SPEAKING TO TANIA, HELICOPTER PILOT.

Tania González, “I’m really happy. Just think!! TAF have always treated me well, allowing me to participate in various campaigns as a flight operator while I was training at TOP FLY. Working for them is like a dream come true in many ways.”

Interviewer – A dream that began when you were only six years old.

“That’s right; it’s at that age that I fell in love with aviation. I went for a ride in a helicopter around Garrotxa, where I was born, with my father. Seeing the impressive volcanic region of Olot from the air, its forests, its mountains, was an indescribable experience. From that point on, all my school work revolved around flying and aeronautics.”

I –So, you placed with aeroplanes rather than dolls…

T.G. –“No, I didn’t go that far. However, aviation had that special something that made me look up at the sky every time I heard an engine.”

And there was no family history!

“Well, no. The truth is that, as far as I know, there have never been any aviators in the family.”

At this point I’d like to mention that Tania has also studied the Integrated ATPL aeroplane course and the flight attendant course as well as the Helicopter ATPL. Which do you feel more comfortable in?

“In the helicopter, without a doubt. –Why? – Well, it’s much more… creative. That’s it! And more exciting. You never know what you’re going to find. Each flight really is “made to measure” and everything is variable. Aeroplanes, from my point of view, are more monotonous.”

And all done at TOP FLY in Sabadell. How did you come to be at this school?

“Through a friend. He was studying there and spoke t me about the school, I went to visit it and liked it.–So much so that you studied one course straight after the other. – “Yes, from 2003 when I started the Integrated ATPL aeroplane course, until recently when I completed the helicopter course.”

And now? “I’m quite a restless person. I love learning and so don’t rule out studying more. I love machines and means of transport. I have a yacht skipper’s licence and I’m thinking about getting a lorry licence. As you can see, I never stop.”

Aeroplane or helicopter. Which is most difficult?

“Without a doubt, controlling a helicopter. Getting the Ecureuil Ander control was a real challenge!”

Can you be a woman and a pilot without dying in the attempt?

“I think so. The truth is I believe that being a woman doesn’t have to represent any problems when flying a plane or helicopter. It all depends on the intellectual capacity of the person, and in this case gender plays little or no role whatsoever.

The problem is that women often self-censor themselves and this is a problem. All through my school days and later when I continued my studies up to now, I’ve always been surrounded by boys and with few female friends and I’ve never felt disregarded at all.”

Finally, a necessary question. What’s it like having a pilot as a partner, but an aeroplane pilot?

(laughing) “Good! Especially now that he’s based in Barcelona again. When he was in Madrid it was more difficult. Distance make’s things harder despite mobiles and the Internet, etc

I can imagine the conversations at home at the end of the day… And the traditional rivalry between fixed wing and rotor?

“Absolutely not. Those are urban myths. What’s more, we both try to leave aviation at the airport at the end of the day and we don’t take home any more aviation than is necessary.”

And in the future, when the children come along, will they be pilots too?

T.G. –“With two pilots at home, I think we’ve got our fair share for now.”