End of last year on our flight to Munich, we met Lufthansa pilot Melanie Wandel. Melanie let’s us know if becoming a pilot was always her dream and which personal challenges she experienced on her way into the cockpit, what fascinates her about flying, the biggest challenges on a flight and her greatest experience, her opinion why the aviation industry is still male-dominated and if it ever happened that she was treated adversely due to being a woman.

1. Has it always been your dream to become a pilot and what were your greatest personal challenges on the way into the cockpit?

As long as I can think, becoming a pilot has been my absolute dream job. However, I can't name any specific trigger for this. I only know that everyone who knows me has always associated this profession with me. The biggest challenge for me was the amount of study material that had to be acquired in a very short time during the training.

2. What fascinates you about flying?

Although I know exactly why an airplane flies and it is simply pure physics, even after 13 years in my profession, there is still no more beautiful and fascinating view than an airplane that sets itself in motion, then takes off from the ground and flies away. To observe this again and again and then to sit at the wheel, to see the sun every day during work, to be above the clouds, to look at the landscape from above and to be completely elsewhere after a few hours flying time, are some of the many fascinations of flying for me.

3. What are the biggest challenges on a flight and what was your best experience?

The biggest challenges are indeed when being on the ground. There are so many cogwheels that have to mesh smoothly for a flight to be on time. During the cruising flight itself, it’s more quiet and concentrated. The fact of constantly traveling with new, unknown colleagues and to have never problems working together, is always my best experience. Thanks to the fixed predetermined work structure, everyone knows what they have to do and when, and it simply works. Apart from that every sunrise in the cockpit is an experience you can never get enough of.

4. Only 6% of pilots employed by Lufthansa are women. In your opinion why is aviation still dominated by men?

It is difficult to say because for me there is no reason why women could not become pilots. Maybe it could be because women have more respect for a technical profession and also, they might think it is not compatible with family planning. But that is not the case.

5. During your career as a pilot did you experience any disadvantages or negative comments due to being a women?

I can answer that quite clearly with a no. I have never had any bad experiences, either in training or later in my professional life due to being a woman. We have absolutely the same opportunities and are treated in the same way as our male colleagues.
It is always a nice experience when two women are in the cockpit. Then every now and then there are passengers who approach us and tell us how great they think it is. Of course, we are very happy about that.

And the +1 question from Melanie to you: “What was your best experience in connection with a flight?”

Thanks for the great talk, Melanie. Maybe on our next business trip we will have the opportunity to fly with you again.

Pictures: Lufthansa + Melanie Wandel
Interview: Britta Reineke