relocation or a new job search – but that’s a story for another day. Our First Shirt Style Sold Alongside my aviation career, I’m the founder of Dragonfly Skywear, a small business dedicated to creating consistent, high-quality pil

Can you talk about your aviation experience to date? When I was 6 years old I knew I wanted to become a pilot. It was what you can call a little girls’ dream and I had my mind set on it. So I made it happen. Flight school wasn’t without struggle, I absolutely despised it and couldn’t find my mojo both in ground school and flying single engine aircraft in Portugal. It wasn’t my thing. Looking back now it is a miracle I finished it. I don’t think I would have if it wasn’t for m

Most days, I feel like I belong in the cockpit. The moment I slide into my seat, flip on the avionics, and run through the checklist; everything feels right. But there are still days when that little voice sneaks in—the one that whispers,  “What if today is the day they figure out I don’t belong here?” I know I’m not alone. Most of the female pilots I’ve spoken to have felt something like this at some point. That quiet, creeping doubt that makes you wonder if you’re actually

Yvonne Brill’s contributions to aerospace engineering revolutionised the industry, won her multiple engineering honours, and remain the industry standard today- all despite being denied the opportunity to formally study engineering. Yvonne was the first member of her family to attend university, she applied to the University of Manitoba’s engineering program in 1945, but her application was denied, not due to merit but because their mandatory summer camp did not have female f

Written by @aero.holly “My life was flipped upside down the moment I had the realisation I wanted to fly” I’d been on holiday visiting California for the first time, on a road trip between LA and Vegas. Driving that open road, rocky mountains on either side, very small planes darting overhead… It was my first real glimpse of General Aviation. And it was enough for me to dive in and start planning. It took me over 6 months to make it back to California to start my training, bu

Written by - Daisy Briggs Do you tend to look upwards when you think about climate change? In the grand scheme of things, it may not seem like aviation contributes much towards climate change, particularly when considering your personal carbon footprint. In reality, 2.4% of global CO2 emissions come from aviation, which doesn’t include the carbon you produce travelling to and from the airfield. It also doesn’t consider the footprint behind your flight suits or other equipment

“This document avoids the clumsy statements of he/she and him/her by following the traditional use of he, him and his to include both sexes”. This, or a similar disclaimer can be found in the preface of the majority of aviation textbooks, documents and manuals. This is the standard within aviation. Elevate(her) conducted a survey of over 200 women involved in the aviation industry. 81.7% of women encountered masculine pronouns in literature always or often. Does Gendered Lang

Maya Ghazal shares her story in aviation Can you outline your aviation experience to date? I started my aviation journey flying a Cessna 152 in 2018. Having been interrupted by COVID I went back to flying and got my PPL in 2020 from a small airfield in West London. I have also flown other aircraft types including a Cessna 172, PA28 and DA40. I currently have over 100 hours on SEP. What was your motivation to start flight training? To be honest, I never dreamt about being a pi

My Journey in the World of Aviation: Aviation has always been a symbol of ambition, exploration, and pushing boundaries. From the first flights of the Wright brothers to modern autonomous aircraft, this industry has continually evolved. Today, not only are we striving for new heights, but we are also changing the very way aviation operates by incorporating innovative software solutions, geospatial technologies, and fresh perspectives. I am Katerina Veljanoska, a DevOps engine

Can you talk about your gliding experience so far?   I started gliding when I was 13, and it’s been the most magical experience. It’s been the place I’ve managed to find my true self and grow as a person in knowledge and confidence.  I went solo at the age of 14, and I’m in the process of learning the bronze endorsement syllabus to complete my exams!   What initially sparked your love of flying?   Back in February 2023, I went for an air experience flight in a Grob Tutor down

What inspired you to start volunteering? I was searching for more experience within the aviation industry, as I believe that to be a good pilot, you must be knowledgeable about all aspects of the aviation world. I came across a LinkedIn post by Inspiring the Future advertising their inspiring aviation campaign. Although I had never given talks before, I signed up. From my very first presentation, I knew this was one of the best decisions I’d ever made. I wanted the future gen

What is a Flight Test Engineer? Flight Test Engineers (FTE) are responsible for the definition, planning, and execution of flight tests, and the data analysis and presentation of results obtained for the duration of a test program. The scope of an FTE varies from organization to organization but in some cases, the FTE plays a monumental role throughout the test campaign, often coordinating and managing the entire test team of test pilots, technical specialists, various engine

Growing up in Syria, the path to becoming an Aeronautical Engineer was an uncertain and untrodden one... Ruba Khallouf outlines how she has broken the mould and achieved her aviation dreams at Chamwings. Aeronautical Engineer! I often see this phrase accompanied with a look of amazement when I introduce my profession. At the age of fourteen, I did not have the dream of flying as many do. I did not see a plane, nor did I travel in one, but a mysterious passion seemed to grow w