Finding Freedom in the Sky

Written by Sana Jumah, @sanajumah

It always starts the same: a quiet airfield, a glider waiting on the runway to get launched, and the question of what the sky will bring today. But for me, the sky was not always a place of freedom.

Hi! My name is Sana Jumah, and for much of my childhood, airplanes meant something very different to me.

During the first few years of my childhood, I grew up in Damascus, Syria. I had a happy childhood until the war began. From that moment on, the sound of an aircraft in the sky rarely brought anything good. As a child, seeing a plane overhead usually meant danger and the fear of an airstrike. Whenever I looked up at the sky, I hoped to see no airplanes at all.

Introduction to gliding

When I was nine years old, my family moved to Germany, seeking safety and a new beginning. A few years later, at 13, my life took an unexpected turn. During a spontaneous walk with my parents, I stumbled upon a small airfield. There, I saw a sleek, high-performance glider unlike anything I had ever seen before. Gliding is almost non-existent in Syria and much of the Arab world, so this was something entirely new to me.

Not long after, I was offered a guest flight that same day. Back then, I didn’t even know how gliders were launched, but I still remember the moment the glider lifted off the runway. I felt an adrenaline rush, and as we took off, I knew instantly: I want to take off on my own!

Changing Perspectives

Shortly after, I became a club member and began my training for my Sailplane Pilot Licence (SPL), stepping into a world that would help me grow and learn to trust myself. I loved the feeling of being in control of the glider, floating peacefully through the sky — something completely new for my 13-year-old self.

Gliding helped me let go of the fearful image of the sky that I had formed, it changed my perspective on life and on the goals I had set for myself. I learned that more is possible than we often think, and to aim for bigger dreams. I could never have imagined that the same sky that once frightened me would one day become the place where I feel most free. I felt like I truly belonged there. And that feeling kept me going, or let’s say, flying.

The airfield became more than just a place to fly; it became a community. My instructors guided me patiently all the way to earning my license, and my club members welcomed me with kindness and support.

Overcoming Challenges

At the beginning, I didn’t just have to learn how to fly; I also had to learn Bavarian. Many of my club members spoke in a strong Bavarian dialect. Combined with the technical aviation language, all of which was new to me, I didn’t understand many of the conversations at first. I was a very shy girl back then, which made things even harder. But little by little, I started to pick it up.

Another challenge was that I was often the only girl at the airfield. While I always felt welcomed by my club, I rarely saw anyone who looked like me or had a similar background. For a long time, I didn’t realize how much that affected me. Without role models, any further goals beyond my glider pilot licence often felt unrealistic or simply out of reach.

That changed when I became part of the Elevate(her) community. Suddenly, I was surrounded by inspiring women who shared the same passion for aviation. Seeing their journeys showed me how many opportunities exist in this industry and gave me the confidence to believe that there is a place for me in it as well. Today, I hope that by sharing my own story, I can help inspire the next generation of women in aviation, just as others inspired me.

Personal impact

Gliding has taught me far more than how to fly an aircraft. It showed me how many opportunities and possibilities exist beyond what we can imagine for ourselves. It introduced me to the power of community, to the importance of having people around you who support and encourage you on both the good days and the difficult ones, and to the value of role models who inspire you to keep moving forward.

Through aviation, I have learned not only technical skills, but also important lessons about people, confidence, and personal growth. These lessons continue to shape who I am, and I know that this journey of learning is far from over. I am excited for the achievements, and unforgettable experiences that still lie ahead in the sky.

And if there is one thing I would like you to remember from my story, it is this: even when the path seems difficult, dreams are never out of reach. If someone tells you that anything is possible, believe them. Sometimes the opportunities that change our lives appear where we least expect them.