One Women, One Aircraft, One Ocean: Fanni Pajer's Story

Fanni Pajer flies in some of aviation’s most demanding environments, navigating extremes that many pilots will never encounter. She is a highly skilled Ferry Pilot, Flight Instructor and Examiner, and Test Pilot.

In this blog, Fanni reflects on her journey through the aviation industry as a single mother, sharing the challenges she has overcome and the importance of taking that first leap to pursue your dream.

What is your current role in aviation?

I am CFI and CTKI in Finland for Aeropole, where I do flight instruction and standardisation, I am a free contractor for Diamond Aircraft Industries and other companies as a ferry pilot. I also do aircraft hand overs, for companies such as CAE and I work as an EASA examiner appointed by Austro Control.

How did you get started in aviation?

After flying for 8 years as a flight-attendant for Lauda-Air, a private boutique airline in the 90s, I was becoming increasingly interested in what was happening in the cockpit. Back then, the cockpit doors were still wide open, dialogue between crew was easy, and on longer flights I sat behind the captain with a coffee in my hand and studied the switches and the avionics.

My fascination grew, my boyfriend at the time, lent me his Jeppesen PPL and IFR book to have a look. I had more than a look. I studied it. I loved it.

My colleagues from the cockpit invited me to the simulator in Arlanda to join for a 30 min flight on the 737. I sat in the left-hand seat, followed the instructions from the boys, and landed with one engine in Innsbruck. I was hooked. There was only one thing I wanted to do from there on. Become a pilot. I was a single mom to a 5-year-old little girl. I sold all my things and moved with her to Florida to pursue my dream.

How does your flying role compare to airline flying?

Most of the flights I conduct, are extended worldwide ferry flights, single pilot over challenging areas in mostly non pressurized aircraft, partly over oceans, with no copilot or cabin crew, or toilet on board. Not quite your airliner comfort, but the same distances.

I have flown from Austria to Australia, and to Japan from Austria in a DA62, from South Africa to Haiti in a Cessna Caravan, and transatlantic in a SEP.

What has been the most memorable moment of your career?

There are too many to count... that first landing on the A320, my first landing in Japan on a DA42, and my first transatlantic crossing, to name a few.

You are also a mother, speaker and author- how do you balance everything?

Balancing happens as a balance act, some months I spend more time with my son, when he needs me, when I have the inner peace then I write, and I can always talk!

It is difficult, it requires immense preplanning and organising, networking with other family members and friends. It’s exhausting and rewarding at the same time. When it all gets too much, I slow down and bring everything to a halt, go on an extended holiday or do a digital detox for couple of weeks.

What changes would you like to see in the industry to support women?

This might be the hardest question to answer. Simply put, I would love to see a greater number of ladies on board and within aviation teams, it can be very isolating being the only woman. This would reduce loneliness, create more role models, and encourage women to speak up.

I’d like to see a shift to the culture of aviation; No more jokes about women, no more teasing and being talked down to. Creating a more respectful environment would make aviation a friendlier, more comfortable place for female aviators.

More support is needed from both the aviation industry and by governments to facilitate pregnancy and improve maternity leave, especially for women in flying roles.

I’d also like to see traditional gendered expectations removed from a young age. No more “pink jobs” for girls and “blue jobs” for boys.

Finally, we need more research and education on how diversity and inclusion benefit aviation, along with a greater appreciation for women’s perspectives and their unique approaches to problem-solving.

If you had to give one piece of advice to aspiring aviators, what would it be?

Don’t dim your light because it’s too bright for someone else. Speak your mind, especially in a crowd filled with men, and always be yourself.