Recent Celebrations
Abby Fletcher sets off for Liberty University!
It is with great pride and teary goodbye that we send our chapter member Abby off to college! Abby will be joining the 2024 class of Liberty University to pursue her dream of being a commercial pilot. We are so very proud of you, Abby and we look forward to celebrating many more of your successes! We hope to see you during your summer breaks and your 99s sisters will be here if you need anything!
GOOD LUCK ABBY!
Climbing up, alone in the cockpit for the first time... Veronica SOLOS!
We are excited and proud of Veronica's accomplishment of hitting her first milestone of many!
It is all up from here Veronica and your 99s sisters will be there every step of the way!
It's a bird. It's a plane. No, well yes, IT'S ABBY SOLOING FOR THE FIRST TIME!
We are excited to celebrate Abby, and her first solo! Abby shares her thoughts as she was taxiing to the runway:
" I used the time to just pray to God and ask him to give me the courage and strength to carry it out smoothly.
I can honestly say my first solo was the best feeling ever and it made this whole journey even more magical!"
Way to make the magic happen Abby!
Colleen joins the ranks among the 7% of aviatrix!
We are excited to celebrate Colleen, and passing her checkride! Colleen shares her favorite moment of her checkride:
" My favorite part was when the DPE said I passed.
And when he said tell tower your want a full stop landing. That was when I finally relaxed."
I think we can all relate to that moment, Congrats Colleen!
Katie earns her Commercial Multiengine!
We are excited to celebrate our membership chair, Katie , and earning her commercial multiengine rating! Katie shared her favorite quote as inspiration for others:
"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return."
- Leonardo da Vinci
Congrats Katie!
Connie becomes one of the 7%!
Connie Leege earned her private pilot certificate!
In three words, she describes how she felt when she passed:
#Accomplished #Relieved #Humbled
Congrats Connie!
Ange passes her commercial multiengine checkride!
We are excited to celebrate one of newest members, Ange, and passing her commercial multiengine checkride! We asked Ange to describe how she felt after her checkride and any advice to other 99s pursing their CMEL. This is what she had to say:
It was such a relief to be finished! My training was a little unconventional because my school was closing and I had an accident that resulted in a huge cut on my hand which prevented me from training for about 2 months! So my training was a little rushed and very hectic. The advice I would give is to take your time with your training. Make sure you understand everything and don't just rush through things just to get it done; it will be worth it in the end!!
Congrats Ange!
Connie Leege Solos!
We are excited to celebrate one of newest members, Connie, and flying her first solo! We asked Connie to describe her first solo and this is what she had to say:
I would describe my solo experience as a plethora of emotions - not much sleep the night prior, anxious, frightening - but when I was actually flying, once I received clearance - I felt like I was on autopilot - there is something to be said about repetition or maybe it was pure knowledge of knowing the only way to live is by landing this plane!! What an amazing, liberating and powerful feeling knowing I WAS FLYING AN AIRPLANE!!!! #Never too old to learn #Don’t live life saying “I wish I would have.....” #Just do it!!
Congrats Connie!
Connie Leege and her instructor at Paragon Flight Training in Fort Myers, Fl
Paradise Coast Chapter Officers and Committee Chairs
Michelle Estevez, PharmD, DPLA, BCPS
Chapter Chairman
Connie Leege
Chapter Vice Chairman
Mandy McAbee
Chapter Secretary
Terry Carbonell
Chapter Treasurer, International Board Member
Ellen Herr
Chapter AEMSF Chairman
Katie Clagg
Membership Chair
Veronica Bravo
Social Media Comittee Chair
celebrations
She earned her wings and now she is an eagle! Congrats Saffron!
Saffron Buxton earned her private pilots license before heading off to Embry-Riddle University for her first semester! Congratulations Saffron!
We asked Saffron: What advice would you give other highschool students trying to earn their pilots license?
"It was a lot of work but so worth it. What would I tell other teenagers? A few things come to mind.
First, you must find a balance between the work that the school will demand and the work that will be required of you pursuing your flight training. It will feel like tug-of-war sometimes but if you plan your time out and stick to it, you will find the rhythm that works for you. Training can be very time consuming and I sometimes found it hard to keep up with what I needed to do for both. While it can be difficult at times it is important to remember that earning your license is a lot of fun, and something that most people will never do.
Second, ask questions! Ask your instructor, other pilots, people who work with the planes. Everyone has their own unique stories about flying and what they have learned from their experience and you never know when you might learn something new.
Third, don't let the cost of flight training stop you. Yes it is horrendously expensive but many organizations offer flight training scholarships. They are actively seeking out young people to introduce them to aviation. Apply and follow up with the organizations. If you are serious about pursuing aviation let them know that. I was fortunate to receive two scholarships that helped cover about 85% of my flight training. I made it very clear that in my case I was looking at aviation as a career not a hobby. My ultimate goal is commercial pilot.
Finally, for the girls looking at flying. Please don't be discouraged or intimidated by the lack of women. I never came across a female pilot during my training but I didn't let that stop me. It pushed me harder to achieve my license and to be determined that I could be a role model for other, younger girls. Girls need to see themselves reflected back and I look forward to when a woman commercial pilot is considered the norm and not the exception."
Best of luck and we hope you continue with your 99 sisters in Daytona!
