Pilot Constanza:

Hello everyone.

My name is Constanza Manrique García, I ́m 21 years old and I ́m from Mexico City.

Flying has always been my passion. I was born into it. My dad is a pilot and my mom

was a flight attendant. Since I was just a kid, flying by plane was very exciting. I

remember that I used to ask my dad to give me aviation lessons after school. He

definitely inspired me, and now, a few years later, here I am, studying aviation at

CAE Oxford Aviation Academy in Phoenix Arizona.

I didn't start my carrier in Arizona. I started with Aeromexico Formación, back

home in Mexico City. It`s part of Aeromexico's program to do first all the ground

school and then the flight hours with CAE. I did first all the ground school training

over there, it was supposed to be only nine months or less, but because of the

pandemic, it took me almost a year to finish and start my flight training in Arizona.

After a lot of exams and 50 hours of simulator back home, I moved to Arizona, to

begin with, what for me, has been one of the most incredible adventures of my life.

I arrived a few months ago. I didn't know what to expect, I had been waiting

to fly for myself my entire life. I remember my first flight like it was yesterday.

December 31, the perfect way to finish the year. I remember the happiness I felt as

I took off with the Piper Archer 28, it was early in the morning, the sunrise was

beautiful, the wind was calm, no clouds, just perfect.

Since that moment, I have learned so many things. I feel lucky I have found

what truly makes me happy. I have flown with so many incredible and inspiring

people. That's one of the things I like about aviation, you get to know different

persons every time, and, amazingly, all of them share the same passion as you.

There have been also rough times. Times when I felt it was too much. Days

when I felt I was not enough or that I would disappoint my father if I didn't make it.

But now I realize that it's okay to have bad days, I have learned the most from them.

All of those bad days got me through my PPL, that now I'm glad to say it's over. It

was hard at some points, but in the end, it was worth it all the way. I'm currently

working on my IFR, which I just started. So far it has been fun. I like learning the new

maneuvers and procedures. I miss watching outside the window tho.

I have a few months left here in Arizona. After IFR I will work on my CPL. I

have no rush to finish. Aviation is facing rough times back home. I don't know what

my plans for the future are yet. I'm still trying to figure that part out. Will I go back

home or look for a job in another country? I don't know. The only thing I know for

sure is that I will be surfing the skies.

I wish you all clear skies and headwinds,

Constanza