Meet Erin; Sales Manager at Aeropower Helicopters

A/AA TRAILBLAZER SERIES:
MEET ERIN; SALES MANAGER AT AEROPOWER HELICOPTERS

Erin is a trailblazer. Her aviation journey starts from overcoming a fear. With years of experience in flying, she has became a flight instructor and facilitating training courses for a healthy pipeline of the industry. We talked to Erin about her views in engaging young generation to joining the sector.

A/AA: What does a typical day look like in your role?

Erin: The best part of my current role is that there are no typical days! On any given day you might find me on the phone with someone who is wanting to begin their aviation journey, helping with flight school operations, updating our school website and social media, brainstorming new ideas with Flight School management, and organising trial flight events! I’m absolutely an ‘all-rounder’, and I love having variety in my work day - no two days are ever the same!

A/AA: If you weren’t a pilot, what do you think you would pursue?

Erin: If I wasn’t a pilot, I would be a biologist or a doctor - and I still haven’t ruled out either of these things for the future. Being a pilot is fantastic fun, but its a huge world out there, with so many exciting things to try, and it’s never too late to do something new!

A/AA: What do you think the industry can do in assisting the next generation into joining?

Erin: It’s all about identifying barriers to entry, and then breaking them down. By speaking with the next generation we can get a really good insight into the reasons why they are hesitant to join, or reasons why they may not have even considered joining! It is all of our responsibility to take this information and do our part, big or small, to make sure we are encouraging and assisting the next generation to explore the aviation/aerospace industry. We need to make a larger effort in being genuinely curious and to understand the unique differences between generations, so that we can bridge that gap and ensure that the industry becomes a safe, exciting and inclusive space for all.

A/AA:Can you tell us your biggest struggle when you first started your STEM journey and how you overcame it?

Erin: My biggest struggle when I first started my journey to becoming a pilot, was overcoming my phobia of flying. It was a self-imposed limitation that had heavily influenced my life, and to break free of a phobia is not for the feint hearted. I was able to overcome this with the support and encouragement of my husband and close friends and a large dose of grit and determination. Our struggles become our strength, and I was able to take what I’d learned in the early parts of my journey and transfer those values to the students that I later taught to fly.

A/AA: What was your perspective towards aviation before you started your career and how has it changed?

Erin: Prior to entering aviation my perspective was only that of fear. I feared flying, and therefore I avoided all knowledge of the industry. As I became more involved, the world really opened up for me, and I discovered just how much the industry has to offer. I became truly passionate about giving newcomers the very best advice for their personal situation, and to help them achieve their dreams. My perspective has changed in a generally positive way. The industry has a long way to go in terms of positive development and change, however I think that we are moving in the right direction, and there are so many people out there who are advocating and working for a more inclusive industry with opportunities for all.

A/AA: What is your next goal in your career and what can the industry do to help achieving that?

Erin: My goals at the moment are to simply focus more on being ‘in the present’ and enjoy where I currently am, after a very long period of constantly striving for the next big thing. I want to do the very best job I can in my current role of Sales Manager, and let life lead me to where I need to be, giving myself time to explore without pressure. I certainly feel very supported by the industry in making career ‘pivots’ and changes when needed, and I think that there is plenty of support out there for people in the form of organisations (both free and membership based), no matter what they want to achieve.

A/AA: Being a recognised leader in the next generation, where do you think the hardship lies for young people in the industry?

Erin: There are many hardships that lie in wait for young people in this industry. From large expenses and debt, to job uncertainty and industry hiring waves. As easy as it is to find yourself ‘bogged down’ in the negativity, there are ways to mitigate the effects of these hardships. It is incredibly important to have a ‘Plan B’ (and maybe even a Plan C!) - this could be in the form of another line of work that you’re able to do, a trade or a degree that can ensure you have another source of income while you work toward your goals. Talk to plenty of flight schools/training organisations before making large financial decisions, and always remember - it’s never too late to make a change!

A/AA: What motivates your engagement and passion with aviation?

Erin: Seeing others achieve, and the industry progress in a positive way. When I first began my journey, my motivations were mostly selfish - I wanted to achieve my goals and that was my only focus. Eventually that shifted, and I became invested in helping others achieve their own goals, which led to me to flight instructing. Seeing others do the things they had only dreamed of is rewarding in a way that I can’t properly articulate, and there is no feeling quite like sending a student on their first solo, or seeing them have a breakthrough moment after a period of difficulty. It is this passion for teaching and engaging with others that carries me through each day and ‘lights the fire’ inside of me to continue to contribute to the future of the industry.

A/AA: If you were to give your younger self a piece of advice, what would it be?

Erin: The advice I would give to myself is to build a really solid foundation of self belief, so that it is not shaken by outside noise (there can be a lot of that in this industry!). It has taken me into my 30’s to begin to build this foundation, and the next generations have the added challenges of social media to contend with while they are developing their inner sense of self. Now I try to be the person I needed when I was younger, both for myself and for others.

A/AA: What was your first ever job?

Erin: My first ever job was working for my dad’s business as a professional Painter and Decorator. This was my trade, and I spent 7 years working as a painter all over South Australia. Having this set of trade skills (and being raised on the family farm) built a foundation of incredible work ethic and resilience, both of which I am grateful for. I loved my first job, and still get great satisfaction from picking up the tools from time to time. And this circles back to a point I made earlier about having a Plan B - always make sure you are building skills along the way that you can fall back on if your Plan A doesn’t quite work out!