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.

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.

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.

LA 99s member, Civil Air Patrol member and Private Pilot with a complex rating, Kate Scott and I get to discuss how a breakup propelled her into taking on flight training, the ups and downs of flight training, dealing with impostor syndrome, how her solo cross-country flight helped her confidence as a pilot, flying for Civil Air Patrol, juggling work and flight training, joining a flying club, the importance of talking through the maneuvers and procedures you are performing during lessons and check rides, preparing for FAA written exams, the challenges of radio communications, and standing for the diversification and expansion of the aviation community.