S2E8- Memphis-Based Retired FedEx Captain, Patricia Kessler

In this episode of Chicks Who Fly, I get to have a conversation with Memphis-based retired FedEx Captain, Patricia Kessler.

Patricia was first exposed to aviation when she married a man who had always wanted to take flying lessons and she sat in the back seat during a lesson. That sparked her love for flying. Patricia soon got a job w the Dept of Defense, joined the Army Reserves and applied to a reserve squadron at McGuire Air Force base and joined a military flying club near Philadelphia where she began her pilot training. After her time in the military, Patricia flew for People Express Airlines, and when they were bought out by Continental Airlines, she moved on to Fed Ex, where she would become a Captain and stay for 25 years.

This lady has flown all over the world and we get to talk old-school flying stories, challenging approaches, challenging aircraft, favorite places she’s seen in the world, cool airports, flying unusual cargo, insane airline policies that they could never get away with in this day and age, how she landed the job at FedEx and so so many great, fun, surprising and entertaining stories of flying and life. Don’t miss this interview with this awesome lady!

S2E6- Overcoming Obstacles to Pursue a Career in Aviation, Pilot Robin Hollinger

In this 6th episode of season 2 of Chicks Who Fly, I get to have a conversation with private pilot, working on her instrument rating, Robin Hollinger. After working 5 or 6 different jobs, Robin pivoted and decided to pursue a career in aviation. The idea to start flight training was sparked by her younger brother wanting to start flight training. Robin went on to haver her discovery flight at 30 after a career counselor helped her get clear on what she wanted for herself. The counselor also helped set Robin up to pursue her flying goals.

Robin started flying in Wisconsin. Eventually, she asked her employer if they would let her work remotely so she could do her flight training. Her employer said yes and Robin moved to Florida where after completing her private pilot certificate. Florida is where Robin is currently working on her instrument rating.

In this episode, we get to chat about the challenges of flying in the extreme cold weather such as having to wait for the temperature to WARM UP to -10 F to be able to start the plane. Robin shares about the challenges of fine tuning maneuvers to be within ACS standards.

We also talk about how Robin soloed in winter in Wisconsin. And how she gained confidence after first solo.

Robin talks about how she found herself super challenged by radio communications. Shares some of the funny mistakes she’s made on radio calls. We talk about how practicing emergency checklists gave her confidence and about what her check ride was like , the challenges of instrument training, the discouraging moments she had in flight training and how she moved past them.

This and more in this episode of Chicks Who Fly.

S2E5- From Military Medical Disqualification To First Officer For A Regional Airline, Lindsay Cosby

Growing up, Lindsay was considering becoming a military pilot until she found out that her peanut allergy was a medical disqualifying factor.

So she applied for and received a scholarship to get her private in one summer and then went off to train at Embry Riddle, where she finished all her training in an impressive 2 1/2 years by staying on campus every summer and holiday season to work on her flight training. Lindsay shares about the things she did to maximize her flight training and save money while quickly moving towards her goal. We also get to talk about how Lindsay had to overcome a terrible propensity towards airsickness, as she got sick on her discovery flight and continued to struggle with that during her flight training.

Lindsay graduated from Embry Riddle right when COVID was hitting and her school put a pause on hiring instructors. Not only did Lindsay manage to find a jb as a flight instructor, but by the time Lindsay was close to getting her hours, she landed a job with a part 135 charter airline and is now a first officer working on her captain upgrade.

S2E4-Corporate Pilot Flying a PC-12 in the Caribbean, Debbie Nascimento

In this fourth episode of season two of Chicks Who Fly, I get to have a conversation with Part 135 Corporate pilot flying a PC-12 in the Caribbean, who was born and raised in Rio, Brazil, Debbie Nascimento.

Debbie is a first generation aviator who became a flight attendant at 20. While working in the airline, she used to go into the cockpit and ask the pilots questions about what they were doing, how to fly the airplane and how to go about getting her certificates and ratings. She decided to take out a loan so that she could do her training quickly.

Debbie did her entire training part 61 in the insanely busy NYC airspace, while working full time as a flight attendant and she ended up getting ALL her certificates and ratings in an astonishing one year and three month period -private, instrument, commercial, commercial multi-engine, w seaplane, CFI, CFII, AGI, tail wheel endorsement and then went on to get her high performance, high altitude. Debbie is also one of the only 200-300 pilots in the world qualified to fly into St Barths.

During her training, one of the things she struggled with, was a fear of stalls and feeling uncomfortable with steep turns but she found the instrument, her easiest and most fun rating, which is what most people call their most difficult and boring. We talk about the mental shift she made, that had her see her instrument rating from that perspective.

At the time of this interview, Debbie was getting ready to go to her first assigned base in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

S2E1 - Composer, Pianist, Pilot- Arhynn Descy

Arhynn Descy, is a French/South African composer and pianist who splits her time between London and LA. She has written music for feature films, shorts, documentaries, the stage, for orchestra and a variety of solo instruments. Arhynn is also a private pilot. And she shares how she first fell in love with aviation as an 11-year-old girl when reading a series of books. We talk about the freedom and the thrill she finds in flying, the profound experience of Arhynn’s first solo flight. and about the life-transforming moment in her life that propelled her into her flight training.

Episode 17 - Instrument-Rated, Private Pilot, Owner of One Plane Jane, Christine Hannon

In today’s episode, I get to have a chat with Christine Hannon of One Plane Jane. As a kid, Christine used to take walks with her grandfather to KAIY, Bader Field, in Atlantic City, pushing her favorite baby doll in its pink stroller. Together, they would watch the planes take off and land. Christine’s parents told her she could do anything. But she never got the idea to become a pilot until a bit later in her life.

Christine started out in the aviation industry as a ramp agent. A big part of the reason she took the job was because of the travel benefits but she grew to love the company and the aviation industry. While applying for a leadership position in her job, a friend recommended she learn to fly, and off she went.

Today, Christine is an instrument-rated Private Pilot, working on her Commercial Certificate. She lives in Madrid, Spain with her husband. She owns and runs One Plane Jane, a company that creates products to empower women, inspired by female aviators. Christine believes that it is our responsibility to show little girls they can be pilots and to celebrate not just what each woman does, but who she is and what she is capable of.

In today’s conversation, Christine and I talk about how she met her CFI, what her training was like & about her life in Madrid. We talk about her future aviation goals, her company, One Plane Jane, the life lessons and discipline that aviation gives you, using aviation to make a difference in the community and much more.

This was a fun, informative and inspiring conversation with a cool and badass pilot, adventurer & entrepreneur that I hope you enjoy as much as I did.

You can connect with Christine on IG , Facebook or on her website.

Theme music by Diego Jinkus.

Photos courtesy of One Plane Jane.

Check us out at: https://www.patreon.com/chickswhofly

ATP Rated, Owner of Aubrey Aire, Founder of Collecting Copilots, Aubrey Warrick

Aubrey Warrick is ATP Rated on the Falcon 10, 50 and 900, Lear Jet and SIngle pilot-rated on the Citation 500 series Jets. She is also the founder of CollectingCopilots.com, a platform for your aviation, travel and lifestyle needs. Aubrey is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelors in Aviation Flight Technology and currently Manages and flies for her Part 91 company, AubreyAire out of East Texas.

In today’s conversation, Aubrey and I get to talk about her passionate love story with aviation. From the moment she fell in love with flying as a young child, in a family where no one else is a pilot, to the emergency landing in Longview, Texas that started a whole new life for her in aviation and in love, and where she remains 9 years later.

Aubrey is charming, tenacious, badass and smart. She generously shares her knowledge and support with others, especially, women in aviation. These qualities are what make this conversation so inspiring and motivating to me.

Episode 13 - Pilot, Hair Stylist, Salon Owner and Host of the Cockpits and Cocktails Podcast, Allyssa VanMeter

I have a chat with pilot, hair stylist, salon owner and host of the Cockpits and Cocktails podcast, Allyssa VanMeter, a.k.a. Fly Allyssa.

Allyssa was bit by the aviation bug when she took a helicopter tour of Hawaii during a vacation there. Alyssa is currently using her COVID-19 quarantine time to study for her instrument rating. In our conversation, we address the challenges of flight training, the extraordinary pride she felt when she passed her check ride, the surprising perspective that aviation gives her in flight and in life, personal minimums, time management, the wonderful aviation community, finding opportunities in unexpected setbacks and the importance of priorities. Allyssa also shares some of her aviation story and anecdotes, including that one time she stayed overnight in the FBO.

Episode 6 - Los Angeles-Based Artist and Commercial Helicopter Pilot- Farida Amar

In this 6th episode of Chicks Who Fly, I get to have a conversation with Los Angeles-based artist and aviatrix, Farida Amar. Farida is a commercial helicopter pilot with an IFR rating and she is working on her commercial fixed-wing add-on. In this episode we get to talk about what it’s like growing up with a pilot mom. We also discuss the pros and cons of helicopters vs airplanes, what we like to look for in a good CFI/student pilot relationship, the financial and logistical challenges Farida faces in completing her training and the benefits of buying a plane to complete flight training.

Chicks Who Fly podcast is now on Anchor so you can now listen to us on any of the many platforms that Anchor distributes our podcast on. If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and subscribing on YouTube. For those of you who would like to become a more intimate part of the process of creating this podcast, please check out our Patreon page and consider becoming a patron of Chicks Who Fly.

Episode 3 - Journalist and Private Pilot- Pilar Wolfsteller

In this 3rd episode of the Chicks Who Fly Podcast, I get to speak with Pilar Wolfsteller. Pilar is a journalist and a private pilot. When Pilar was 16 years old, she was told by one of her teachers that she was “too dumb” to become an engineer and a pilot. Pilar dropped out of class but later in life, reconnected with her lifelong love for aviation and gave herself the gift of her private pilot certificate for her 30th birhtday. Today, Pilar has a job that combines her love for journalism and aviation. Pilar shares her journey and how she learned to fly in Germany and later, her FAA checkride in the US. Pilar is currently working on her Instrument Rating and is planning to go on to become a CFI in order to encourage and teach women of all ages that becoming a pilot is attainable for them.

If you would like to contact Pilar, you can do so at linkedin.com/in/pilarwolfsteller

Inaia JimenezNovember 21, 2019aviation, pilot, women, ChicksWhoFly, aviation stories, flight training