Women Of Aviation Week
Vicky Spediacci, GMR’ Air COO, West Region .
Monica Westfall, First Officer, Birmingham, AL.
Maureen Work, HAA Pilot, Roseau, MN.
Vicky’s interest in aviation began in college, when she stumbled upon a demonstration flight advertisement. At 19, she signed up for the flight, and the rest is history. It is for this very reason that Vicky says, “I didn’t find flight but rather flight found me.”
Monica's journey to aviation began with a conversation with her parents about her career. "I realized I had a desire to travel, enjoyed consistently learning and improving, and did not want to sit at the same desk every day." Her dad suggested becoming a pilot, and Monica headed off to Auburn University for a business degree in Aviation Management.
Maureen was sure about her destiny to be a pilot when she was only a teenager. When she was 16, Maureen volunteered for a local ambulance corps as a driver during the summer. Living in a very remote area, there weren't any near by hospitals. Because of the medical clinic being limited, this often meant that a helicopter would come up to take patients to higher level care facilities. "I saw those pilots and medical teams provide a vital service for my rural hometown and community. I always saw it as the most amazing job."
During her aviation career, Vicky has become dual certified to fly both rotor and fixed wing. In 1994, she joined REACH as a line pilot, and quickly moved into leadership roles. Vicky has been the leader on a number of amazing initiatives. “I feel as if one of my greatest accomplishments was the advancement of technology into our helicopter platforms in the pursuit of flight safety, enhanced aeronautical decision making and thereby making our ability to serve patients even greater. Our organization was fifth in the nation to bring on Night Vision Goggle technology, fifth in the nation to adopt Global Positioning System point in space approaches to local hospitals and first in the nation to incorporate low altitude GPS IFR route structure in Northern California.” Throughout her career in aviation, Vicky has been able to contribute in helping improve the industry through technical advancement in equipment, training and collaboration, with FAA regulators and industry groups. A fun fact about Vicky is that flying has landed her a few roles in Hollywood! Vicky flew as a stunt pilot in “Courage Under Fire” she also played roles as a pilot in “Desperate Measures” and “Con Air”. “My career path in aviation has provided me opportunities to do many things with helicopters but I must admit, that using helicopters to help improve the lives of critically injured or sick people on the worst day of their lives is surely a commendable field to be a part of. I do feel blessed that I’ve personally been able to transport countless patients in my career...My career path with REACH has been nothing short of an incredible life experience.”
While at Auburn, Monica helped start the of The Women in Aviation, War Eagle Chapter. Getting the chapter started included formulating by-laws, a list of requirements to participate in the Women in Aviation International Chapter program, petitioning professors and staff to sit on the board of directors, and soliciting a lawyer to help with the legal documentation. Over two years later, the chapter was up and running. At the time, the chapter filled the minimum requirement of eight members, including four officer positions, but today there are a total of 122 alumni of the War Eagle Chapter with an average of 15-30 active members each year! The WIA chapter helps set its members up for success by having various guest speakers, including recruiters from Delta Airlines, a United Airlines Captain, a Gulfstream Corporate Pilot, and an engineer from NASA. In its first year, the chapter also raised money to send five members to the Women in Aviation Conference, which provides opportunities to network with other aviation organizations and attend seminars on various topics. As a way to reach out to the community, the members participated in Girls in Aviation Day, an opportunity for members to introduce young girls to the career possibilities in aviation. Monica states, "Women in Aviation exposed me to the multitude of career paths in aviation...and I was able to choose a path that aligned with my own goals. I chose to fly for AirMed to develop relationships with the other pilots and crew on our team and benefit the lives of passengers in need."
Once Maureen started flying in 2005, she mentions that although she was aware that she was passionate about something that was not considered as being traditional for women, she rarely thought about it. However, once she started coming in contact with people she flew, people made it clear to Maureen that the visibility of her success was important to them. "I was very fortunate to be among the very first female civilian helicopter pilots teaching flight at Universities in South Korea. There, I had conversations with older generations about what my presence there meant to the progress and possibilities of their young people." Maureen also flew individuals from all over the world on tours of Oahu and the Grand Canyon. "Daily, I had very sweet moments with my passengers who expressed their admiration for what we did as pilots, but also specifically as women, especially when they came from countries where it would not be a possibility for them. Children love to see the prospect of where their passions could take them. Parents beam with pride that they can point to us and tell their kids they can do whatever they set their minds to. I am proud to be an example and role model in those moments." Thank you Maureen, for everything you do for Guardian Flight, and for your community.
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Michelle Sheffield, Air Evac Base line Pilot, Opelousas, LA. Michelle's journey in aviation started when she was in the Army. She initially worked as an administrative clerk in an aviation unit. One day, one of the pilots asked Michelle if she'd like to join them on a flight. Michelle states, "The flight was life changing. I got to see the world from a different view, right then I knew I wanted to be a pilot." Later on, Michelle was drawn to flying air medical. "Flying air medical is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get next and there is never a dull moment. The schedule is great, the people you work with are awesome and the pay is good. Summarizing flying for Air Evac in one word would be 'Rewarding'." Michelle's expertise in flying is highlighted with prestigious awards such as Army Aviation Dust Off Pilot of the Year - 2016 and Air Evac Lifeteam Pilot of the year 2019. Her advice for women seeking a career as a pilot: "Get out and talk to other pilots, take a flying lesson, attend the Women In Aviation EXPO [and] ask lots of questions. Learning to fly takes dedication to flying and discipline with studying. However, once you are finished with the school/training flying is very rewarding." Thank you Michelle, for your amazing insight, and dedication to not only your community, but to your country.
Samantha Poirier, rotor wing Line Pilot and Base Safety Officer for our aircraft in partnership with UCHealth, Loveland, CO. Samantha's aviation journey began when she was going to school for Air Traffic Control. Her professor encouraged students to take an intro flight to see what it was like for the pilots. Samantha states, "As soon as we took off, I was hooked. I sold my horse to pay for my private pilot's license and then moved to Alaska to start building time and work on my commercial license." Samantha was drawn to air medical after someone close to her was transported. "I remember the feeling of gratitude and thankfulness I felt. These people who just had a "cool job" not only saved her life, but changed my family's forever... I knew at that point I would do whatever it took, to become an EMS pilot." Samantha now flies the same exact aircraft that completed that transport, and is the first female pilot ever to fly for UCHealth. "To this day, my pay day is not a check I get deposited in my bank account, but a patient who comes back and takes the time to thank me for helping them out...My advice to encourage more women is, if you have the passion for it, don't put it off. Go after it.“
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Ife Caldwell, Base Line Pilot, Washington County, MS. Ife's love for aviation started in 1998 in Bosnia. As an Army dental hygienist, Ife was deployed on a peace keeping mission. The hospital she worked at had a helipad for medevacs, "When the opportunity came around for a morale flight, I jumped on it and fell in love." When discussing how we can encourage more young women to explore being a pilot, Ife states, "Women ARE underrepresented in the helicopter community. The numbers for women aviators are small, even more so for helicopter pilots. I'm proud to be in this number. Exposure to this field is key in my opinion. When people are exposed to possibilities, they can better perceive those possibilities as achievable. We have to remove the perception that the goal is too 'lofty'."
Andrea Sacchetti, Rotary Wing Pilot and Lead Pilot for REACH, Santa Rosa, CA. Andrea's exposure to aviation began at an early age, her father was a commercial pilot and would always take her to air shows. Andrea grew up thinking she would fly jets, but made a switch to helicopters after flying in one during her shipboard tour in the Coast Guard. "I got a lot of great training in the Coast Guard. It was another aviation career path that was extremely rewarding. Rescuing people in distress on ships or in other remote locations was a thrill....My time in the Coast Guard helped develop my judgement and decision making skills to help make me a better pilot and risk manager." Andrea's experience after the Coast Guard eventually led her to air medical. She describes air medical as, "Fulfilling, exciting work that makes a difference in peoples' lives."
Ann Dehaan, Air Evac Air Maintenance Technician. Prior to Air Evac, Ann spent over seven years in the Army, where she became a NCO. Ann feels that the most important aspect of being an AMT is getting her crew home safely, and describes her role as rewarding. Her advice for women seeking a career as an aircraft maintenance technician is, "Learn as much as you can! There is always something new to learn." Thank you Ann, for all that you do for Air Evac Lifeteam, your crew, and their patients.
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Andrea Humbertson, Rotary Wing Pilot, Sioux City, IA.
Dominique Kunz, CALSTAR rotor wing Pilot, Oakland, CA.
Sara Stearns, CALSTAR Pilot, Salinas, CA.
Andrea's exposure to flying started when she was seven years old, and would fly with her mother in a Cessna as she pursued her private pilot’s license. "I think that seed was planted early on in my childhood but I never thought much of it again until many years later when I was an Army medic. Once I discovered I could transition over as a helicopter pilot, there was no shutting that idea down."
Dominique's interest in aviation started from a young age, "I grew up next to a hospital and was always fascinated by the helicopters landing right next to our house." Years later, she took a demo flight just for fun and fell in love with helicopters...that was 15 years ago! Since then, Dominique's career has led her to air medical, and she describes her job as, "Gratifying".
Sara has been with the company since 2005. Her journey to aviation began as a child. She had a keen interest in flying, and her dad encouraged her to go the Army Aviation route in 1976. Sara's advice to women seeking a career in aviation is, "Don’t listen to the naysayers. They will try to influence you. Be determined, and follow your dreams."
Her advice for women seeking a career in aviation is, "Go for it. Don't let anybody tell you that you can't. It won't always be easy but if you study and work hard, everything is possible!"
Sara has been flying for 44 years, and has collected a few accolades along the way, one being that she is “an old, not bold, pilot". A fun fact about Sara is that she races bicycles competitively.
After the military, Andrea's next career move was to air medical, "I started off as a medic in the Army and then flew Blackhawks doing air assaults most of my military career. When I discharged in 2009 I thought it was a beautiful combination of both worlds to fly air medical."
Fun fact: Dominique runs a private Facebook Group for Women in Aviation. Local women pilots are a part of the group and use the page as an opportunity to meet up in person once in a while!
Thank you for all that you do Sara, we are proud to have you as a part of our team.
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Kristen Cox, Pilot, Paris, AR.
Kristin Simmons, First Officer.
Barbie Dollak, Captain/Base Safety Manager.
Kristen's journey in aviation started in high school when she went up for an introductory flight in her home town, and fell in love with flying. From there, she pursued flying to be able to get into a job where she could make a difference. "I got into flying to be able to fly for a purpose and air medical allows me to do that. It is rewarding to be able to provide care and quick access to people in need."
Kristin grew up dreaming of being a pilot. After high school, she attended a junior college with an aviation program. There, she received her pilot certificates and began her journey in aviation.
Barbie's career as a pilot began in her mid -30's after she met a guy who took her on a flight, to show off his flying skills and his airplane. "I asked lots of questions and decided if he could fly a plane, so could I. I wrapped up my career in preventive health care while I worked on my private, instrument, commercial, CFI-A, CFI-I, CFI-G and multi-engine. Then I took a leap of faith and switched careers to pursue something I loved - flying."
Kristen's advice to women wanting to explore this field, "You can achieve anything you want in this world. The only thing that can hold you back is yourself."
Kristin's role as a mother is one aspect that encourages her to set an example for young girls looking into this field. "As a mother of three daughters, I want to be a positive role model for young girls and make them aware of the numerous opportunities available." She describes working in air medical as her, "Dream job", as it gives her the opportunity to fly, and also the benefit of having a schedule that allows her to have time at home with her family. Speaking of family, a fun fact about Kristin is that flying is what brought her and her husband together! "My husband was my flight instructor in college. We hit it off and have been sharing our passion of aviation for 28 fun-filled years!"
From there, Barbie flew corporate for a couple of years. Then, looking for a flight schedule that would allow her to hold a regular schedule, she found herself back in health care, this time as an air medical Pilot. "Almost 13 years later, this is the best job ever! It didn't take long to find out that, aside from flying, the true joy of this job is the crew I fly with, the medical teams we transport and our purpose."
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Jean Knight, Guardian Aviation Maintenance Technician/Lead Mechanic, Ogden, UT. Jean had a mechanical interest from a young age as a result of working on cars with her dad. However, it wasn't until she visited an aviation museum and saw a radial bomber engine that had been removed from an aircraft and put on display that she considered a career as an AMT. "It was love at first sight and I knew that I wanted to work on aircraft." Jean went on to attend National Aviation Academy and graduated top of her class. When it comes to inspiring other women to pursue a career as an AMT, Jean has a YouTube channel called Downwash777, and it focuses specifically on providing information for women interested in breaking into aviation maintenance and also on establishing the correct attitudes and work ethics to be successful in this field. She also teaches part time at Salt Lake Community College with their aviation maintenance program. When describing her role, Jean states, "It is an awesome feeling. Every time you take apart an aircraft, inspect it, put it back together and get it back into the air safely, it renews your sense of pride in your job... Excellence and professionalism must be present in every maintenance task in order for our chain of care to be strong and unbroken. I absolutely love what I do."
Kiki Winchester, Aircraft Maintenance Technician.
Julia Bury, Fixed Wing Pilot in Command, Del Norte, CO.
Kiki's love for aircraft started at a young age. One summer, her grandpa took her out to an airfield and started explaining transmitters, signals, frequencies and an abundance of flight information. That afternoon Kiki learned the rudimentary principles of instrument flying.
Julia's journey in aviation began in college where she did flight training, and became a flight instructor in Florida. When talking about what attracted her to aviation, Julia states, "I really liked how there is a team of people a pilot gets to work with in any realm of aviation. I really liked the idea of working with other professionals to get the job done."
Years later, Kiki learned to fly, "I recall a feeling of lucidity. As if I was meant to be in aircraft. It was like everything made sense." From there, she had a desire to learn more about how the inner workings of the engine operated. So, armed with a pad and pencil, she enlisted her dad to help. Once he passed down all of his knowledge, Kiki found herself wanting to know more. She started hanging around the maintenance hangar at the flight school, and eventually was called upon to do run-ups, break-in engines and do various maintenance-related flights. From there, her career path made a switch to an AMT. "More and more, I was spending my time in the hangar working on the aircraft and less flying it."
Julia was eventually drawn to air medical because she wanted to use her training and abilities as a pilot to help others, and do something she found to be very meaningful. For anyone seeking a career in aviation, Julia's advice is, "Talk to others involved in the industry and seek out a mentor who has been through different phases of flight training, and building flight time to get an idea of how the industry and different lifestyles are."
Kiki states, "My sense of humor and a deep love for the very machines that I maintain is what keeps me going. Working in air medical allows me to feel part of the big picture – part of respecting and caring for life."
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