Five Questions: Peggy Chabrian

After a long three-day, two-night trip on a Greyhound bus, she started college in Collegedale, Tennessee, only to be introduced to flying and eventually changing universities and her major—to aviation. She founded Women In Aviation International in 1990; the organization’s first conference had 150 participants. The Women in Aviation International conference has grown to more than 4,500 attendees and WAI represents more than 13,000 women and men from all segments of the aviation industry. She is only the second woman to hold the position of dean of an engineering school in the United States and has served as dean for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Parks College, and as chair of the aviation department at Georgia State University. She is a 2,200-hour multi-engine pilot and owns a Cessna 150.

Started in aviation…I was a college student, majoring in education, working a part-time job in a restaurant. One of the regular customers was always talking about flying and inviting people to come out to the airport and take a flight. I was 21 years old and had never been to an airport, let alone having flown in an airplane. That first flight was in a 1946 Ercoupe, a low-wing two-seat canopy airplane, and the flight was one I’ll never forget.

Biggest challenges…Having the funds to fly was a challenge. To help pay for my flying I started an aviation ground school business. I was teaching ground school three nights in week in three different states—Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia—in a restaurant, FBO lobby, flight school, and classroom. Many flight instructors didn’t like the ground school portion of flight training, so this market became my first aviation business.

Favorite aircraft…There’s still a special place in my heart for the Ercoupe. I have owned two Ercoupes, helping to restore one of them. My other two favorite aircraft are the de Havilland Beaver and the Cessna 150. Last, and certainly not least, is the Robinson R22 helicopter that I flew for my helicopter rating.

How can we get more women/minorities in aviation? The biggest key to introducing women to aviation is introducing them to it at a young age. Initiatives such as the EAA Young Eagles program, Women in Aviation’s Girls in Aviation Day project, and AOPA’s new high school curriculum are all good examples of reaching young people.

Advice for students… Make sure you have the right instructor. I find it disheartening to hear of people who share bad experiences with flight instructors and gave up flying. Remember, you are the customer. Learning to fly takes time and resources, so be sure you are maximizing both with a good instructor.