{"id":14060,"date":"2022-11-02T17:19:43","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T17:19:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isa21.org\/?page_id=14060"},"modified":"2022-11-10T02:49:08","modified_gmt":"2022-11-10T02:49:08","slug":"maria-maldonado","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/isa21.org\/maria-maldonado\/","title":{"rendered":"Maria Maldonado"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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November
2022<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Mar\u00eda Maldonado<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Airline:<\/strong>\u00a0Avianca<\/span>
Crew Position:<\/strong>\u00a0Captain
Aircraft:<\/strong>\u00a0A-320\/A-321
Domicile: <\/strong>Bogot\u00e1, Colombia<\/span><\/p>

Where did you do your flight training?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Mar\u00eda:
<\/em><\/span>I did my Flight School for private and commercial certificates at Aerocentro in Bogot\u00e1, Colombia. \u00a0I then went to Stockholm, Sweden to Oxford Aviation Academy where I did my multi-engine type in a Fokker-50.<\/span><\/p>

In 2017, I completed my Upgrade as Captain on the A320 at Airbus Americas in Miami, and later I earned my FAA ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License) on the A320 at Alliance Aviation in Florida.<\/span><\/p>

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How did you get interested in aviation?<\/strong><\/span><\/div>
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Mar\u00eda<\/em><\/span>:
<\/i>I chose to be a pilot because ever since I was a child, I was attracted to airplanes. \u00a0I was curious about how such a big and heavy metal structure could fly!<\/span><\/p>

I remember when I was 8 years old watching a TV series, “The Airwolf.” \u00a0It was about a team of helicopter pilots and their missions, and within that team, there was a female pilot. \u00a0From that moment, I knew that I wanted to be one of them.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

What airplanes have you flown during your career?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Mar\u00eda<\/em><\/span>:
<\/i>I have flown the Piper PA-28 Cherokee 161 and 181 Archer, Fokker-50,\u00a0<\/span>Fokker-100 (I absolutely loved it!), and Airbus A318\/319\/320\/321.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Flying Piper PA-28<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Fokker-50<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Flight School in Sweeden<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Have you had\/have any mentors throughout the years?<\/strong><\/span>
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Mar\u00eda<\/span>:
<\/em><\/span>Yes, throughout my career I have had various mentors, one of them being Captain Maribel Porras Gil. \u00a0She has been the most recognized and inspiring woman, perhaps for us Colombian pilots, since practically all of us were her First Officers. \u00a0If there is something that I always remember about her when I\u2019m flying, is: \u201cDon’t let anyone pressure you.\u201d \u00a0I remember that sometimes the ATC controller asked us from afar if we had the runway in sight and despite having it, she said \u201ctell him no, no hurry! \u00a0Let him do his job\u201d.<\/span><\/p>

I also fondly remember who my first instructors were, the first two who taught me to fly: \u00a0Captain Oscar Gutierrez (R.I.P) and Captain Rodolfo Galvis, with whom I still keep in touch. \u00a0And of course, those who trained me for each promotion I received during my airline career until I become a Captain;\u00a0<\/span>Cpt Pedro Saravia, Cpt Ivan Cardozo, Cpt Jaime Medina, Cpt Alejandro Ortega,\u00a0<\/span>Cpt Guido Gonzalez. \u00a0All of them are unforgettable for me and I carry them in my heart.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Do you have any future aviation goals you hope to achieve?<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>

Mar\u00eda:
<\/em><\/span><\/span>Definitely! My next goal is to become an SFI (Synthetic Flight Instructor). Right now, I\u2019m finishing my training as a TCI (Training Center Instructor). I’m doing it here in Bogot\u00e1 at Global Training Aviation GTA. I would also love to be a Virtual Reality Instructor. \u00a0This is a nice project that we have started with my friend and colleague, Andr\u00e9s Bohada, at Pilotecnica Virtual Academy and I am sure this is the aviation training future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Another one of my goals is to encourage, support, and inspire more women to be part of this aviation community, so that the percentage of women in the cockpits flying through the skies around the world increases. I have set myself the goal of showing my colleagues from Central and South America about ISA’s mission and invite them to be part of this volunteering and be the ambassadors in our countries where there is still a lot of ignorance about the fact that a woman can be an airline pilot, and where we are still a minority.<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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What have been some recent challenges you\u2019ve faced?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Mar\u00eda<\/em><\/span>:<\/span><\/div>

This year especially has been a year of many challenges. After spending four amazing years flying in Vietnam, I returned to fly in Colombia, my country of origin, for Avianca where I had worked for more than 20 years.<\/span><\/p>

My family settled in the United States, so I would commute between Bogot\u00e1 and Florida. But once I returned to Colombia, I ended up going through an unexpected divorce.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Pilot\u2019s lifestyle isn\u2019t easy, and It\u2019s no secret to anyone how complicated the family life of a pilot can be. It is necessary to find a person who is very mature and strong to face it and accept that this is our profession.<\/span><\/p>

In 2022 I\u2019ve been living separately from my three children who are 20,17 and 8 years old. I have only been able to visit them during my days off. My greatest wish is to be able to live with them again soon. That day my heart will be full again.<\/span><\/p>

The other challenge is being single again in my 40\u2019s, but I think 40\u2019s are the new 20\u2019s!!<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Maria with two sons<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Humanitarian Flight<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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What would you say to girls looking to become an airline pilot?<\/span><\/strong><\/div><\/div>
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Mar\u00eda<\/em><\/span>:
<\/span>I would tell them \u201cone day you will thank yourself for not giving up.\u201d<\/span><\/div>

This it is the most beautiful profession in the world, being a pilot you can look forward to a hugely rewarding career. \u00a0I\u2019ve cried many times, of course! \u00a0I talk about my hopes and fears, and I try to be honest to myself about my strengths and weaknesses, and I encourage others to do the same.<\/span><\/p>

Believe that you can do it, one of the most important keys to success is to be disciplined and love what you do. \u00a0Through self-confidence, perseverance, and a strong responsibility you will achieve your goal.<\/span><\/p>

There is no feeling in the world like flying an airplane, feeling inspired by each of the women who have achieved it, and you can be sure that you will also achieve it! \u00a0We are here to surround you and empower you.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Maria with daughter<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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What was the first reaction when people see you as a female pilot? <\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>

Mar\u00eda<\/em><\/span>:
<\/em><\/span>From my experience, this has been very positive and encouraging, walking through the airports where I meet with many smiles and is very exciting.<\/span><\/p>

Also, it was so nice to have been chosen as the advertising image of VietJet Airline and to see myself on the billboards on the Vietnamese streets. \u00a0I was walking in the airport once where a boy recognized me and asked me to take a picture with him. \u00a0It is something that happens once in a lifetime. (That\u2019s a story that I will tell my grandchildren someday!)<\/span><\/p>

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Advertisement<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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With the owner of VietJet<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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What has been the most rewarding moment of your career?<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>

Mar\u00eda<\/em><\/span>:
<\/em><\/span>I think there have been four specific moments:<\/span><\/div>