Page 18 - Designing Ways 242

IID

“The future has many names.. For the

brave, it’s limitless”

Tarryn Hanekom

o have dreamt of flight.. and leaving the prize. I didn’t pay attention to
achieved it, will always be one of the seemingly insurmountable challenges,
Tthe most remarkable journeys of only to going at it with all I had until I
my life. did it. Milestones you never forget - going
Small girl in a small town, I never knew solo (just you in the plane) for the first
the possibility of reaching for the stars. time.. and finding your way back to the
I never knew there were stars beyond airfield again!! Being given control of my
belief out there to begin with. It all began first Turboprop aircraft, this time not in
in typical jammed up morning traffic I the simulator but on the runway at our
was in daily with my first big break office International Airport, and feeling the offs; the bi-annual, gruelling two-day
job in the Capital City. Disillusioned by unmistakable knowing - throughout every Simulator sessions which set the bar
a windowless office and mind-numbing cell of my being - that I was born for this, for currency and skillsets required in
meetings, I yearned to embark on that I have this capacity, I have this ability, emergencies; from feeling total pride
something completely different.. I wanted and now I am living that out loud in a when I put my uniform on when I leave
to break the mould. spectacular direction. Living and thriving, for a trip; to knowing I’m treating my
From the very first time I went up in that feel remarkably different from surviving. passengers to the best experience, because
old small airplane, and was given control Fast forward to “landing” my first Big I love what I do, and I’ve made it my
of this lump of metal in the sky, I have been Jet job on an Airbus, and spending most business to do it with excellence.
unequivocally taken with flying. I pursued days flying domestic passengers up and Many years of skyscapes (studying
this career with a ceaseless passion and down the countryside; grabbing a quick meteorology versus seeing cloud
dedication, perseverance and commitment but good coffee in the airport lounges in- formations yourself, sunrises and
that I never knew resided within. between sectors; dodging thunderstorms sunsets, snow-covered earth and massive
Once aviation is in your blood, it is and mitigating the myriad of threats we Cumulonimbus thunderstorms about to
part of who you are, and never leaves. manage as pilots constantly.. from the unleash themselves, from your strapped-in
Overcoming obstacles to attain it, is like hectically early winter mornings to the seat at 35,000 feet up in a flight-deck, are
jumping hurdles with your eye never long summer days and late night sign- two completely different things), years of

18 Issue 242 • dw