This Aviation Student Has Been Exploring All Her Life

Sonja Karner already has a diverse resume, and hopes to become one of a very rare breed.

Ellen Voie

Friday, December 24, 2021 at 08:23 AM ET

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Sonja Karner after her first helicopter flight. [Courtesy: Sonja Karner]

Key Takeaways:

Sonja Karner's childhood dream of flight, inspired by astronauts and Space Camp, led her to earn her private pilot certification at age 17 with the help of a Ray Aviation Scholarship.
At the University of North Dakota, she pivoted from fixed-wing to rotorcraft training, finding helicopters more challenging and rewarding, with a goal of flying for emergency medical services or rescue operations.
As a pioneering woman in the male-dominated rotorcraft field, Karner excels in her training, actively participates in aviation leadership roles, and embraces the unique opportunities.
Karner plans to become a certified flight instructor to further her skills and inspire others before pursuing her ultimate career as a helicopter pilot in areas like EMS or rescue.

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As a child, Sonja Karner looked up at the sky and wondered what it would be like to fly.

“I knew I wanted to learn how to fly and hoped it would turn into a career for me, but at [the very] least [I thought it could be] a hobby,” Karner says. She admits to enjoying science and math and likes to challenge herself. When she was 12, she attended a presentation about the STS-71 Mission by Charlie Precourt at the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Museum during Space Week.