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Reflections of Gratitude

If someone told me as a kid that I'd become a pilot I wouldn't have believed it. Pia Bergqvist
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author, an aviation journalist, recounts her dream career filled with unique flying experiences, which she once considered an impossible dream.
  • Growing up in Sweden, she faced barriers like limited access to aviation and a lack of female role models, initially writing off her pilot aspirations.
  • Her journey was significantly influenced by Women in Aviation International (WAI), which provided a scholarship, inspiration, and crucial connections that helped her find her unconventional career path.
  • The article concludes by encouraging readers to pursue their passions, asserting that dream careers are achievable and can lead to unexpected and fulfilling opportunities.
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Landing on a beach or on a beautiful remote backcountry airstrip in an airplane equipped with fat tires. Flying in formation with some of the top airshow performers in the world doing loops and rolls in a sleek single-engine jet or a roaring round-engine T-6. Testing out the capabilities of some of the coolest new airplanes on the planet. Taking off from and landing on lakes in the untouched wilderness of Alaska. Being able to run down to the airport at any time to fly my own airplane.

Pia Bergqvist

Pia Bergqvist joined FLYING in December 2010. A passionate aviator, Pia started flying in 1999 and quickly obtained her single- and multi-engine commercial, instrument and instructor ratings. After a decade of working in general aviation, Pia has accumulated almost 3,000 hours of flight time in nearly 40 different types of aircraft.

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