Interview with Aerobility flying star Amy G

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 disabled people to realise that aviation is something that they can get involved with and is achievable regardless of their disability. Raising awareness of things like this can literally change people’s lives. It has mine!

What obstacles have you faced and how have you overcome these? 

I have discovered that using my feet on the rudders was too painful for my hip, so now I am using hand controls to operate the rudders in the plane. Initially I didn’t think I would be able to manage to control the plane with them, but each time it's getting easier and easier. That’s a physical challenge.

Mentally I struggle to remember what I have studied, so I have to keep rereading all the time for it to sink in, but eventually it does, and I am gaining in confidence to be able to take my exams soon.

I struggle with fatigue due to my health condition and so learning and doing can be quite challenging. But managing rest days in between and not doing too much is key to balancing the learning needed to get through to reach my goal.

What are your personal goals with aviation? 

My personal goals are to firstly achieve my PPL. Then I would like to try some aerobatics, learn to fly a helicopter and ultimately, I would love to become an instructor for Aerobility.

I have been taught my males so far and I would love there to be a woman tutor, how much better would that be to have a disabled woman teaching disabled people to fly?

Throughout this journey, I really want to be a person that inspires disabled women to fly too. There is so little in social media where disabled women who fly are represented. I really would like to be that person that inspires more disabled women to take up flying and experience this wonderful thing called aviation.

What achievement within aviation are you most proud of? 

I am most proud that I am actually doing this at all! I still have to pinch myself when I am flying to realise that it is little old me flying a plane. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be doing this.

How are you collaborating with Aerobility to inspire others into aviation? 

I have been working with Aerobility on their social media campaigns to inspire others into aviation. I have recently featured in their Flying Stars campaign on social media, and I am involved with other projects too, but at the time of writing, it is top secret! Sorry! You will just have to keep an eye on my social media and on Aerobility’s socials until it’s all official!

What is the best piece of advice you have been given? 

The best piece of advice I have been given is to remember that you will have times when it doesn’t seem to go right, when you just can't seem to get something, and you wonder if you ever will. In those times, remember, you are learning, you won't always get everything right all the time, just keep going. You will get it eventually and no matter what, enjoy the journey, you only ever learn to fly once.

Have any other women influenced you in your aviation journey? 

The other women that have influenced me in my aviation journey are The Aviatrix Project, who I met at Aerobility, right at the start of my journey and Katherine Maloney, she has really inspired me to learn to fly a helicopter and just encouraged me with some wise words on some podcasts she has done. And lots of other women I follow on Instagram; It's a great place to go to feel inspired.

What changes would you like to see in the industry? 

I would love to see more women in aviation, I’m aware of the low percentage of women with a career in aviation. I would also love to see it be more accessible to disabled women too. I am aware of Sophie Morgan’s campaign for rights to flights for disabled passengers. I think we need a campaign for rights for disabled pilots too!

Any other comment or words of wisdom you would like to share.

I really believe in encouraging each other. Encouragement is far more productive when someone is encouraged and as women, we face so much criticism, about how we should be, how we should look, what we should do.

I firmly believe a kind word costs nothing and can build someone up more than you realise. I make a point, whenever I am out of my home, to pay a compliment to at least one woman that day. It could be your hair is nice, your coat suits you, or that colour looks really nice on you. The amount of smiles I have made happen by just doing this is unreal.

In my own little way, I hope that that comment will have made that woman feel a bit better about herself, walk a little bit taller and feel more able to do something that she maybe couldn’t have done before. Self-confidence and self-belief are really important to me. No matter how much we have, we could all use a little bit more. It's good to believe in yourself. Go and be marvelous, just by being you.