Holding Short

Episode 55- Melissa- Aeronautical Analyst and Rotorcraft CFI!

Episode 55 is out today with guest Melissa!

From the moment Melissa spotted a sea turtle on her first plane ride as a child with her grandfather flying the plane, she has loved flying. It was not until decades later that Melissa realised she could have a career as a pilot and transition from her desk job in banking that left her feeling unfulfilled. 

Melissa began flight training in 2014, since then she has juggled working full-time, earning a BS in Aviation Administration from Utah Valley University, flight training and life on her family cattle farm. For almost the past five years, Melissa has also worked full time in aviation for AeroNavData/Garmin as an aeronautical analyst and trainer. 

She holds a rotorcraft CFI and commercial helicopter licence with instrument rating and is currently working on her CFII. Since discovering her love for helicopter flying, Melissa has been involved with the Ninety-Nines, Women in Aviation and the Whirly Girls aviation organisations. 

Episode 54- Cameron Boekhoff

Episode 54 is out today with guest Cameron Boekhoff!

Cameron Boekhoff is a Canadian Aircraft Maintenance Engineer as well as a Private and Glider pilot.

First exposed to aviation at local fly-in breakfasts down the road from his family’s farm in Eastern Ontario, Cameron found airplanes fascinating from a young age. Soon after joining his local squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, a glider flight cemented his desire to fly. With that goal in mind, Cameron took his squadron’s ground school every year, as well as participating in summer courses. His hard work paid off and he earned, and successfully completed the Glider and Power scholarships with the Cadet program. 

Cameron attended Canadore College in North Bay, Ontario, where he completed the two-year Aviation Technician- Aircraft Maintenance course. Following graduation, he went on to work in private and flight school maintenance roles. Through that work, he was able to gather the experience necessary to earn an AME license with an M1 Rating. Since earning that rating in 2018, Cameron has participated in many training and continuing education opportunities to build himself for the future. In late 2021, Cameron made the move to his first airline job, where he is working towards earning his M2 rating.

In his free time Cameron enjoys fishing, shooting sports, and hopes to expand his capabilities as a canoeist and hiker. He currently also volunteers on the board of the Webster Memorial Trophy Competition and is the producer and editor of this show!

Cameron can be found on instagram @glovesaero or on linkedin. The Webster Trophy can be found on facebook and instagram @webstertrophy, or on their website at www.webstertrophy.ca!

Episode 53- OpeOluwa Iyortim

Episode 53 is out today with guest OpeOluwa Iyortim!

 OpeOluwa fell in love with aviation on his very first flight as a toddler. He has lived with the single-minded goal of becoming an Airline pilot since then. 

This end goal of a career in aviation has influenced all his major life decisions, including his choice of a Bachelor’s degree in Geography. He also spent a year teaching geography at a high school after university, where he developed a love for sharing knowledge and mentoring. 

OpeOluwa completed the integrated commercial pilot course (ICPC) at the Moncton Flight College in 2016, after which he instructed with the school for two years before launching his airline career at a regional carrier. In addition to his busy schedule, he still finds time to instruct and mentor pilots on the side. While he admits it is a juggling act, he finds joy and fulfilment in bringing people into the family that is aviation. 

Appreciative of the peculiarities that enabled him to build an airline career in just 4 years, OpeOluwa founded The Vectored Approach Consulting: an initiative driven by the vision of lowering the barriers to aviation and improving the flight training experience. 

OpeOluwa and The Vectored Approach can be found on linkedin, instagram @tva_consulting, and online at www.vectoredapproach.com. 

Episode 52- Tara Mrhar

Episode 52 is out today with guest Tara Mrhar!

Tara grew up in Geelong, Australia and spent her childhood and teenage years travelling alongside her mother who was a lifelong flight attendant. Through these experiences birthed her passion and love for aviation and knew from an early age she would settle for nothing less than a career as a pilot. 

Before learning to fly she continued to travel the world and eventually moved to New Zealand to work on the ski fields but after two years abroad she realised it was time to pursue her dream. 

She was accepted into the Sharp Airlines Cadet Class of 2017 and studied for 2 years at Moorabbin Airport where she completed her commercial license and multi engine instrument rating before moving onto the Metroliner as a First Officer.

She now lives and works in Launceston, Tasmania flying amongst some of the most beautiful yet rugged scenery in Australia. Her job involves carrying freight, passengers and lots of extremely cute dogs to the islands off the coast of Tasmania. She has high hopes for the future of aviation and is determined to continue to develop herself into a well-skilled and professional airline pilot. 

Tara can be found on instagram @taramrhar!

Episode 51-Dr. Cassandra Marion

Episode 51 is out today with guest Dr Cassandra Marion!

A life-long explorer and outdoorswoman, Cassandra completed her PhD in geology and planetary science and exploration from the Institute for Earth and Space Exploration at Western University where she studied meteorite impact craters in the Canadian Arctic. She also has considerable analogue mission experience, which are simulated robotic and human missions designed to learn, train and prepare for real missions to the Moon and Mars.

In her most recent expedition, she helped to train two astronauts in field geology in preparation for upcoming missions to the Moon.

In her current role as Science Advisor for the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, Cassandra is dedicated to sharing her passion and knowledge of Earth and planetary sciences with communities near and far as well as acting as liaison and collaborator between the museum, academia, industry and government to connect the greater community of science and technology. 

Dr Marion can be found on twitter @planetarycass. The Canada Aviation and Space Museum can be found on their website, instagram @avspacemuseum, as well as other social media channels!

Episode 50- Nisha Venkatesh

Episode 50 is out today with guest Nisha Venkatesh!

Nisha stumbled into aviation entirely by accident, despite having a grandfather who was in the Indian Air Force, a father who built a career in Aerospace manufacturing, and her love for globetrotting. As she was evaluating her options for University, she happened into an RCAF offer to pursue a fully-funded degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto.

After graduating and some training, she was sent to the heart of Canada and the RCAF in Winnipeg – where her tropical genes tried to be friends with prairie winters for 6 years. The air force helped by sending Nisha off to sunny locations like Hawaii, California, and Florida, before shipping her off to Europe for a 6-month NATO deployment. 

She spent 4 years in Colorado working for NORAD, where the weather was far friendlier. Last summer, she found her way to Ottawa as a Staff Officer for RCAF Readiness, where she is fortunate and grateful to work for people who encourage her to push boundaries for good. 

Nisha attended her first CWIA conference in 2017, and joined the volunteer team. She was the Program Director in 2019, and loved the friends she made along the way. As co-chair, she is excited to see you all in Edmonton at the upcoming conference from 22 to 25 June 2022. 

Nisha can be found on Linkedin or contacted through CWIA. CWIA can be found on Instagram @cwiacommunity, on linkedin, or on their website at www.cwia.ca.

Episode 49- Marielle Caron

Episode 49 is out today with guest Marielle Caron!

In her 15th year of working in the aviation industry, Marielle Caron is enjoying her role as a First Officer for a Private Jet company.

From her beginning as a ramp agent, she worked her way through many roles in aviation, and ultimately completed her necessary ratings to obtain a flying job. It took nearly 10 years to achieve these qualifications but after some perseverance she found success, and now holds an ATPL and is type-rated on an Embraer Legacy jet.

While hers was not a straightforward path to becoming a pilot, she did not give up on her dream and has learned much about aviation along the way. She enjoys sharing her story, sharing her passion, and supporting others along their aviation journey.

Marielle can be found on instagram @one_dot_below.

Episode 48- Arianna Woodley

Episode 48 is out today with guest Arianna Woodley!

Born on the small island of Anguilla, it was almost inevitable that flying would be part of Arianna’s future. Watching the small to mid-sized aircraft take off and land at the Clayton J Lloyd International Airport became quite the hobby which later resulted in garnering a summer job in the Air Traffic Control tower. Now a graduate with a double major in Geography and Aviation and minor in Environmental Science with a Commercial Pilot License, Arianna currently works at Mount Allison University as an Admissions Counsellor – Prospect Management. “A career in aviation is not a one step process. Black students need even more support from as early as possible to ensure that they are able to receive the best training possible, especially financial support. As the Student Programs and Development Director at BAPN, my aim is to ensure that students have access to all that is required, without having to worry about how they will fund their training.”

Arianna can be found on instagram @arianna_woodley and on Linkedin. The BAPN can be found on their website www.thebapn.ca, instagram @the.BAPN, and linkedin.

Episode 47- Lucy Poirier

Episode 47 is out today with guest Lucy Poirier!

Lucy grew up in Langley, BC where her love of aviation was sparked from a young age by her mom and the Canadian Museum of Flight.  At the age of 12, Lucy joined 746 Lightning Hawk Royal Canadian Air Cadets and over the next seven years she obtained her glider and private pilot licenses and participated on the International Air Cadet Exchange to fly aircraft in Switzerland.

Post-Secondary, Lucy studied business in aviation at the University of the Fraser Valley and enrolled in the Cadet Instructors Cadre branch of the Royal Canadian Air Force to return to the Cadet Program and become a glider flight instructor.

While discerning which aviation career path was right for her, Lucy was encouraged by a mentor to apply to NavCanada and become an air traffic controller.  Lucy always thought she would be flying and had not previously considered becoming an air traffic controller, but during the application process she discovered this was the career for her. At 19, Lucy became a VFR controller and now works in the Prince George control tower.

Lucy also volunteers with Elevate Aviation as the British Columbia Wing mentorship program coordinator.

‘My passion for mentorship is inspired by and dedicated to all the mentors I have had both related to my career in aviation and in life.  Without those wonderful people who encouraged and supported me and gave me opportunities to consider and grow, I would not be where I am today.  I hope in my mentorship roles now to inspire and prepare the next generation of women in aviation!’

Lucy can be contacted through Elevate Aviation by email at lucy@elevateaviation.ca to learn more about mentorship opportunities. Elevate Aviation can be found on their website www.elevateaviation.ca, instagram @elevateaviation, linkedin, and other major social media platforms. 

Episode 46- Alisha Sohpaul and Stéphanie Angrand of Hangar Queens

Episode 46 is out today with guests Alisha Sohpaul and Stéphanie Angrand, Co-Founders of Hangar Queens!

Alisha currently holds the role of Person Responsible for Maintenance (PRM) at Iskwew Air, where she primarily looks after two Piper Navajos but has worked on a variety of aircrafts ranging from Cessna 152 to CRJ 900. She holds both M1 and M2 AME licences and has also had the opportunity to take on leadership roles such as a Maintenance Controller & Line Maintenance Supervisor.

Recently, Alisha was appointed Vice-President of the Pacific Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Association (PAMEA) and became the first woman to join and the first to serve on the Board. She also serves on the Youth Engagement Committee with the British Columbia Aviation Council. 

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Stephanie is currently a crew supervisor for a maintenance team in Saint-Hubert, Quebec, operating on the CH-146 Griffons.

Having first joined the Canadian Forces in 2006 as an aircraft maintenance engineer, Stephanie's first love was for the CF-18 jets in Cold Lake, Alberta where I worked as an engine technician. 

In 2013, following a move to the civilian world, she had the opportunity to work with CRJs 700-900-1000 with Bombardier in Mirabel, Quebec, and, in fact, got to witness the first flight ever of C series! 

Since returning to military work in 2015, Stephanie began working with the CH-146 Griffons and taught the type course for 3 years, which is what she says sparked her passion for teaching and mentoring.

Proud to be a part of the 2% of female AMEs in Canada, both Alisha and Stephanie enjoy promoting aviation careers to young women, highlighting underrepresented jobs in the industry, and helping to support women currently working as AMEs!

Hangar Queens can be found on instagram @hangar_queens, or on linkedin.