High-flyer Captain Linda De Costa
Scene Stealer
By Afeefah Beharry
Stabroek News
April 21, 2007
Her parents saw her as a doctor, but she was not interested. However, to appease them she signed on at the University of Guyana to study Marine Biology, though deep down inside her, aviation was in her soul.
Linda De Costa, now a captain on LIAT Airlines, told The Scene that she has been in the field of aviation since 1997 and has been working with the Antigua-based airline for the past seven years. But, were it not for early exposure to the field of aviation, the love, dedication and the immeasurable support from her parents, Linda's story might have been different today.
Linda said she did not decide to become a pilot until she left high school as her parents already have other careers lined up for her. After graduating from St Joseph High School, she began to study the then Guyana School of Aviation at Ogle, which was owned and operated by Stanley Jhagroo where she received her Private Pilot Licence.
Recalling how it all started, she said her parents were into mining in the interior and her dad always had her around airplanes at the Ogle airport. "I was at first fascinated with being a flight attendant," said Linda. However, a smiling Linda said that fascination did not go down well with her parents, who opposed the idea.
Still, she went ahead and applied to several airlines for a flight attendant's position, to which she received no responses. Linda became frustrated, and then one day it just dawned on her that if she could not be a flight attendant, she could certainly fly airplanes. "I've always love airplanes, after being exposed to them from an early age, and the idea of being in command was very thrilling to me." Her parents fully supported the new career choice.
With her Private Pilot's Licence under her belt, the determined young woman went to the USA to obtain a Commercial Pilot's Licence at Airsafety International, in Vero Beach, Florida.
After returning home, a conversion course was necessary to fly in Guyana or the Caribbean and this required more studies, examinations and a flight check.
This done, and with some advice from good friend and Aviation Instructor Bill Mahaboo, she applied to LIAT 1974. "Somehow I knew that I would have been flying for LIAT, it was a dream and it's now a reality."
Linda flies the Turbo prop (Dash 8) airplanes throughout LIAT's wide network, which encompasses of most of the islands between the Dominican Republic and Guyana. She hopes that one day the airline would expand, with further destinations such as Europe so she would be afforded the opportunity fly jet airplanes in other climatic conditions.
Linda says her work schedule is varied; she never does the same thing everyday. What spices up things is that the 28-year-old woman meets people from all walks of life when she goes to work. She has often had the honour of flying presidents, prime ministers and celebrities.
She is aware that it is not always sweet and rosy in the airline industry; "that's where your faith is tested", she says.
"You have to work hard; it requires a lot of dedication, studying and patience."
She noted that an airline might be up and running today and the next day it may shut down, or running bankrupt and forced to lay off staff. But she feels fortunate and blessed to know that she has reached so far with her career and adds that her parents have been her backbone throughout the entire journey.
"If it wasn't for my dad's opposition and some destiny, I probably would not have been here today," said Linda. "My parents worked very hard to make sure that I excel."
Linda was born at Soesdyke to Merline and Oswald De Costa and has three siblings Leon, Luann and Larry. The family lived on the East Bank and the East Coast before her parents decided to settle at Lamaha Gardens, Georgetown. According to her, her parents are both from very large families and they both came from different communities.
Her mom, she said, was from Soesdyke while her dad grew up in Groete Creek, Essequibo.
"I always had family around," said Linda. "When it's not my siblings, it's my cousins."
As to the advantages of being a female pilot, the lovely woman said that apart from having the opportunity to travel to various destinations and experience cultures, she has gained more respect from co-workers and she often gets the chance to prove people wrong, especially when it comes to a woman's ability outside the home. "A few people have admitted that they didn't think I could have handled a plane. Those opinions were based on gender and body size, which really doesn't matter," she said. But she has never experienced any discrimination.
There are eight female pilots employed by LIAT and Linda is one of only two female captains. LIAT has over 90 pilots.
The only disadvantage to being a pilot is that she has to be away from home and family for sometimes two to three days at a time, but she is also quick to admit that it comes with the job and therefore it is a sacrifice you have to make. She also said that the workday could turn out to be longer than anticipated; there could be technical problems with the airplane, air traffic issues or bad weather that contribute to an extended day and unplanned overnights.
She has never had any close calls while in the cockpit and is very happy about that. After all training is very extensive and frequent, under the supervision of experienced and professional training personnel using modern training facilities. You are also required to pass a medical examination every six months. The high point in her job was July last year when she became captain. "It was such a wonderful feeling to achieve that title," she said.
They are no other pilots in Linda's family but others would like to pursue this career.
When she is not flying, well Linda might just be out shopping, surfing the internet or watching cricket. She also loves keeping in touch with her family especially her mom who is her best friend and her younger sister who is currently attending law school in Trinidad.