Want to Succeed? Get a Mentor & Get Involved

WANT TO SUCCEED? Get a Mentor & Get Involved

by Jessica Webster 

Hello, friends! Aviation has been my life-long love and I wanted to share my experience with you in order to help you overcome some hurdles and avoid certain struggles.

I founded Hera Aviation Group when I received a phone call that forever changed the course of my life. I might not have realized it right at that moment, but a genesis for this organization, and a movement to cultivate change in my industry, was already wheels up.

My story began at twelve years old, on the wing of a P3 Orion, surrounded by its crew, proudly watching the Blue Angels thunder by overhead. I could feel the afterburners rumble inside my body. I had arrived, and aviation was going to be my forever love.

In the years following, I chased my dream across many countries. I worked at several fixed-base operators, both in America and the United Kingdom, in different jobs to be close to aviation and any potential opportunities. I studied at airports and cleaned airplanes for flight time, which funded my pilot’s licenses. It was hard work.

In England, I completed an ATPL ground school course, which led to employment at a flight school. I worked in an air charter department that operated Citations and Hawkers in Cambridge, United Kingdom, to gain international experience. While living overseas, I also co-piloted a Chieftain, delivering passengers and cargo across Europe, as well as flying medevac flights when helicopters could not accommodate.

When I came home, I went back to college and graduated with high honors. I became a flight instructor, a flight team coach, an adjunct faculty member, and eventually a multi-type-rated jet pilot. These experiences were hard-fought. I gained valuable international exposure operating in dynamic and challenging flight conditions.

But in the quiet moments, when I reflected, I noticed a difference. I was different. As one of the only women around the FBO, people mistook me for cabin crew: not the pilot who I was or the pilot I had worked so hard to become.

The pilots’ lounge was a dark room filled with sleeping guys and sports on TV. They shared jokes that were either overtly sexist or hidden when I walked into the room. They treated me differently. It didn’t feel that good.

I have also experienced the gut-wrenching occurrence of listening to a keyed mic declaring “Empty Kitchen!” after responding to ATC on the radio at FL410.

I’ve also met amazing women and men who taught me and mentored me, and made me feel normal. They treated me with respect, and I had the absolute pleasure to fly with them. I learned a lot about flying as the years passed.

But throughout my journey, I kept coming up against this THING. I didn’t even know what to call it? How do we name this thing? It’s hard to catch in parts of conversations and no one wants to talk about it. I didn’t either.

Then it happened. I had my first child. I was slated for upgrade to captain at one of the companies I contracted for, so I got back to work as soon as humanly possible. I took any trips I was asked to - I worked harder than hard. I hadn’t gotten a class date yet but assured I was next. Then the day came.

I was flying with one of my favorite people in the world, who happened to be one of my training captains. We talked about the upgrade, and his face squinted like he wanted to say something but probably shouldn’t. I forced the thought out of his brain, and then I heard it.

“They’re not going to upgrade you, Jess. You should talk with them.”

I couldn’t breathe. Did I do something wrong? I got through the days flying, got home, and looked at the data. I never called in sick. I was flying as many trips as my colleagues, more than some—excellent relationships with my crew. No incidents. Stellar training records. Happy passengers. It was my turn. So, after some time, I thought about how I wanted to approach this sensitive issue. I picked up the thousand-pound phone.

“Well, you see Jess, you’re great, but we just can’t take the risk. You have a son at home who needs you, and you’re a mom now.”

I’d love to tell you I championed that conversation. That I eloquently defended myself. I don’t even remember much of what happened after that, like trying to recall what Charlie Brown’s teacher said. I reminded them of the facts, their promise to me, and asked if they would reconsider. But they would not.

For some time after that conversation, I cried. And I cried. I was humiliated. I had been exposed to a truth I didn’t even know was mine. How could having a child change my career path without me choosing? I didn’t even know this happened in my industry. But it does. Just not usually so overtly.

Thinking back to that call, where I had all my doubts, worries, and suspicions confirmed, I knew I had to create the change.

I started researching and asking and listening. I found thousands of caregivers, minorities, and women living shared experiences from different walks of life experiencing similar outcomes. The more I listened, the more I questioned.

With encouragement from my tribe and friends in the industry, I applied for and was awarded a scholarship from Bombardier Aerospace through Women in Aviation International that allowed me to complete my captain upgrade and my Air Transport Pilot certificate. I also earned a pretty cool type rating in a Learjet 45, too! I founded Hera three years later.

HERA AVIATION GROUP WORKS WITHIN THREE AREAS TO CULTIVATE CHANGE: THE INDIVIDUAL, THE BUSINESS, AND THE INDUSTRY.

All three areas need support to create a true cultural shift but I am going to focus on finding a mentor, because that is what is important when you are young.

With the individual, we provide mentoring and support. Hera has a mentorship program to assist caregivers in navigating our industry and growing in their professions. What is a caregiver? A caregiver is someone who looks after someone else’s wellbeing. It can be a child, parent, friend, or anyone who needs assistance beyond what they can do for themselves. Caregivers can network with each other through Hera’s mentorship program. We also provide initiatives to source funding for career maintenance and growth.

Mentors are critical to women’s success in our industry, and there is a lack of them when we become caregivers.

There are many benefits to having a mentor in aviation, but the most important are:

1. Increased retention and recruitment

2. Improved sense of confidence and well-being

3. More promotions!

The importance of mentorship is critical when a life shift happens: namely, primary caregiving. Whether it is with a family member who needs our care or our newly formed mini-humans, that changes the scope of our responsibilities and focus. But it is often a time in our lives when we become penalized professionally by it and isolated from our traditional relationships with our professions. I want to change that. It is not adequate for the growth of our industry. Caregivers deserve to be valued and supported through that work. We deserve to be celebrated for that added life experience!

Moreover, we must recognize that added challenge and help others navigate it. That is dedicated mentorship. Furthermore, that aspect of my life makes me a way better pilot too!

Hera’s passion is with connection. Mentorship. Specifically, informal- meaning there is no precise end date or formal process. Statistically, this type of mentorship includes “more promotions, higher wages, greater job satisfaction, and an increased sense of confidence and well-being by the protégé. More importantly, mentoring has been shown to increase recruitment and retention among underrepresented populations in traditionally male dominated industries.” (The Role of Mentoring in the Careers of Female Airline Transport Pilots, Paul E. Cline, P.1)

At Hera Aviation Group, we focus on providing an innate value for our network that is not found elsewhere. We match mentees with mentors who experienced the life work that our mentee would like support through. It is a unique sacred process. Then, Hera empowers them to develop their mutual connections organically.

THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF MENTORING- IT IS SIMPLE. IT IS FREE. IT WORKS.

And the best way to give back after receiving a positive mentorship is to pay it forward and provide your expertise and life experiences to someone else. We often owe what we have to those who came before us and we should always pull up those who are behind us.

I hope that after reading a small part about the soul of the Hera Aviation Group, you will endeavor to walk with us: to empower individuals, cultivate change, and transform our industry…because you are NEXT. This is a chance to make things better before you are in the thick of it.

Please also know that if you ever need help along the way, Hera is here for you.

Jessica is a mom, partner, pilot, and the Founder & President of Hera Aviation Group. She enjoys long flights in Class A Airspace interacting with one ATC at a time. She also loves to laugh with her grandmother, watch reality TV, dance with her Littles, drink a Starbucks that has a ridiculously long drink order, and shop for really cool trainers. She loves the sky but her truly happy place is on the water.