Northwest Aerospace News June | July Issue No. 15 | Page 63
My progression through the
aviation industry went like this:
I started flying single engine
airplanes for the Red Cross in a
partnership with the International
99s (Woman Pilots Organization).
Once I earned enough
hours and certificates, I flew
cargo, hazmat, air ambulance,
charter, corporate and then the
airlines, beginning as a Flight
Engineer. The bulk of my flight
time is in the King Air 90, 100,
200, Citation 500 series jets,
Falcon 20 and Boeing 727-200.
I also got my seaplane rating and
completed an aerobatics course.
Of the 28 different airplanes I
flew, my favorite pilot seat was
as Captain on a B727-200. That
sums up 25 years of flying in
one paragraph!
After all those years and adventures
in the aviation industry, my
life has come full circle so I’m
now in the general and business
aviation world teaching and
trying to give back to the community.
I’m a VP at Advanced
Aircrew Academy and am an
aviation professor at MSU Denver.
Aviation changed my life on
so many levels and I got to see
things most people can’t even
imagine. I’m so grateful that I
found aviation, so I want to be
able to show others how incredible
the industry is. It’s important
to spark that spirit of aviation
early and it’s especially important
for young girls to hear about
women who have made aviation
their career. We often forget that
aviation needs women in many
different aspects of the industry,
not just pilots!
Part of my goal in writing A Chick in the Cockpit was to bring women into the life
of a pilot and show them that even though you might have a challenge in your life
that completely pulls you off your intended path, you can still find happiness on a
hidden trail.
One of the most surprising things that happened after publishing that book was all
the feedback from readers all over the world. Aviation has a common thread no
matter where you are. The soul of a pilot is the same everywhere. It’s important to
show the world the connections for pilots around the world.
Pilots are most happy when they’re sitting at a bar with a group of aviators sharing
their stories. “There I was, upside down and one engine on fire…”
If you ever need to reach Erika, you can find her at [email protected]
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JUNE | JULY 2020 ISSUE NO. 15 63