Sky-bound Arianna wants to take mom on first flight

Twenty-four-year-old Arianna Yates is determined to one day become a pilot captain as well as a member of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Air Wing.

Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Yates was on her way to acquiring her certified flight instructor (CFI) licence at 2Fly Airborne in Florida.

A CFI is a pilot who has been trained by an instructor specifically on how to teach people to learn to fly. Due to the pandemic, flight training was suspended, leaving Yates with no other choice but to return to Jamaica without the certification.

"Mentally it was overwhelming, I was constantly crying; but then, with the support of my mom and my aunt, who motivated me, after a while I realised there was nothing much I could do. I realised I just had to work with time, because time controls everything," Yates said.

Following her return to Jamaica, Yates obtained employment in the hospitality sector but is determined to hold on to her dream. She is now pursuing a bachelors of science degree in aviation management at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, which she started in 2020 during the pandemic. She plans to return to flight school for her CFI licence after completing her degree programme.

"Being a pilot has always been my lifelong dream. I can't see myself doing anything else, and from a tender age I've always been fascinated with seeing airlines fly over my head. Since then, I've know that all I want to be is a pilot," Yates said.

The aspiring pilot captain yearns for the day when she will taxi down the runway and take to the skies as a commercial pilot.

"I would love if for my first flight my mom and my aunty could be on it. That's my real dream for me, to just have them there," Yates said.

In aviation, the pilot captain is the most senior pilot, having overall responsibility for all aspects of the flight, including the aircraft itself, the passengers, and the crew.

Yates is the holder of a commercial pilot certificate, which allows her to fly private planes. An airline transport pilot licence would allow her to fly passenger jets.

Meanwhile, expressing her desire to join the JDF Air Wing, Yates cited her passion for national service, inspired by her mother's dedication to serving her country in tax administration.

"I want to serve my country because, over the years, I have watched my mother work in tax administration, and she is very passionate about serving her country; and I believe I should do the same," she said.