Got a Masters in Physics, became a BA Captain then a Yoga Instructor
From a love of Maths as a young girl, a Physics degree was the obvious next step for me after I had finished my A-Levels. I completed my degree in 2010 and had always known that I'd wanted to be a Pilot and was fortunate enough to be given a place on the first year of the previous Future Pilot Programme, in 2011. I was straight into British Airways in 2014 and flew at both Heathrow and Gatwick on the Airbus 320 family, getting my command in 2018 as soon as I had the hours to do so!
In 2019, looking for my next avenue to go down, my interest in health and fitness pushed me to head out to Thailand to complete a Yoga Teacher Training qualification. I hold a 200hrYTT and am currently undergoing another 300hr course to bring myself up to potentially train future Yoga Teachers too. I strongly believe the mindset that is practiced and taught in the tradition has huge benefits to those in the Aviation field; the ability to hold reactivity levels low is critical as a Pilot.
British Airways Captain - A320 at Heathrow
Flying shorthaul route around Europe out of Heathrow, I get to fly the A319, A320 and the A321, both in CEO and NEO variants.
It's the variety for me, the ability to live each day separately
Every day in the skies is different. Different customers, crew, destination and flying the A320 family, lots of variation in aircraft types. You can be spending a night in the Mediterranean in the summer or flying back from Reykjavik to see the dark sky full of cinematic Northern Lights.
There are so many amazing places to explore. When we are lucky enough to get enough time off down-route, we are able to spend some time walking around the cobbled streets of Rome or riding bikes up and down the Danube, it's a fantastic job for travel.
Many vocations these days people find monotonous, there, of course, is lots of repetition in this job, it is extremely procedural, but it's the little changes that keep it interesting.
Study what you love, not what you think you need to.
This is especially for those that are still at school; I am often asked what subjects are best to take, to best set themselves up to become a Pilot. This is twofold, firstly, the subjects you love, will probably be the ones that keep you most engaged and likely to yield the best results. Secondly, the stereotypical idea of a Pilot being great at Maths and Physics is false - there are those of us that didn't go to University, that have had one, or even multiple careers previously.
This is a job most consider for life, it is far more important to do something you enjoy than chase a dream you think you need to.
Becoming a British Airways Captain by the time I was 30
Need I say more!
