×
×
homepage logo
SUBSCRIBE

UVU: Wife, mother of 3, succeeds in university’s aviation program

By Ryan Tanner - Special to the Daily Herald | Mar 4, 2023

Courtesy UVU

Utah Valley University aviation student Nicole Robbins leans on a plane propeller in this undated photo.

Nicole Robbins, wife and mother of two small boys, never considered becoming a professional pilot. That all changed when her father took her to the airport in 2015 to see an airplane he purchased.

“That experience flipped a switch,” she said. “I could see myself doing this. I love flying.”

Robbins is a junior working for her bachelor of science degree in Utah Valley University’s Professional Pilot program. She lives in Springville with her husband and two boys and describes her experience at UVU as very enjoyable, thinks her professors are incredible and has built great friendships with her counselors.

“The administration and instructors in the department want the very best for their students and are doing everything they can to help us succeed,” she explains. “It’s a great program that bridges to the airlines as well as corporate operators.”

Since its inception, jobs in the aviation industry traditionally have gone to men. However, a steadily increasing number of women are entering the UVU aviation program and pursuing careers in the industry — often described as an exciting, difficult, fun, journey. It includes FAA flight training, where graduates leave with a minimum commercial pilot certificate and UVU graduates are employed by U.S. and international airlines, cargo carriers and corporate flight departments.

Robbins said her favorite part of the UVU program is interacting with other female students and described how they offer each other mutual support.

“Women just naturally want to help each other,” she said. “Being a part of this small group of women has been amazing. It is my favorite thing. It’s just really special.”

Some of Robbin’s heroes in aviation include her father and grandfather who flew for the U.S. Air Force in WWII, Korea and Vietnam — as well as the famous aviatrix Amelia Earhart.

“I don’t know many women in aviation who wouldn’t call Amelia Earhart a superstar,” she said. “Earhart was famous for a reason.”

Robbins even quoted the flying legend, saying: “‘I believe that a girl should not do what she thinks she should do but should find out through experience what she wants to do.'”

Robbins’s advisor, Marilyn Riddle, also has a place on her list of heroes. “She does it all and is an amazing pilot,” Robbins said. “Any woman who makes it in this field is my hero because I know how hard it is. I have yet to meet a woman in aviation who is not absolutely incredible.”

She is serving an internship with her father’s company, Snow Peak Ventures. Her responsibilities include implementing new programs and procedures for onboarding new pilots, creating and launching a company brand and compiling a training curriculum for new pilots.

She also had the opportunity to fly right-seat in a Cessna Citation business jet and the King Air E90.

Robbins has ambitious goals in her field. In the short term, she wants to work with her father in the corporate sector. Once her kids are in high school, though, she wants to become an airline pilot. She loves the idea of getting paid to do something she loves.

When asked what advice she would give young women who want to pursue an aviation career, she said, “Be yourself and do you, because in the end, it doesn’t matter what anyone else says. If you’re a good pilot, your flying will speak for itself. If you’re a good person, your actions will speak for themselves. Don’t let other people’s words and actions determine your goals and happiness.”

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)