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"I've flown out of some pretty busy airports that resemble beehives.
One time, I could even see the pilot's eyes in another airplane."
By Sue Mayfield Geiger (Published 8/04)
There is an old expression that states that the two greatest gifts you can give your children are roots and wings.
Roots to keep them grounded while young and impressionable; wings to allow them to soar off on their own into adulthood, into that world of self-discovery where they find out who they really are and what they want to do with their lives. So when Sara Simpson told her mother at age 18 that she wanted to be a pilot, her mother knew that she had literally done her job. Totally supportive of her daughter's ambitions, Linda Lapointe and husband Andrew Bell (Sara's stepfather) supplied the necessary means for Sara to fulfill her dream.
Born and raised in Houston and about to turn (gasp) 23 years old, Sara cannot remember when she did not love flying. During family vacations, her favorite part of the trip was always the flight – particularly the takeoffs and landings. She would even rate the pilot's performance at the end of each flight. Since her father, Drum Simpson, was a pilot in the Canadian Air Force and later flew for Pan-American, you might say it was in her blood.
During her freshman year at a local community college, Sara knew that the core classes she was taking were lacking something. Knowing of her daughter's deep desire to fly, it was Linda who brought the pilot program to Sara's attention. Within one month, Sara was enrolled and she started taking lessons that summer. By November 2000, she was flying.
Saying she was a tomboy as a kid, Sara had a spunky spirit and loved playing sports. Obviously, a girl with a competitive nature, Sara was just getting primed for her true calling. She states that in college, even in high school, she would look at airplanes in the sky and wish she was up there, especially during soccer practice. "We practiced close to Ellington Field, so there were a lot of military F-16's and other airplanes overhead making a lot of noise," Sara explains. "Airplanes are a big mystery. Not many people really know how they navigate or operate. It had a lot of mystery appeal for me." She was hooked. Sara spent three years at San Jacinto College, two of those in the Pilot Development Program. She went to flight school at Cliff Hyde Flying Service and did her CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) rating at Hooks Airport. She presently attends Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and will graduate in December with a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics.
With 1,400 hours under her belt, she has even had a few flying jobs to build her hours. "I used to do a traffic watch flight where I flew a radio station DJ around and looked for accidents in the Houston metroplex. The DJ reported live on the radio, and that was really fun," Sara states. "Then I towed banners, plus did some flight instructing and worked for a charter company at Hobby. Next, I worked for a private family and flew them to and from their ranch. Currently, I work for a company at Hobby Airport flying a Lear Jet."
Licensed to fly any single or multi-engine land airplane that weighs under 12,500 lbs., Sara is also licensed to teach private and commercial pilot students. She states that special training is needed to fly certain airplanes, like B-727s or B-747s. "My dream is to fly for Southwest Airlines. It's a great company, but if I find something else I'm happy with along the way, I'll probably stay," she says.
Sara looks pensively and says, "Every time I fly, it is always a thrill. There is a poem called 'High Flight' that basically says it all. Most pilots really relate to it."
So, has she had some close calls? "Oh yes. I've flown out of some pretty busy airports that resemble beehives. One time, I could even see the pilot's eyes in another airplane. Then there was a cold front that I flew through on my way to Dallas; it was terrible weather. I think I actually kissed the ground when we landed," Sara exclaims. "Another hairy runway is a private strip in Utopia, Texas. It is surrounded by hills, and exotic animals are everywhere, plus the winds can get really strong."
Describing some of her awesome moments, Sara says probably the most awesome one was when she soloed. Regarding being a female in basically a male driven occupation, Sara holds her own.
"Not only do I have the stereotype to contend with, I'm also a blond. It's more of a problem with the smaller companies as opposed to the larger ones," she says.
As for difficulties surrounding the art of flying, the hardest thing to learn and teach have been landings. "There's no trick to them; you just have to practice over and over. It doesn't matter if you're a student pilot or an airline captain with 20,000 hours of flight, every now and then you just have a bad landing. The rule is: If you don't have to see your chiropractor or dentist, it was successful," Sara laughs.
As for being in a risky profession, Sara does not look at it that way. "I don't see it as risky. People do all kinds of things much more dangerous than flying," she states. Take her hobby for instance, dirt bike riding!
Does she have any pre-flight jitters or prayers she recites before taking off into the wild blue yonder? "No," states Sara, "but I have been known to pray after a flight!"
Sara definitely marches to the tune of her own drummer. She knew early on what motivated her and hitched her wagon to those dreams. She followed her heart and took to the skies. Fortunately, with the support of her family, she was able to proceed in a positive fashion and now her future will most definitely soar to those anticipated heights.
"I have taken some of my friends up with me on flights, and they love it," Sara elaborates. "Even my mom." So, does mom have fears? Not in the least. "I never feared about her flying. I always had confidence in her ability," says her mother.
"My dad is my hero," Sara says. "He died when I was 11, but he set the stage."
With an identical twin sister majoring in psychology at University of Texas, Sara seems to be the only sibling who has inherited her newfound wings. But, one thing is for sure, the wings she has sprouted are strong and stable, paving the way for her own "high flight" that is certainly within her reach.
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High Flight, By John Gillespie Magee Jr.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings,
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of Go
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