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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

As the aviation industry promotes aviation careers to women and girls and advocates for gender equality, we need to reevaluate established procedures and consider how these impact everyone. The processes for hiring and promoting must provide opportunity if we want to support women entering the industry, and allow for the necessary career progression to retain the current female workforce. When we have an idea of what an ideal candidate should look like, it’s more complex than

Fiona is currently completing her ATPL exams and hour building, in her spare time she volunteers at her local Air Cadet squadron. She is a Former Air Cadet, University Air Squadron Officer Cadet, and Royal Air Force Commissioned Officer. She shares some of her wisdom from years of flight experience, as well as some insight into what it takes to write a successful scholarship application. As a recipient of 10 scholarships herself and having helped mentor several young people

How did you get started in the industry? I got started in aviation by finding Aerobility at a disability expo event called Naidex back in April. They told me they help disabled people experience flight and that very soon they would be starting a virtual aviation experience course and suggested I look out for it and sign up. Which I then went on to do exactly that. How important do you think events like the disability expo are? These opportunities are so important for disable

Positive action is a method used by some employers to increase diversity in the workplace. This is legalised in the UK under the Equality Act 2020. The UK government define Positive action as “allowing additional help to be provided for groups of people who share a ‘protected characteristic’ (for example, race, sex, or sexual orientation) to level the playing field.” The combination of companies misusing positive action alongside frustrations with the job market have led to

I’m driven by helping others find their full potential in and out of the cockpit... 1. Can you outline your aviation experience so far? I went straight to Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training to learn to fly after graduating college. I entered that program with no civilian flight time. It was like trying to drink from a fire hose. I spent the next two years going through various Air Force training programs and learning to fly the DA-20, T-6, and T-38. I went into that j

One argument often used against female pilots is that they aren't suited to the lifestyle. The constant travelling and inconsistent work hours are incompatible with motherhood and the traditional roles of a woman in a relationship. Thankfully this isn’t true, as proven daily by the many fantastic women who are both pilots and mothers. But this isn’t to say that it’s easy. The flight deck is a unique work environment and creates a challenge for breastfeeding mothers. To acquir