Fewer than 10 percent of licensed pilots in the United States are women, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). To understand the challenges and rewards of a pilot career, an interview was conducted with commercial airline Pilot Sarina (SJ) Larson.
Larson's interest in aviation began at age 15 after her first airplane ride with her father's flight instructor. "I’m not sure if my dad just wanted to impress me or if he loved the novelty of bringing his daughter with him, but I guarantee you he never expected me to fall in love with flying," she said.
She soon sought employment at a local airport. "I immediately went to the local airport and asked for a job, and next thing I knew I was working at an FBO cleaning airplanes and handing over my $100 paycheck for a couple of $50 rides in a Cessna 152. I fell in love with the people. Aviation people are the absolute best."