<p><img alt="Danni Stoney - WW 20150908" src="/getasset/495340b4-2405-4ecd-bb3a-992ba62be839/" /></p>
<p>Danni Stoney obtained her private pilot’s licence at the age of 17, and is currently a first officer on an Embraer Phenom 300 managed by UK business aircraft charter and management company London Executive Aviation.</p>
<p><strong>What sparked your interest in flying?</strong></p>
<p><em>I realised I wanted to be a pilot on my 15th birthday. My parents suggested a trial flying lesson as a present and I was immediately hooked. Following the flight, I spent most of my weekends at Newtownards airfield, in Northern Ireland, learning to fly in a Cessna 152.</em></p>
<p><em>When I turned 17, I obtained my private pilot’s licence, becoming the youngest pilot in Ireland at that time. </em></p>
<p><strong>Why did you decide to pursue a career as a pilot? </strong></p>
<p><em>I absolutely loved flying and could think of nothing better as a career. However, I thought it was important to go to university and decided to complete a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Edinburgh.</em></p>
<p><em>While studying, I took the opportunity to join the University Air Squadron and this gave me the chance to complete its elementary flying training course, which included aerobatics, formation and low-level flying.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="color: rgb(100, 123, 135); font-size: 24px; line-height: 38.4000015258789px; text-align: center;">“This is a demanding industry – regardless of whether you are male or female, you have to work hard”</strong></p>
<p><em>I then went to Oxford Aviation Academy and finished my Airline Transport Pilot Licence training. I was very fortunate to train on the Embraer Phenom 100 while working in sales and operations at a business aviation company. This gave me a much wider understanding of the business and commercial aviation industry outside of just flying.</em></p>
<p><strong>A very small percentage of pilots are female. Why do you think that is?</strong></p>
<p><em>Growing up, I suppose being a pilot was perceived as a male orientated career. I think that perception is changing, as I’m meeting an increasing number of fellow female pilots. Flying is rewarding and exciting. I have never felt discriminated against and have always been welcomed. This is a demanding industry – regardless of whether you are male or female, you have to work just as hard.</em></p>
<p><strong>What challenges do you face in your job?</strong></p>
<p><em>I’m constantly adapting to different routes and destinations with changing schedules and weather conditions. The variety from one day to the next can be extraordinary. However, I don’t consider them challenges but more part of the excitement I get to experience as a part of my everyday life. </em></p>
<p><strong>What do you enjoy most about your job?</strong></p>
<p><em>I am now flying with London Executive Aviation as a first officer on a Phenom 300. I love the many fantastic destinations I fly to and these include ones that many people may never get the chance to visit.</em></p>
<p><em>Recently I was in Iqaluit, Baffin Island, Canada, where, despite the -40°C wind-chill, we managed to find lots to do during our rest time. We went walking, built our first igloo, watched our first-ever ice hockey game and, last but not least, went husky sleighing across a frozen bay.</em></p>
<p><strong>What advice would you give to someone looking for a career as a pilot?</strong></p>
<p><em>Do your research, as there are many different paths, depending on your ultimate goal as a pilot.</em></p>
<p><em>Be aware that the industry is always changing and you may have to adapt to that. This is a highly competitive career and you have to work very hard in a dynamic market.</em></p>
<p><em>But if you have a love for flying high and working hard, then you will not regret it!</em></p>
<p><strong>Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?</strong></p>
<p><em>I am hoping to continue to progress my career and become a captain on a larger aircraft, flying to even more exotic, far- flung destinations.</em></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.1999998092651px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21.2799987792969px; color: rgb(77, 77, 77);"><em style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Want to follow in Danni's footsteps and become a pilot? Check out our listings online by <a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/jobs/pilot/?intcmp=FGJOB-careers_hub-Danni_Stoney">CLICKING HERE</a>.</strong></em></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.1999998092651px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21.2799987792969px; color: rgb(77, 77, 77);">If you would like to feature in Working Week, or you know someone who does, email your pitch to <span style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.6;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><a href="mailto:kate.sarsfield@flightglobal.com?subject=Working%20Week%20Submission">kate.sarsfield@flightglobal.com</a></strong>.</span></p>
<p>Danni Stoney obtained her private pilot’s licence at the age of 17, and is currently a first officer on an Embraer Phenom 300 managed by UK business aircraft charter and management company London Executive Aviation.</p>
<p><strong>What sparked your interest in flying?</strong></p>
<p><em>I realised I wanted to be a pilot on my 15th birthday. My parents suggested a trial flying lesson as a present and I was immediately hooked. Following the flight, I spent most of my weekends at Newtownards airfield, in Northern Ireland, learning to fly in a Cessna 152.</em></p>
<p><em>When I turned 17, I obtained my private pilot’s licence, becoming the youngest pilot in Ireland at that time. </em></p>
<p><strong>Why did you decide to pursue a career as a pilot? </strong></p>
<p><em>I absolutely loved flying and could think of nothing better as a career. However, I thought it was important to go to university and decided to complete a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Edinburgh.</em></p>
<p><em>While studying, I took the opportunity to join the University Air Squadron and this gave me the chance to complete its elementary flying training course, which included aerobatics, formation and low-level flying.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="color: rgb(100, 123, 135); font-size: 24px; line-height: 38.4000015258789px; text-align: center;">“This is a demanding industry – regardless of whether you are male or female, you have to work hard”</strong></p>
<p><em>I then went to Oxford Aviation Academy and finished my Airline Transport Pilot Licence training. I was very fortunate to train on the Embraer Phenom 100 while working in sales and operations at a business aviation company. This gave me a much wider understanding of the business and commercial aviation industry outside of just flying.</em></p>
<p><strong>A very small percentage of pilots are female. Why do you think that is?</strong></p>
<p><em>Growing up, I suppose being a pilot was perceived as a male orientated career. I think that perception is changing, as I’m meeting an increasing number of fellow female pilots. Flying is rewarding and exciting. I have never felt discriminated against and have always been welcomed. This is a demanding industry – regardless of whether you are male or female, you have to work just as hard.</em></p>
<p><strong>What challenges do you face in your job?</strong></p>
<p><em>I’m constantly adapting to different routes and destinations with changing schedules and weather conditions. The variety from one day to the next can be extraordinary. However, I don’t consider them challenges but more part of the excitement I get to experience as a part of my everyday life. </em></p>
<p><strong>What do you enjoy most about your job?</strong></p>
<p><em>I am now flying with London Executive Aviation as a first officer on a Phenom 300. I love the many fantastic destinations I fly to and these include ones that many people may never get the chance to visit.</em></p>
<p><em>Recently I was in Iqaluit, Baffin Island, Canada, where, despite the -40°C wind-chill, we managed to find lots to do during our rest time. We went walking, built our first igloo, watched our first-ever ice hockey game and, last but not least, went husky sleighing across a frozen bay.</em></p>
<p><strong>What advice would you give to someone looking for a career as a pilot?</strong></p>
<p><em>Do your research, as there are many different paths, depending on your ultimate goal as a pilot.</em></p>
<p><em>Be aware that the industry is always changing and you may have to adapt to that. This is a highly competitive career and you have to work very hard in a dynamic market.</em></p>
<p><em>But if you have a love for flying high and working hard, then you will not regret it!</em></p>
<p><strong>Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?</strong></p>
<p><em>I am hoping to continue to progress my career and become a captain on a larger aircraft, flying to even more exotic, far- flung destinations.</em></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.1999998092651px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21.2799987792969px; color: rgb(77, 77, 77);"><em style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Want to follow in Danni's footsteps and become a pilot? Check out our listings online by <a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/jobs/pilot/?intcmp=FGJOB-careers_hub-Danni_Stoney">CLICKING HERE</a>.</strong></em></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15.1999998092651px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21.2799987792969px; color: rgb(77, 77, 77);">If you would like to feature in Working Week, or you know someone who does, email your pitch to <span style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.6;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><a href="mailto:kate.sarsfield@flightglobal.com?subject=Working%20Week%20Submission">kate.sarsfield@flightglobal.com</a></strong>.</span></p>