Durban's Shelley Gould (31) may be blonde, blue-eyed and petite, but in the world of aviation, size doesn't matter and looks don't count - its experience and dedication that prove your worth as a pilot. Get it met her at the South African Red Cross Air Mercy Services (AMS) base at the old Durban International Airport.
"Being a pilot never even entered my mind as a kid. It wasn't until my Matric year when my brother joined the Air Force that I actually thought it was a super-cool thing to do." Looking at career options she thought about air traffic controlling, but it was her brother's wise words that eventually steered her into the pilot's seat. "He said to be careful about choosing the air traffic tower because I'd get stuck in that job, forever looking up at the sky, when my soul would be yearning to fly." That was all she needed to hear, Shelley says with a shy smile. As a precaution, she took up a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Environmental Science and spent every second of her spare time at the Stellenbosch Flying Club. She went to London, worked, saved and returned with one goal in mind - a deserved title and the license to fly. Two years later, she was tackling gruelling simulator training in Norway, America and Canada. She moved on to captain aeroplanes and helicopters in Algeria, Equilateral Guinea and Mozambique. Still chasing the thrill of flying, Shelley felt she needed more. It wasn't just about the success and the certificate, it was about job satisfaction and proving to herself she was truly good at it. "I wanted to fly helicopters and needed to do something genuinely useful with my skills, challenge myself further than I ever thought I could and for now, I've found that with the AMS." She works in rotation with fellow Squirrel pilot, Hayden Ford, and medical crews. So what's the big deal about flying, you may ask.
For Shelley, it's about beautiful weather, discipline, the dynamics of the job and the knowledge she gains working in this field. By her own admission, she's got the best office in the world with a three-dimensional view and the knowledge that she's assisting in saving a life every time she is airborne. "Flying is an incredibly selfish career. If you fly well, it's because of you, the precision and your skills. We are extremely safety conscious because, as much as it can be awesome, it can also be the difference between life and death, so there isn't really room for error. Even with such brilliant design and manufacturing, there is always that element of risk." That risk Shelley experienced firsthand when, four years ago, she was involved in an aircraft accident that claimed the life of her captain and left Shelley and another co-pilot with serious injuries. Barely recognisable as a result of the damage to her face, Shelley was kept in the ICU for seven days. It took several operations to reconstruct her face and weeks of recovery before she was allowed to step back into the cockpit, but she was determined. She had no fears or reservations about flying again, she just wanted to get back to work - this time just more aware and a better pilot for understanding how quickly things can go wrong and how serious it can be.
At the AMS base the aircrews are always on standby. When an emergency is called in, Shelley and the medical team are already uniformed and ready to go. Quick on their feet, they're off to the hangar and up in the air. "The real challenge, when approaching an accident scene, is finding the right spot to land. This can be tough, with dogs and people and no designated landing zone or marshalls on the ground, "she said, but for Shelley, this is what makes her job so exciting and challenging."There's no greater rush than pulling off a tough landing. What I love most about this job is the fact that I have no control over where each day will take me. The freedom of it all just blows me away. I've even started flying the Pilatus PC12 and I'm so excited, so the future is looking good. I think I'll be settling in here for a while."
Article: Get It Magazine
Date: 1 July 2010
Journalist: Peter Upfold
Picture: Peter Upfold
