Pathway: Abby Donofrio

By: Abby Donofrio

Hello! My name is Abby Donofrio and I have the pleasure of getting to share my story with you. I am a 17 year old student pilot from Wadsworth, Ohio. I have just entered my senior year of high school while simultaneously attending flight school. My home airport is 3G3, where I am a student at Aerotrek Flight Academy.

Aviation is something that I have a passion for beyond what words could describe, and it has absolutely changed my life. There is pure excitement to fly from the time you pull the plane out of the hangar, to the moment you say clear prop, and the second that airspeed comes alive. I find joy in the feeling of freedom you get the second you lift off the ground. When I was first given the opportunity to fly a plane I couldn’t help but smile the second we took off. Flying is something you need to experience to understand what it is like. Aviation is an amazing thing that helps open your eyes to seeing the world in a different perspective. I didn’t always have an interest in aviation though. It wasn’t until this past year that I became more involved in the aviation community and developed a further interest in becoming a pilot. I grew up with friends who were regularly at the airport and active members of our local EAA Chapter (846). Seeing other people getting their pilots license inspired me to begin my own journey.

Last year I went to Aerotrek Flight Academy to ask questions and consult with others about becoming a pilot. I met another woman who is now a Private Pilot (IFR) and I got to talk to her about aviation, and she truly inspired me to pursue it. I quickly scheduled a discovery flight and got to take control for the first time. I had been on plane rides with my friends before, but it wasn’t the same feeling as getting to sit in the left seat. After that first flight, I knew in that moment that I wanted to be a pilot.

Shortly after, I made the decision to join the EAA Chapter 846 and get involved in the Young Eagles Program. This was a beneficial way for me to begin my training. I started training in August of 2020 and I fly a Cessna 150 and Cessna 172. I flew about once every other week which eventually led me to my first solo flight, which I completed in just under 10 hours. This was a major accomplishment and milestone. Continuing my training through the winter, the opportunity to apply for the EAA’s Ray Scholarship became available through my Chapter. Through my active participation and strong passion for aviation, I was awarded the scholarship in April. I could not be more gratified and thankful for the support of other aviators and those who selected me as a recipient. Receiving the scholarship, I had the amazing opportunity to speak on behalf of the Ray’s Program at the Lightspeed Press Conference in Wisconsin at the EAA’s Oshkosh Airventure. This is where I was offered to write an article for the AviNation Magazine in which you are currently reading.

My journey to become a pilot has not always been easy. It is easy to display that things are going well, even when they are not. For me, when it came to flying, I came prepared and ready to learn. Doing maneuvers came naturally once I initially learned how to perform them. But when I wasn’t in the air, I slacked off on ground school. My biggest hurdle was getting myself to do the online course work. I decided to go through the Pilot Institute Program, and I absolutely loved it. I just wish that I would have been more diligent on the completion of the course. It took me 4 months to complete it. Overcoming this was not something I was able to do on my own. If it wasn’t for the assistance of a fellow pilot, I would have struggled a lot more. This person made sure I worked over five hours a day until I got it done. Never be afraid to ask for help or to ask questions, it is how you learn. I have since then completed my ground school and passed my written exam.

Many things have motivated and inspired me to become a pilot. My biggest inspiration to fly is knowing that there are not as many females in contrast to how many men there are. Only about five percent of pilots in the world are women. This is a motivation for me knowing that I have the opportunity to inspire others. I am also inspired by the privilege of getting to fly. Not many people can say they are a pilot at such a young age and I am humbled that I have the ability to pursue what makes me happy. I hope to someday work for an airline or regional company. After high school I plan to attend a flight school that allows me to further my ratings. I am choosing to do flight training early so that I can start on instrument when I get to flight school. This motivates me knowing what path I want to take and what I hope to become someday.

The most fascinating thing to me about aviation is the community of people. If there was one thing I could tell to all pilots, student pilots, or aspiring pilots, is to make connections and get involved. The main reason I decided to become a pilot is because of the people I made connections with. It is also encouraging to talk to others with the same interests as you, or to hear their journey and what inspires them. New opportunities can present themselves in ways you never thought possible. A year ago I never would have imagined becoming a pilot, receiving a scholarship, speaking at a press conference, writing for a magazine, and so much more. It was all because I talked to people, made connections, and got involved. I encourage others to reach out to those who inspire them, to those who have the same goals, to those you can share experiences with, and those you can relate to. Become involved, meet new people, and inspire others. I can’t wait to hear your story and see you pass your checkride!