To celebrate International Women’s Day, we caught up with our female students about their journey to becoming a pilot in a male-dominated industry.
Helga Dís Magnúsdóttir grew up in a small village in Northern Iceland with a population of only 800 people. She finished her PPL in 2019 at Flugskóli Akureyrar along with her junior college degree, and later that year she completed her hour-building. Then COVID struck, and Helga decided to get her practical nursing licence before continuing her ATPLs.
Here she shares her story about why she chose to become a pilot, her experience training with Bristol Groundschool and what advice she would give to other women looking to become pilots.
How did you get into aviation?
I went on a discovery flight in 2018 when I was 18 years old at a flight school about an hour away from where I lived. After that flight there was no turning back, and I started my private training later that year. None of my family is at all related to aviation, but my interest just sparked at random in my teenage years.
Why did you choose a career as a pilot?
I just love the idea of being a pilot. Being able to travel, having the responsibility, getting to know so many different people from different cultures, and making a lot of friends along the way. I also just find aviation really interesting; there is no other career that really compares to it; it’s so unique.
What’s your favourite part about being a pilot?
Being a part of the aviation community is such a great thing. Meeting so many people with the same interests as you. When I met other pilots, I could honestly talk for hours with them, even though we just met.
Nothing can compare to the feeling of flying solo, being in the air, just you and the plane, with nothing else on your mind except flying. The feeling of freedom is unreal.
What’s been the best part of your pilot training so far?
The best part was definitely when I went to Arizona for my time building. I was 19 at the time, rented myself a Piper Cherokee, and flew all around Arizona and the surrounding states. Looking back, I’m very proud of my younger self, just going on my own so far away from home, challenging myself, and giving it my all to work towards my goals.
And of course, the feeling when going on your first solo flight – that’s a feeling you’ll never forget.
How are you finding/did you find studying for your ATPL theory exams with BGS?
Studying for the ATPL exams takes a lot of dedication – more than anything I’ve done before. Especially when you are doing distance learning, but BGS does it right. The studying material, the instructors, the question banks – everything is top-notch. I’ve connected with many other student pilots through social media and the revision weeks, and I know that some of them will be my friends for life. BGS does amazing work, and I am so thankful for everything they have done. They consider every student’s different needs, and that is just very professional. They really care about each and every one of their students.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m currently on the third and final module at BGS, and if everything goes according to plan, I’ll be done with the ATPL theory this coming summer. Then I’m going somewhere abroad to finish the rest of my training.
Career-wise I’m considering a lot of options; that’s the beauty of becoming a pilot. There are so many different opportunities!
What advice would you give other women looking to become pilots?
You have every right to pursue your dream and do not let anyone tell you otherwise. You got this!
Women are still a huge minority in the aviation industry, but that does not mean that it isn’t just the right place for us to be.
Every pilot’s journey through training is different, and there is no “right” way to go about it. Whether you choose the integrated or modular route, finish your training in a few months or a few years, or if you are not at the “typical” age at the start of your journey, it doesn’t matter. Whichever way you choose won’t make you a better pilot than the one sitting beside you. Your journey will have its ups and downs, and that is completely normal. Don’t compare yourself too much to others. Whichever path you take in your aviation journey makes you a unique pilot.
