Angel Abraham, BMOS’25, remembers fearing turbulence on long flights from Canada to India to visit family when she was a little girl.
“I don’t think many people are totally at ease when they get on a plane. I was scared. But then I started to think, ‘what if I was in control?’
Now graduating from Western’s commercial aviation management program with her pilot’s licence, Abraham is flying frequently and working as a flight dispatcher.
She’s in the cockpit, in control.
“I’m not afraid when a plane enters a stall or a spin. When you’re in the air, it’s just so calming to talk to other people on the radio, see the blue skies, look down and see you’re passing over Waterloo or Stratford. It’s nice to know what’s happening and fly with other competent pilots beside you.”
Initially, Abraham thought she wanted to pursue medicine. But when she started her journey at Western studying kinesiology, it didn’t feel right.
“I grew up in a very science-oriented, science-focused family,” Abraham said. “I just remember prepping for my biology exam and thinking, ‘I need to get out of here.’”
Her parents provided inspiration, from her mother’s work ethic to her father’s encouragement to consider business. So Abraham transitioned to Western’s Faculty of Social Science to earn a bachelor of management and organization studies through the commercial aviation management (CAM) program, which enables students to graduate both with a business degree and a pilot’s licence.
“My dad always told me, ‘You’re meant to stand in the front. Stop hiding in the back,’” she recalled.
Angel Abraham, BMOS’25, is graduating from the commercial aviation management program at Western. (Vanessa Waugh)
From science to the skies
Connecting with classmates in the CAM program, a spark was lit. Abraham felt inspired, learning from her peers and knowing she was blazing a new trail. “There was so much diversity, all these different people with their unique skills and experiences,” Abraham said. “I was learning a new field that no one in my family knew anything about.” She moved to the front, just as her dad wanted, joining the CAM student council and Western Aviatrix club – a chapter of Women in Aviation – which she would later lead. “In CAM, I was able to see a future. I knew I could build something here,” she said.Abraham built everything from leadership skills to an entire YouTube channel, The Student Pilot, where she helps others understand what it takes to become a pilot. “The YouTube channel wasn’t ever my dream. Frankly, I’m afraid of public speaking,” Abraham laughed. “I used to feel intimidated. I wished there was someone to help prepare me for the challenges.” Her explanations and tips have resonated, with Abraham sometimes recognized at her job at Diamond Flight Cente. “They say, ‘you’re that girl in the video.’ I have a lot more to say and want to post more frequently now that I’m graduated,” Abraham said. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhcb2Srl8z4“With aviation, I can push boundaries, my personal limits. It continually challenges me.” – Angel Abraham, BMOS’25, pilot and aviation advocate
