{"id":35931,"date":"2023-11-21T09:45:46","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T14:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mdcthereporter.com\/staging\/8357\/?p=35931"},"modified":"2023-12-04T12:08:41","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T17:08:41","slug":"embracing-the-turbulence-my-journey-in-aviation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mdcthereporter.com\/staging\/8357\/embracing-the-turbulence-my-journey-in-aviation\/","title":{"rendered":"Embracing The Turbulence: My Journey In Aviation"},"content":{"rendered":"

My journey as a pilot from the heart of Ecuador to the United States has been a transformative odyssey driven by my lifelong dream<\/span> to succeed in aviation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I began pursuing my private pilot license in Ecuador when I was 19.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The pilot training course consisted of basic flying and solo flight, instrument rating and multi-engine flying skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

I had to complete extra courses for every airplane I flew. I also had to attain a Class 1 medical certificate<\/span>\u2014<\/span>a non-negotiable requirement for aspiring pilots.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Each stage was punctuated by flight tests that required rigorous preparation and focus, but I became a pilot when I was 22 years old.<\/span><\/p>\n

Employment opportunities were scarce in Ecuador, with more than 3,000 pilots vying to fill 300 job vacancies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finding a job was difficult because it relied heavily on connections, and when I did, I encountered machismo from coworkers who did not want to fly with me to avoid issues with their wives, and from passengers who did not want to fly with me because I was a young woman.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then the corporate airplane I worked for, Banco de Machala, was sold due to issues in the economy, and I became unemployed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leaving my heart behind in my city, Cuenca, I set my sights on the endless skies of opportunity that awaited in Miami.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last spring, I enrolled at Miami Dade College to pursue an associate\u2019s degree in professional pilot technology<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As I do my college coursework, moments of self-doubt appear occasionally.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aviation exams, notorious for their rigorous nature, also test my spirit. I\u2019ve confronted this challenge by crafting structured study schedules and seeking guidance from professors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A sense of isolation also comes with my studies, but communing with friends who understand my challenges has become my lifeline, offering moments of respite.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the most painful challenge has been the heartbreaking experience of my parents’ divorce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This shift in my family dynamic could have taken my dreams away, but I decided to occupy my mind with airplanes, the gym, homework and work because success in aviation requires unwavering focus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I envision a future where I become a pillar of support for my parents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Making my loved ones proud and being an example for women with similar aspirations is the light that guides me through the darkest moments of doubt and uncertainty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA todo pavo le llega su navidad\u201d<\/span> (<\/span>every turkey gets his Christmas<\/span><\/i>)<\/span> is <\/span>a common phrase Ecuadorian pilots use that means someday, somehow, it’s going to be your turn.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Overcoming obstacles is an intrinsic part of growth.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, as I work to obtain a professional degree in aviation in America, e<\/span>very obstacle strengthens my decision.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The journey has never been about the destination alone, but about embracing the challenges and savoring the victories.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sky’s The Limit: Janneth K. Matute Cordova sits atop a Cirrus SR22 aircraft after piloting a flight from Los Angeles to Catalina Island, California more than five years ago. PHOTO COURTESY OF JANNETH K. MATUTE CORDOVA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My journey as a pilot from the heart of Ecuador to the United States has been a transformative odyssey driven by my lifelong dream to succeed in aviation.\u00a0 I began pursuing my private pilot license in Ecuador when I was 19.\u00a0 The pilot training course consisted of basic flying and solo flight, instrument rating and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13482633,"featured_media":35905,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[2029,3504],"class_list":{"0":"post-35931","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-forum","8":"tag-aviation","9":"tag-pilot"},"yoast_head":"\nEmbracing The Turbulence: My Journey In Aviation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Janneth K. 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