There are hundreds of reasons why someone becomes an airline pilot. Some pilots have a long family history of flying planes, while some are the first to jump onto the flight deck. Some are drawn to the prestige of the profession, while others just want to fly like a bird.
First Officer Ying Liu is a pilot for altruistic reasons.
“The best part of being a pilot is helping people get to where they’re going,” said Ying. “Whether it’s bringing someone home to their family or taking someone on their first vacation, that’s what aviation is all about; the joy of bringing people together.”
Coming to Envoy
A former Cadet Instructor at L3 Airline Academy, Ying is a newly-minted First Officer with Envoy, based at Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD) and flying the Embraer 175. Ying is unique in that she began her aviation career as a Flight Attendant with American Airlines where she first became interested in flying jets.
Ying began her First Officer training in late November 2018 and after seven weeks of intensive studying where she learned proper procedures and simulator training, she completed her Initial Operating Experience (IOE) just a few weeks ago.
“It was just so real,” said Ying about her IOE. “I didn’t know what to expect going from the sim to a real live flight, but my IOE instructors helped me through every step of the way. However, once the door shut, I became so focused that I completely forgot about the nerves.”
Set up for success
Life for Ying has been moving so fast. She’s got a new job, a new place of work and new coworkers, yet she’s enjoying every minute of it.
As an Envoy Cadet, Ying started earning company seniority before even setting foot in the Envoy training center, which allowed her first dibs on base and aircraft. Ying chose the Embraer 175 because she wants to be on the cutting edge of Envoy’s future with the growing fleet of 76-seater jets.
Commuting in from Orlando, the Chicago base seemed like a great fit for Ying with the plethora of flights between the two airports. Like most pilots and flight attendants, Ying is sharing a “crash pad” with some friends, which allows her to be close to the airport and have a place to stay if she can’t make it back to Orlando.
A pilot is a pilot
First Officer Ying Liu (right) on her first Initial Operating Experience flight with Captain Heather Ulman van Deur (who has since flowed to American Airlines) and Flight Attendant Valerie Daniel
As far as flying, Ying said she’s had a great experience learning from the Captains with whom she’s flown. They’ve taken her under their wing and offer her all and any advice she needs to become a better pilot.
On her first trip, Ying had the pleasure of learning from another woman pilot. However, Ying said that as far as flying the aircraft, there are no differences between men and women.
“We’ve all had the same training and have learned the same procedures,” said Ying. “We’ve all rehearsed these scenarios over and over again. We’ve all dreamed of becoming pilots. The only thing to do is focus on the task at hand and that’s to bring passengers to their destinations safely.”
Free to fly
Ying is still fresh and has a long way to go in her career, but she still appreciates the present. Growing up in a small village in China, Ying said she impresses herself with how far she’s come.
More than traveling the world or earning a living as a pilot, Ying is looking forward to inspiring other women and foreign pilots. She loves being the shining example of a hard-working woman pilot, and an inspiration to foreign pilots to join a diverse company like Envoy.
More and more flying will come Ying’s way. She’ll have plenty of opportunity to become a great pilot.
Meanwhile, Ying’s still enjoying the moment and soaking in every sight and sound of flying for Envoy.
“I can’t help but get excited looking out on a beautiful runway getting ready to take flight,” said Ying. “When you hit those thrusts, that’s equivalent to the sound of freedom.”