Airline Pilot and Airplane Owner
Hello! Welcome to Girls With Wings! My name is Cindy Jacobs. I have been
honored to be a part of Girls With Wings since the beginning and have loved
every minute of it! It is an excellent way to give back to the next generation
of young girls who are eager to reach for the stars!
I remember being one of those young girls. I was just chopping at the bit
for a chance to thrive and searching high and low for guidance. My mother
always stood strong in making it known that we could accomplish whatever it
is that we put our mind to with dedication and a strong work ethic. She
wanted us to aim high. I told her once that I wanted to be a flight attendant,
just like her! Her response was, “Why don’t you become a pilot instead? I
know you can do it!” So there you have it, the seed was planted.
I was one of four children and money was always very tight. I started
working as soon as I could so that I could provide for my family and myself.
I am the first to admit that it would have been a lot easier with a big bank
account but I can also tell you that I did it with the money I made waiting
tables. With or without financial assistance, it definitely takes dedication,
hard work and persistence.
So, to make a long story short, here it is…
When I turned eighteen, I traveled out to the local airport to inquire about
the cost of flight lessons. At $35.00 an hour for the airplane, plus the
instructor fees, books and a headset, it was, at the time, a hopeless
proposition. I was earning $3.35 an hour at the local fast food restaurant
(this was the 1990s, after all). Since I was also paying for college tuition, I
decided that flight lessons would have to be put on the back burner for a
while.
Five years later I had a degree in International Business and an office job that
was boring and mundane. So, I made a decision. It was time to reach for the
sky and become a pilot. I quit my corporate job and started waiting tables to
earn enough money working in the evenings so that I could afford spending
my days studying and flying. I also had a lot of support from my boyfriend
and now husband. He encouraged me every step of the way (he paid all the
bills while I spent all the money I made on flying). I didn’t do it alone!
In three months I had my Private Pilot license. Within a year, I had my
Private, Instrument, Commercial and Multi- Engine Ratings. By year two, I
obtained my Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and my Certified Flight Instructor
Instrument Ratings (CFII).
By networking at a Women in Aviation, International, Conference, I landed a
flight instructor position at a wonderful flight school at Spirit of St. Louis
Airport. In the seven months I was employed there, I was able to log 700
hours and obtain my Multi Engine Instructor Rating. All the money I made
as a flight instructor went right back into building my multiengine time.
After just three and a half years of training and instructing, I had 1000 hours
of total flight time and 150 hours of multiengine time. I now had the
credentials to fly for the regional airlines.
I was soon hired by a commuter airline and met my goal of earning my
Captain’s stripes in one year. I flew the Beech 1900 for four years altogether
and had 3800 hours of flight time, of which 1500 hours were logged as
turbine pilot in command time. Now I had met my career goal of having the
qualifications to hire on to the majors, but….
My husband (also a pilot) and I decided it was time to start a family. We had
our beautiful baby girl, Sophia. Two months after returning from maternity
leave; I was hired at America West Airlines, and loved every minute of it!
I must say that this is a very condensed version of my career. It was a lot of
work to get here. It didn’t come without a lot of trials and tribulations; my
husband and I moved ten times in five years. With both of us flying for
different airlines, it was sometimes a challenge to see each other.
Even though it was a lot of hard work (and a lot of jumping through hoops),
I’ve enjoyed the ride!
After having my second child, Cody, I decided to take some time off from
flying. It was difficult to have a two-pilot family. With the constant coming
and going, I desperately yearned for some time to nest with my two
offspring. So, I requested a personal leave and it was granted. Shortly
thereafter, my husband and I decided to take the family on an adventure and
move to Hong Kong. So, we did. I was able to extend my leave and away
we went. My children are independent and strong now. They are both in
school and well on their way through life’s journey. So, when the
opportunity presented itself to become employed as a Boeing 777 Flight
Simulator Instructor for a major airline, I jumped at the chance. I have really
missed flying! I loved sitting in the cockpit at Fight Level 350 and watching
the sun slowly slide beyond the horizon, but I prefer being home every night
with my children. I am amazed that I would even consider taking a non-flying
job but I am not only content with this decision, but elated. For me, it is the
best of both worlds, the perfect job!
I think that what I’ve been through over the past four years of trying to
weigh the pros and cons of family and career is very typical for most women.
Every woman is unique and every situation is different. I am amazed at how
women have reinvented themselves time and time again. In the next chapter
of my life I will face it with the words, “Bring it on!”
Hello! Welcome to Girls With Wings! My name is Cindy Jacobs. I have been
honored to be a part of Girls With Wings since the beginning and have loved
every minute of it! It is an excellent way to give back to the next generation
of young girls who are eager to reach for the stars!
I remember being one of those young girls. I was just chopping at the bit
for a chance to thrive and searching high and low for guidance. My mother
always stood strong in making it known that we could accomplish whatever it
is that we put our mind to with dedication and a strong work ethic. She
wanted us to aim high. I told her once that I wanted to be a flight attendant,
just like her! Her response was, “Why don’t you become a pilot instead? I
know you can do it!” So there you have it, the seed was planted.
I was one of four children and money was always very tight. I started
working as soon as I could so that I could provide for my family and myself.
I am the first to admit that it would have been a lot easier with a big bank
account but I can also tell you that I did it with the money I made waiting
tables. With or without financial assistance, it definitely takes dedication,
hard work and persistence.
So, to make a long story short, here it is…
When I turned eighteen, I traveled out to the local airport to inquire about
the cost of flight lessons. At $35.00 an hour for the airplane, plus the
instructor fees, books and a headset, it was, at the time, a hopeless
proposition. I was earning $3.35 an hour at the local fast food restaurant
(this was the 1990s, after all). Since I was also paying for college tuition, I
decided that flight lessons would have to be put on the back burner for a
while.
Five years later I had a degree in International Business and an office job that
was boring and mundane. So, I made a decision. It was time to reach for the
sky and become a pilot. I quit my corporate job and started waiting tables to
earn enough money working in the evenings so that I could afford spending
my days studying and flying. I also had a lot of support from my boyfriend
and now husband. He encouraged me every step of the way (he paid all the
bills while I spent all the money I made on flying). I didn’t do it alone!
In three months I had my Private Pilot license. Within a year, I had my
Private, Instrument, Commercial and Multi- Engine Ratings. By year two, I
obtained my Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and my Certified Flight Instructor
Instrument Ratings (CFII).
By networking at a Women in Aviation, International, Conference, I landed a
flight instructor position at a wonderful flight school at Spirit of St. Louis
Airport. In the seven months I was employed there, I was able to log 700
hours and obtain my Multi Engine Instructor Rating. All the money I made
as a flight instructor went right back into building my multiengine time.
After just three and a half years of training and instructing, I had 1000 hours
of total flight time and 150 hours of multiengine time. I now had the
credentials to fly for the regional airlines.
I was soon hired by a commuter airline and met my goal of earning my
Captain’s stripes in one year. I flew the Beech 1900 for four years altogether
and had 3800 hours of flight time, of which 1500 hours were logged as
turbine pilot in command time. Now I had met my career goal of having the
qualifications to hire on to the majors, but….
My husband (also a pilot) and I decided it was time to start a family. We had
our beautiful baby girl, Sophia. Two months after returning from maternity
leave; I was hired at America West Airlines, and loved every minute of it!
I must say that this is a very condensed version of my career. It was a lot of
work to get here. It didn’t come without a lot of trials and tribulations; my
husband and I moved ten times in five years. With both of us flying for
different airlines, it was sometimes a challenge to see each other.
Even though it was a lot of hard work (and a lot of jumping through hoops),
I’ve enjoyed the ride!
After having my second child, Cody, I decided to take some time off from
flying. It was difficult to have a two-pilot family. With the constant coming
and going, I desperately yearned for some time to nest with my two
offspring. So, I requested a personal leave and it was granted. Shortly
thereafter, my husband and I decided to take the family on an adventure and
move to Hong Kong. So, we did. I was able to extend my leave and away
we went. My children are independent and strong now. They are both in
school and well on their way through life’s journey. So, when the
opportunity presented itself to become employed as a Boeing 777 Flight
Simulator Instructor for a major airline, I jumped at the chance. I have really
missed flying! I loved sitting in the cockpit at Fight Level 350 and watching
the sun slowly slide beyond the horizon, but I prefer being home every night
with my children. I am amazed that I would even consider taking a non-flying
job but I am not only content with this decision, but elated. For me, it is the
best of both worlds, the perfect job!
I think that what I’ve been through over the past four years of trying to
weigh the pros and cons of family and career is very typical for most women.
Every woman is unique and every situation is different. I am amazed at how
women have reinvented themselves time and time again. In the next chapter
of my life I will face it with the words, “Bring it on!”
 |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
TM
