A Mount Gambier teenager has taken to the skies – giving her a bird’s eye view of her future plans.
Isabella Lamb, 17, has taken her passion to the skies in the hopes of landing a job in the aviation industry despite it being largely male dominated.
Miss Lamb said the industry was keen to attract more women.
A report by the Federal Aviation Administration’ aeronautical centre in 2016 indicated only 5.1% of commercially licensed pilots were females.
“I know there are certain airlines that are 50/50 with females and males so they are trying to have gender equality in the business,” Miss Lamb said.
“As far as I know I am the only female at Gambi Air Flight School out of over 30 students.
“There are a lot of advantages to being a female in the industry.
“I have been told there are going to be so many more opportunities then if I was a male.
“More females need to learn how to fly, to take off in the pilot seat.”
Miss Lamb is one of few people that can say they could fly a plane before they could drive by themselves, flying solo at just 15 years old.
“When I flew solo for the first time ever there was a female pilot flying a REX plane and a woman flying privately,” she said.
“When I announced I was clear of all runways over my radio, the REX pilot congratulated me which was pretty cool because she was a female.
“The private female pilot also congratulated me and that experience is definelty something I am going to remember.”
Miss Lamb focussed her year 12 research project on how COVID-19 affected pilots and the aviation industry.
“I interviewed four pilots that I knew, and they all see the industry getting back in 2024 or 2025 which is when I am getting into the industry,” she said.
“A lot of experienced pilots have been stood down, so they have either retired or found a different career.
In two or three years time, airlines are going to be screaming for pilots so I am not fussed at all especially because I am a female.
“The opportunities are endless for pilots around Australia.”
As Miss Lamb so precisely put it “the sky is the limit”.
