The leading story in the DND news this week covered a Proud Moment in a young Canadian Pilot's career. Captain Crosier is Canada's first Globemaster pilot. The full story from the DND news site follows:
Little did a young Elizabeth Crosier realize her dream of flying would eventually translate into her being the first Canadian female pilot of the CC-177 Globemaster III, the Canadian Forces’ largest cargo aircraft.
Now just 25 years old, Captain Crosier has about 40 hours flying time on the giant aircraft. As her training continues, she is scheduled to fly some legs of a flight into Kabul, Afghanistan in February.
“There’s a lot more mission planning involved in a theatre flight,” she notes.
Capt Crosier plies her trade with 429 Transport Squadron at 8 Wing Trenton, Ont., perhaps a natural step for this child of a navigator father also employed by the military. She joined the Air Force in 2004 and received her wings Nov. 19, 2010.
A life in the military was not always a certainty for Capt Crosier, although she always wanted to fly.
“I always wanted to be a pilot, although not necessarily in the forces,” Capt Crosier said. “My dad eventually convinced me to go into the military where I could get my education and pilot training paid for by the military.”
Capt Crosier’s father, Brian, was obviously a huge influence on her decision to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, but she laughs and adds, “But so was Top Gun. I loved that movie and it looked like it would be a lot of fun.”
Growing up on military bases meant a lot of moving for the Crosier family. Elizabeth spent her formative years in Trenton, attending school there until grade 9. She graduated high school in Hamilton, Ont., before moving on to the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont., where she graduated in 2008. She then flipped back and forth across the country taking her flight training before landing in Trenton on Dec. 12, 2011.
Capt Crosier took the same flight training as any pilot in the RCAF takes, but she feels fortunate things worked out as she came through the process.
“I was fortunate an opening came up in Trenton just when I needed it to. Trenton was my first choice and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now,” she said. “Timing had a lot to do with it,” but she adds you also have to do well in the training courses to keep advancing.
“There’s also a lot of hard work involved.”
What’s it like to fly an aircraft the size of the CC-177?
“It’s an amazing aircraft,” Capt Crosier notes. “In the air, it doesn’t seem too different [from other aircraft], but on the ground, you really find out what a massive aircraft you’re flying. Flight basics are the same, although manoeuvring is a little different.
But I’m really out of my element on the ground. All the wheels are behind you so it’s hard getting on the taxi lines and parking spots. It’s really different.”
But for one of the youngest pilots in the squadron, there is still time for familiarity to develop with additional training, which she will get plenty of in the next few months as she learns to fly over the ocean and in different parts of the world.
Each flight forces the pilot to think about different things – planning, the crew, the cargo – and every flight brings out her two most familiar emotions, nervousness and excitement.
“I’m always equally nervous and excited,” she said. “I’m just another pilot with a lot still to learn."
In all seriousness ma'am my heartiest Congratulations to you and I am sure that your Family and all Canadians are proud of you and your accomplishments. May all your flying hours be peaceful and calm.
Todays PDF is Very Interesting in Support of one of our Fallen Trooper Marc Diab
Please show Support for our Troops and their families wear red this Friday.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
"Tongue in Cheek " Ma'am from an old Cabin Crew Guy, The highlighted portion of this story begs to ask "Parking" never fear there are not too many airports with Parallel parking" he he he!
