Flight captain Cordula Plum didn't harbor aspirations of becoming an exotic figure.
Growing up, young Cordula Pflaum had an undeniable fascination with airplanes. Her mother often had to drive her past the airport in Ganderkesee near Bremen on her way to and from piano lessons. "I'd stare at the planes," says the now 54-year-old, "I'd beg to go." At 19, she enrolled in Lufthansa's flight school in Bremen, becoming the youngest student there.
Upon graduation, she joined the ranks of fewer than 20 female pilots at Lufthansa. With time, she advanced to a captain on charter flights and later, in 2008, became the first female long-haul captain at Lufthansa. In 2009, she became the pioneer in training others in the field. "I've become an outlier, which I never wanted to be," reveals Pflaum. Regrettably, this hasn't changed significantly: out of 600 trainers, only a handful of whom are women might be found. Worldwide, only 5.8% of pilots are female.
Pioneering Spirit
Pflaum didn't recognize the male-dominated nature of her chosen field. "I just went with what I loved," she explains. Post-high school, she studied mechanical engineering and physics for a brief period to tide her over until pilot training began. "I've always had a curiosity for technology and engines," she says. At 18, she purchased an old VW Beetle and took it upon herself to maintain it. Flying was not only her passion but also her ambition to work on airplanes. However, her training curriculum did not permit it.
With the aim of encouraging more individuals to pursue careers they enjoy rather than those dictated by perceived gender roles, Pflaum co-authored a book titled "Good Day, This is Your Captain." She shares her experiences in the aviation industry, hoping to serve as a role model. "We lack enough female role models," she says. "I get numerous letters, even a 12-year-old girl wrote to me recently."
Language plays a crucial role in career choices, she's come to realize. "Until last year, I referred to myself as a captain or pilot," she mentions. "For me, it was just a title, like the English 'Captain'." Now, she introduces herself as 'Captain' in the cockpit. "It's still challenging for me to say," she admits. "But the power of language should not be underestimated."
Part-time and motherhood
Balancing a career and family is a frequent topic that's brought up concerning Pflaum. She is a mother to two daughters, aged 18 and 20. "It's no walk in the park," she confesses. Her husband adapted his work schedule, and her parents would frequently care for her daughters. From the 6th grade, her children were enrolled in boarding school. "You have to let go and desire the job," she says. Part-time and job-sharing models are also feasible for pilots. "I have many male counterparts who take paternity leave and work part-time," she adds.
Within the aviation industry, Pflaum's gender doesn't go unnoticed. "We work as part of constantly changing teams, and the topic is discussed on every flight," she mentions. Interestingly, there were already women in the cockpit much earlier: Frenchwoman Élie Deroche was the world's first woman to obtain a pilot's license in 1910 and completed a solo flight, while Melli Beese became Germany's first female pilot to receive a license the following year. In 1988, Nicola Lisy and Evi Hetzmannseder became the first two Lufthansa female pilots.
In September, Pflaum will begin a new training course, learning to operate the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft, with space for up to 853 passengers. "I'm excited to dive deep into the latest technology," she says. Flying remains her dream job: "Every time I roll onto the runway and set the throttle, it feels like the most magical experience."
Despite being a trailblazer in her field, Cordula Pflaum faced a lack of female role models in the aviation industry. "We need more women to see that it's possible for them as well," she emphasizes, highlighting the importance of representation.
Furthermore, Pflaum acknowledges the importance of language in shaping one's career, particularly in male-dominated fields. "We need to use language that empowers us and reflects our position," she says, advocating for the use of titles like 'Captain' to affirm one's role and contributions.
