Behind the wings: Emilie Colignon, Commander

Meet #DreamTeam member Emilie Colignon, Commander

Aviator since she was 15, GlobeAir commander since 2018.

Our #DreamTeam is made of the people who work with us. To celebrate the importance of our team members, we are releasing a series of profiles for you to get to know the people of GlobeAir. Coinciding with Women's Day 2020, we are presenting Emilie Colignon, one of our bright commanders.

When did your passion for aviation begin?

A passion discovered very early in life.

My passion for aviation started very early in life. I remember me and my friends meeting on the Belgian military airfield learning to fly gliders. It started off as a very exciting hobby which brought together young women who wanted to learn to fly. At the time I did not realise it but we were mostly female aviators and I loved it.

"Flying brought to me the same excitement that driving a car did. Only, it was way cooler. I was very lucky to start with the basics at a very young age and for this I thank my family who have always supported me along the way. " – Emilie Colignon, Commander at GlobeAir

I would spend time researching the difference between cirrus and cumulus or trying to understand the physics behind the gliders capability to fly at all! It wasn't long until I learnt about all the rules and limitations of my glider. It was around that time in my life that I realised the impact that learning to fly was having on my life; this is also when I decided that I wanted to become a professional pilot.

My first milestone in aviation was in 2016 when I became a commercial pilot and got employed in Paris. As I was flying the same jet I am now flying at GlobeAir, I like to think that my first work experience has managed to prepare me very well for my next big challenge: becoming a member of the #DreamTeam.

What’s your current role at GlobeAir?

Tell us about your experience as a #DreamTeam member.

I have now been flying for GlobeAir for almost three years. What I love about GlobeAir is all the different destinations we are going to. No two days are alike, always flying with a nice different colleague to a different place. It doesn’t leave any room for routine.

My favourite destination is Bolzano, Italy. Bolzano is an airspace where only private aviation can operate and due to the length of the runaway it is somehow regarded as very challenging, especially when the weather conditions are poor. This is also one of the reasons why I am happy to be able to train there and provide exceptional service to our passengers as well.

"I’m really looking forward to a « cleaner and greener » aviation industry. Whether it be the aircraft type itself or simply at a company procedures level, I really hope that all of us, aviators, can do something about the current status of our environment."

After the CSER roadmap #WeArePlanetA was released, I felt even more connected to the company I work for as I believe in the future of aviation being massively influenced by a change of conduct towards greener ethics.

What's your routine to be productive and gain time?

Time management is an essential part of our daily routine. In order to have a smooth and easy day, it is very important to always anticipate your day long in advance.

"Homo faber fortuna suae", I don't have a crystal ball, so I use all the tools at my disposal to plan my day ahead and deliver the highest service experience to our guests.

I always try to be ready for a departure earlier than scheduled, anticipate the call for the fuel truck before landing or even making sure that our passenger's driver is ready to pick our passengers up upon landing. Having the foresight to take care of all the above makes me feel comfortable and at ease when it comes to welcoming our passengers on board.

Who is your role model?

To get inspired and to inspire: passing on the torch.

If I am honest, I do admire Hélène Boucher, the French aviator holding several female speed and altitude records; she was also a fervent campaigner for women's rights and it is her strong personality that has made her become my role model.

My greatest dream would be to pass on my passion to my future child – which I hope will be a girl who could one day pursue the same career as me. I hope for her to be blessed with the passion for aviation, because it is one of those industries that helps you fulfil your dreams.

Nevertheless, I have to admit that I do not feel the pressure of being a woman when I am on duty. At Globeair, all crew members are quite young and open minded so the difference between gender is not felt at all. When I go to work I feel like I am just working a regular job with regular colleagues; even if we are the only three female pilots in the company at the moment.

Emilie's Bio

Emilie is Belgian and has joined Globeair in 2017. She studied for her pilot training in the USA and obtained her licence in 2011. During her free time, she loves travelling; when she is not somewhere across the world, she loves skiing, biking and hiking. Emilie has been living in Nice, since 2018. Because she adores the Côte d’Azur so much, she is planning to build her own house there, under the sun.