Flight Training - August 2022 - 18

JIM READER
PREFLIGHT FIVE QUESTIONS
BY CAYLA MCLEOD
NAT ESSER
STOL STAR
NATALIE " NAT " ESSER IS A FIRST OFFICER
for a major Canadian airline who became
interested in short takeoff and landing
(STOL) competitions after her husband
attended the High Sierra Fly-In in 2018.
" Josh came home raving, so I knew I had
to get down there, " said Esser.
The 2019 High Sierra Fly-In was
when organizers The Flying Cowboys
advertised a $2,000 prize for the fastest
female racer. Esser started training in
her Kitfox. " We set up a course, and I
did about 10 runs before going to the
lakebed, " she said.
To her delight, she won the $2,000
grand prize and took sixteenth place
overall, meaning that she qualified to race
STOL Drag at the STIHL National Championship
Air Races in Reno, Nevada.
After several months of maintenance
and upgrades on her beloved Kitfox,
Esser raced at Reno in 2021 and placed
third overall. Almost a month later, Esser
placed second in the silver class at High
Sierra. " So many pilots and nonpilots
think I'm crazy, but if you have the drive
to do it, it's very attainable, " said Esser.
How did you get started in aviation?
I grew up near an air force base in
Ontario, Canada, and was always captivated
by the airplanes flying overhead
as a little girl. At the age of 12, I joined
the Royal Canadian Air Cadets where I
received scholarships to earn my glider
pilot license at age 16 and my private pilot
at age 17.
What were your biggest challenges?
Some of my biggest challenges have been
related to large transitions throughout
my career. For example, I went from flying
a Cessna 441 around Canada and the
U.S., to flying Learjets worldwide for an
air ambulance company. Another big step
was when I transitioned from flying the
Q400 at a regional carrier, to flying the
Airbus 320 at Air Canada. Those large
transitions took a lot of commitment to
simultaneously learning a new airplane,
a new company, and a new operating
environment.
What is your favorite aircraft?
My Kitfox!
Favorite aviation-related activity?
Definitely the High Sierra Fly-In.
Advice for students?
Try to take your training one step at a
time and enjoy each phase along the
way. It's so easy to get caught up in the
" what's next " mentality, but if you're able
to enjoy the journey you'll be much more
likely to stick with your training and get
where you want to be.
cayla.mcleod@aopa.org
LOGBOOK
WHO: Natalie Esser,
Boeing 787 first officer
for Air Canada
HOURS: 6,500
RATINGS: Airline
transport pilot rated on the
Boeing 787, Airbus A320,
Bombardier Q400, Learjet
35/36, Fairchild Merlin
Metro 23
18 FLIGHT TRAINING AUGUST 2022

Flight Training - August 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - August 2022

Contents
Flight Training - August 2022 - Intro
Flight Training - August 2022 - Cover1
Flight Training - August 2022 - Cover2
Flight Training - August 2022 - Contents
Flight Training - August 2022 - 2
Flight Training - August 2022 - 3
Flight Training - August 2022 - 4
Flight Training - August 2022 - 5
Flight Training - August 2022 - 6
Flight Training - August 2022 - 7
Flight Training - August 2022 - 8
Flight Training - August 2022 - 9
Flight Training - August 2022 - 10
Flight Training - August 2022 - 11
Flight Training - August 2022 - 12
Flight Training - August 2022 - 13
Flight Training - August 2022 - 14
Flight Training - August 2022 - 15
Flight Training - August 2022 - 16
Flight Training - August 2022 - 17
Flight Training - August 2022 - 18
Flight Training - August 2022 - 19
Flight Training - August 2022 - 20
Flight Training - August 2022 - 21
Flight Training - August 2022 - 22
Flight Training - August 2022 - 23
Flight Training - August 2022 - 24
Flight Training - August 2022 - 25
Flight Training - August 2022 - 26
Flight Training - August 2022 - 27
Flight Training - August 2022 - 28
Flight Training - August 2022 - 29
Flight Training - August 2022 - 30
Flight Training - August 2022 - 31
Flight Training - August 2022 - 32
Flight Training - August 2022 - 33
Flight Training - August 2022 - 34
Flight Training - August 2022 - 35
Flight Training - August 2022 - 36
Flight Training - August 2022 - 37
Flight Training - August 2022 - 38
Flight Training - August 2022 - 39
Flight Training - August 2022 - 40
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Flight Training - August 2022 - 42
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Flight Training - August 2022 - 55
Flight Training - August 2022 - 56
Flight Training - August 2022 - Cover3
Flight Training - August 2022 - Cover4
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