Skyward Local Female Pilots

By Haiden Steingass

When you think of a pilot, you may think of a man in the cockpit of a commercial aircraft, the one who talks over the speaker system and ensures that you will arrive at your destination safely. We sat down with two local pilots who will change your perception of what it means to be at the head of a plane.

Between juggling everyday responsibilities and spending time with family, Robin Hibschman and Trista Malek have a skill that most people only dream of -- flying planes. While the choice to pursue aviation stemmed from unique desires, both women have an undying dedication to their trade, and after picking their brains, it’s easy to see why.

Hibschman, mother of six and grandmother of 24, made the decision to go after her pilot’s license with her husband because they had the desire to be able to easily travel to their loved ones in Alaska, Montana and Tennessee.

“We (were) tired of long drives and road traffic and sought easier access to our children and grandchildren,” Hibschman said. “Like most, we approached aviation like we approach the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, thinking we would spend a few hours in a plane and fly effortlessly.”

Currently, she flies a Cessna 172 but is pursuing a Bonanza. Some of her favorite places she has flown include Niagara Falls; Duluth, Minn.; and Mackinac Island, though her list far exceeds this.

“[My husband and I] love the aviation group we learned through,” Hibschman said.

“We loved learning together. There were study nights that I think both of us would have quit if we’d not had the other. We love the ‘check and balance’ we have in the plane. We love discovering new places, meeting new people, finding new destinations and honestly, the continual learning process. (Once you actually get your private pilot’s license, you start to learn!)”

Malek, a student pursuing her pilot’s license, fell in love with aviation after experiencing flying with her husband, who is a pilot for American Airlines. She is hoping to make a career out of flying planes someday.

“My favorite [trip] has to be Muncie, because it was my first solo cross country!” Malek said. “I was very excited, [and] my husband was very nervous when I first took off. I tracked my way down to Muncie and it was definitely a relief when I landed and took the pressure off the flight home. I turned around and headed home, but what I didn’t know was the winds started gusting at my home airport. I ended up doing a goaround because I didn’t like how I was lining up and I knew my husband was watching

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4. Make a plan – create a path with attainable goals to help guide and measure your progress. sweetaviation.com/flight-school/ so it had to be perfect. When I made it back to the terminal, my husband was so proud. It turns out the airplane in front of me (who had a pilot with over 500 hours) said it was pretty sketchy with the winds. That day I proved to myself that I could actually be pretty good at this.” a