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Our Members
Andrea Nicole Bertin
It
took me until after graduating college to figure out where
my true ambition lay. With my Degree in Communications in
hand, I couldn’t imagine shoving a microphone in a person’s
face for the rest of my life. On a whim, I became a Delta
Air Lines flight attendant, hoping I would eventually figure
out what I wanted to do with my life. Little did I know that
when I stepped onto that MD-88, I would find my true passion.
A little over two years later I scheduled my first flight
training lesson on September 11, 2001, the day after my birthday.
Though there was a slight setback on my initial start, I
took
a leave from Delta, and completed my private, instrument,
commercial and initial CFI rating by Valentine’s Day.
I joined the flight school where I had been training, and
started working as a flight instructor while completing my
multi-engine, CFII and MEI ratings. I had planned to accomplish
this by my next birthday, in 2002, which I did, and I set
off to become a charter pilot in Ft. Lauderdale while still
teaching as a free-lance flight instructor.
The
following year I was back at Delta, flying at Song
as a flight attendant,
and also became employed flying a Citation V out of Grand
Island, Nebraska. Almost five months later I accomplished
my initial goal of becoming an airline pilot, and joined
the
Pinnacle Airlines team in January of 2004 as a First Officer.
Unfortunately though, I was asked to resign at Delta/
Song
due to conflicts of interest with Pinnacle. Later on that
year, though, I applied for two of the Women In Aviation
scholarships,
and in March of 2005, I was the happy and proud recipient
of the WAI/ Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-800 Type Rating
Scholarship.
It was such an incredible feeling because I was now able
to walk back into Delta Air Lines as a pilot, right
where it
all started for me. I completed my type rating in June
of 2005, and have been thankful for every step and
every experience
that I have had since I’ve started my airline journey
six years ago.
I am currently a Captain flying at Pinnacle Airlines in
the CRJ. I love the plane, I love the people I fly with,
and
I
love gazing out the window and looking at the world fly
by below and above us… It gives me such an incredible perspective
on life! I am very thankful to be employed during these turbulent
times in the airline industry. I am actively involved in
Women
In Aviation and the on Pro 99s Network, and am a happy graduate
of the 99s PPLI (Professional Pilot Leadership Initiative)
Program, where I have met so many incredible women, especially
my Senior Navigator (mentor), Terry Ryan. I truly believe
in giving back and helping others whenever and wherever you
can in life. And after all, these amazing women that we are
so lucky to be a part of and surrounded with are why so many
of us have advanced and achieved in all our goals and dreams.
Thank you to all! (Submitted February 2006) November
9, 2005 (from the Pro99s Network) - "It gives me great
pleasure to nominate Andrea Bertin as Air Queen of the Day.
Andrea has passed her CRJ Captain checkride with Pinnacle
Airlines and is currently completing her Line Operating Experience.
Way to Go Girl! I am especially proud of Andrea, as she was
my "Captain" in the previous PPLI mentoring session.
This past summer, Andrea also obtained her Boeing 737 type
rating compliments of Delta Airlines thru a scholarship she
received at the annual Women in Aviation Conference. Andrea
is truly an example for all of us, that there is nothing we
cannot achieve when we set our minds to it. Congratulations
Andrea!"
Terry Ryan
B737 Capt. United Airlines
November
12, 2005 (accolades posted by Laura Smith, PPLI Program Leader,
on the Pro99s Network) - "Andrea Bertin, Ambassador Chapter
99s and PPLI Navigator, for passing your CRJ Captain checkride
at Pinnacle. Enjoy the left seat, especially the learning
experience that comes with that fourth stripe!"
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Ambassador Chapter