FEMALE CREW TAKING FLIGHT

From left to right: Jackie Carroll - Rescue crew person and PHI Cadet, Dr. Nola Mcpherson - Aviation Medical Examiner, Louise Burnnand - Winch Operator and Heather Cudmore - Flight Nurse.

HomeBase spoke with Louise Burnnand, SAR Winch Operator and Rescue Crewperson, about her experience as a woman in the aviation industry and her time with PHI.

Louise initially flew with the Royal New Zealand Airforce (RNZAF) for seven years, she later worked for Hawkes Bay Rescue Helicopter in New Zealand before finding herself with PHI in Broome, Western Australia, in November 2020.

Louise unloading essential supplies for Nagalipta remote community school

Louise and Monique Akkerman during a winch training in Karratha

Louise and her daughter Evelyn during one of the swim tests for training

Louise’s husband, Graham Burnnand, is Offshore Charter Captain at PHI’s Broome Base, so the two made joining PHI a family affair.

Coming to Broome wasn’t part of the plan (I guess many things in life aren’t part of the plan), but we’ve really been enjoying our life here so far.

Louise said that before coming to Broome, offshore SAR wasn’t necessarily on her radar.

“I think sometimes (as women especially) we’re guilty of glass ceiling ourselves. We often think we need to have achieved certain things to be in a certain role. For me, being a mother meant I would have never looked at a role that required touring, I also worried that I was not ‘senior enough’ in the trade. However, there are so many of us at PHI now that are living proof that isn’t true.

“I’ve found working as a woman in the industry amazing. When I was with the RNZAF it was very diverse. It was a great environment to start out in. It’s also really great to see PHI working hard towards bringing more diversity into our teams.”

Louise said she always knew it would be challenging getting into the role with PHI while also being a parent.

“I haven’t found any other job in the world where I’m able to fly as much as I can now and spend this much time with my children.

“PHI has been really accommodating and flexible (especially with the SAR roster and shift cycles) which has allowed me to do the everyday things like drop my kids at school or be with them in the evenings.

“The growth within the team here is exciting, we now have two female RCPs, Jackie and Micah from the cadet programme last year. As well as Monique Akkerman who has just started a cadetship and Elisha Vines who has joined the LIMSAR team as a Winch operator. This without a doubt is industry-leading to have 38% of our technical crew being female.

Going out to the FPSO with an entirely female rear crew last year was really special. Offshore often has the perception of being a boy’s club. PHI is challenging that perception and it is great to be a part of that change,” said Louise.

Part of the rear crew flight that day (to the FPSO) was Jackie Carroll, RCP cadet; Dr. Nola McPherson, Aviation Medical Examiner from Royal Flying Doctors Service; and Heather Cudmore, a flight nurse.

Louise said that everyone in the team is there because they have the skills and they are the best to do the role, no matter their gender.

“Everyone is just here to do their job, and that’s the real goal with diversity.

I hope we can change the mindsets of women entering the aviation industry and make them aware that all roles are a possibility for them.