Four young people talk about their love of flying
A Sally
I fell in love with planes at high school. I always knew I wanted to work for an airline in some way, but it wasn't until I completed a school project on how planes fly that I decided I wanted to become a pilot. I really enjoyed being able to make even just a model plane fly, so much so that I asked for flying lessons for my 16th birthday. I was lucky. My instructor was really positive about my abilities and, if he hadn't encouraged me, I'd never have applied to pilot school. I'm still fascinated by the physics of flying, and without the knowledge of how it all works, I'm convinced that I wouldn't be able to achieve my ambition. I also pay special attention to new types of aircraft. I hope that's something that will help me stand out from the crowd when I start applying for jobs.
B Chuck
I come from a family of pilots. My father and grandfather both flew planes in the army, and I grew up seeing their medals and going to aeroplane museums with them. Their bravery has always impressed me, and made me want to follow the same path in my flying career. Although they never said so, I think they felt very proud. After a while, though, I realised I was much more interested in commercial airlines than joining the army. At first, I worried how my family might feel about this, but then I saw how delighted my parents were after I landed my first flight when I was just 17. I'm now focused on getting the qualifications I need as an airline pilot. I believe it'll mean I can both please my family by partly following tradition as well as do something that matters to me.
C Alicia
I first went on a small plane when I was eight. I was so worried that I cried during take-off, but once we were up, I was fascinated. The advantage of flying in a small plane is that kids can sometimes go up and meet the pilots, and I was so impressed by their abilities. One of them gave me a tiny aeroplane badge, which I've worn every time I've flown since. It reminds me of the high standards I want to maintain when I become a pilot. I loved how those pilots sounded confident and calm, which is something I'll admit I need to work on. Every time I heard the pilot's voice through the speakers, it felt like a friend telling me I didn't need to worry about safety. I'd love to be able to give others that same feeling, which is why I'm drawn to a career as a pilot.
D Gary
Despite being born into a family with a history of producing pilots, it took me a while to appreciate the appeal, and I really wasn't into science to begin with. But I remember when Dad got his pilot's licence. Seeing his happiness was when everything started making sense, and I finally realised what I wanted to do. I started taking flying lessons soon afterwards. For me, flying provides an escape from the stresses of things like studying - nothing else really compares. That's why flying isn't just another career option for me it's the only one and it's why I'll keep working at it until I'm the best pilot I can be. When flying, you're always learning, there's always something you can improve that's a huge reason for being a pilot. One thing that makes a great pilot is good communication, and despite a slow start, I think I've made that one of my main strengths.
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