Jetblue Argumentative Essay
Did you know…that currently only 4% of commercial pilots are women? So when I was told of two women who not only are airline pilots, but sisters who both work for JetBlue and had a dream come true recently, I wanted to know more. The women recently operated JetBlue flight 1480 from Ft. Lauderdale to Washington, DC making them the first ever sister-sister flight crew at JetBlue!
Pia and Anna-Maria Kymalainen grew up in an aviation family in Finland. With their father in aeronautical engineering and an older brother following in their father’s footsteps, the aspiration of flight was always close to home. Both sisters began their own careers flying corporate jets before finding their place with JetBlue.
In a recent interview with Pia and Anna-Maria, I was able to gain more insight into what it takes for women to reach their career goals in aviation. …show more content…
Q: Was there one single moment when you realized you were being pulled by the siren call of flight?
Pia: In 5th grade, I had a flight with a pilot friend of my father’s, but it was not really until I was much older and saw that FinAir had hired its first female pilot in the 1980’s. This inspired me to realize that I too could attain this goal.
Anna-Maria: My first memory was that of my father building a helicopter in our garage when I was 8 years old, but my defining moment came about after a serious car accident. While in the hospital recovering, I had time to think about what was really important, and my sister Pia helped me put things into perspective and inspired me to get serious about aviation.
Q: As women, did you find the path to your career goals harder to
navigate?
Pia: I started flying freight, that was rough…things got easier when I went into corporate aviation. Many women pilots are A+ personalities by nature, so they must be chameleons and fit in, but at the same time prove themselves.
Anna-Maria: I would say that 95% of my experience has been positive. Yet we are held to a higher standard. If we make a mistake, everyone notices it. There is always pressure to do better. Unfortunately, most women pilots are underestimated.
Q: Do you have an experience in your flying career that stands out?
Pia: Flying that AirBus 320 with my sister. She is a great pilot and made my life easier in the cockpit. I have also had the honor of flying a President, a Nobel Prize winner and several high profile athletes.
Anna-Maria: Every time I get to fly with my sister!
Q: What advice would you give a young girl looking to pursue a career in aviation?
Pia: Have the passion, no excuses, the road is long. Don’t take “No” for an answer.
Anna-Maria: Make the work ethic count; if you start by sweeping floors have the right attitude. Don’t listen to the doubters; surround yourself with people who are supportive and encouraging. It’s not all about the math and science – it’s also about having good decision making capabilities.
Thanks Pia and Anna-Maria for that great advice.
So my fellow readers, if you have a daughter, granddaughter, niece, or female cousin, please encourage these young girls to follow their passion and let them know that being a pilot is very much within their grasp.
Pia and Anna-Maria Kymalainen grew up in an aviation family in Finland. With their father in aeronautical engineering and an older brother following in their father’s footsteps, the aspiration of flight was always close to home. Both sisters began their own careers flying corporate jets before finding their place with JetBlue.
In a recent interview with Pia and Anna-Maria, I was able to gain more insight into what it takes for women to reach their career goals in aviation. …show more content…
Q: Was there one single moment when you realized you were being pulled by the siren call of flight?
Pia: In 5th grade, I had a flight with a pilot friend of my father’s, but it was not really until I was much older and saw that FinAir had hired its first female pilot in the 1980’s. This inspired me to realize that I too could attain this goal.
Anna-Maria: My first memory was that of my father building a helicopter in our garage when I was 8 years old, but my defining moment came about after a serious car accident. While in the hospital recovering, I had time to think about what was really important, and my sister Pia helped me put things into perspective and inspired me to get serious about aviation.
Q: As women, did you find the path to your career goals harder to
navigate?
Pia: I started flying freight, that was rough…things got easier when I went into corporate aviation. Many women pilots are A+ personalities by nature, so they must be chameleons and fit in, but at the same time prove themselves.
Anna-Maria: I would say that 95% of my experience has been positive. Yet we are held to a higher standard. If we make a mistake, everyone notices it. There is always pressure to do better. Unfortunately, most women pilots are underestimated.
Q: Do you have an experience in your flying career that stands out?
Pia: Flying that AirBus 320 with my sister. She is a great pilot and made my life easier in the cockpit. I have also had the honor of flying a President, a Nobel Prize winner and several high profile athletes.
Anna-Maria: Every time I get to fly with my sister!
Q: What advice would you give a young girl looking to pursue a career in aviation?
Pia: Have the passion, no excuses, the road is long. Don’t take “No” for an answer.
Anna-Maria: Make the work ethic count; if you start by sweeping floors have the right attitude. Don’t listen to the doubters; surround yourself with people who are supportive and encouraging. It’s not all about the math and science – it’s also about having good decision making capabilities.
Thanks Pia and Anna-Maria for that great advice.
So my fellow readers, if you have a daughter, granddaughter, niece, or female cousin, please encourage these young girls to follow their passion and let them know that being a pilot is very much within their grasp.