During the 1980’s a little girl named Rene Spratt dreamed of flying. Now this pilot and mother of two shares her journey to the skies.
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During the 1980’s a little girl named Rene Spratt would go to sleep at night and dream of flying. When she woke, she tried to recreate that feeling through hobbies that included dance, gymnastics, and well…jumping from high furniture around her home. These days Spratt is a wife, mother of two babies. Oh yes, and a professional pilot who lives her dream each day at work.
Like many successful women, Spratt struggled to develop her dream into a career. After growing up and attending high school in Staten Island, NY, she enrolled in the College of Aeronautics (now Vaughn College) in Queens. Once she completed her A.A.S, or Associates in Applied Science, Aircraft Operations, Spratt was ready to follow the steps toward becoming a commercial airlines pilot.
Rene’s family was not wealthy, and training to become a pilot requires a lot of dedication—time, money, and energy. Pilots must hold an array of licenses to fly under certain circumstances. A Private Pilot Certificate allows a pilot to fly single engine airplanes, while a Commercial License is a requirement, which allows a pilot to work for hire. To fly through inclement weather, a pilot must also hold an Instrument Rating.
Though her mother and father contributed to paying for her education, they could not pay the entire bill, which included classes, flight simulation, an instructor and a $130/hour airplane rental cost to allow Rene to practice her flight and landing techniques. While attending school full-time, she worked at a local bagel shop to make ends meet and practiced flying twice a week for two hours per day during her free time. This unpredictable and packed schedule prepared Rene for a life as a pilot, one which she says she “loves, every single day… despite the weather.”
Read on to discover Rene’s thoughts on travel obsession, the funny effect turbulence has on women, and flying the friendly skies.
