For Georgie Arnold, it's the "rush".
It's the thrill you can only get from above that'll have your eyes turned skyward long after you've landed.
With her dad and brother both helicopter instructors in Townsville, and her mum heavily involved in the aviation industry, Georgie's foray into the family business was, in many ways, a rite of passage.
After all, she's been riding in helicopters since she was in her "mum's tummy": flying is in her DNA.
However, when she began training for her commercial helicopter licence in 2019, she looked around to discover she was the only woman in a class of 14.
"It didn't bother me, because I was always so supported by the staff and students," she says.
Challenging the status quo
Globally, just over 5 per cent of commercial pilots are female.
In Australia, that figure sits closer to 10 per cent, however, there are only six female helicopter flight instructors in the country.
"The country with the highest representation is actually India, which is sitting at about 20 per cent," says Natasha Heap, a former-pilot-turned-aviation lecturer at the University of Southern Queensland.
"And then it goes down to, you know, not even 1 per cent in some countries. [Aviation] has just historically been seen as a man's thing, and so we're still trying to get through that phase."
It's a systemic problem that cuts across cultures and generations, but far from an inevitability.
Aviatrix Australia — founded by Georgie's mum, Michelle, in 2018 — is challenging the status quo by educating, encouraging and promoting the study of aviation for women.
In partnership with Townsville Helicopters, Townsville Flight Training and ZephAir Australia, the goal is simple: to attract and retain more women in the industry through grassroots action.
And they're taking their message directly to prospective pilots through school talks, career expos and other networking events.
"A lot of people just stereotypically see being a helicopter pilot as mustering or in tourism, when really, there's so many opportunities," Georgie says.
"There's marketing, there's operational roles — there's so many different career paths that are equally as important in this industry."
A new generation of pilot
These opportunities, and the perceived lack thereof for women, have become a sticking point for those pushing for change.
Unlike the old guard of aviation, Australia's new generation of pilots have grown up with the internet: They're social media savvy, and know the power of representation.
And it has seen Aviatrix Australia transition from an idea once destined to stay "amongst our hangar" into a national movement.
The solution was at her fingertips: social media.
For women to be able to see themselves in the industry, she realised, they must first be seen.
Georgie began reaching out to other women in the pilot's seat to be featured on Aviatrix Australia's Instagram account, and launched Takeover Tuesday, giving audiences an insight into a day in the life of the Aviatrix community across the country — a decision that has led to new enrolments.
Real people, real stories, real results.
A complex problem
While progress is afoot, this gender imbalance does not exist in a vacuum.
It's a complex problem requiring multifaceted solutions, says Ms Heap, who has herself seen a 10 per cent increase in women enrolling in her university classes in recent years.
"I know lots of the universities, and a lot of the airlines, are actively putting women in different roles, because there's more than just pilots in the industry.
"But showing their faces and saying, 'OK, women can do this' … I'd like to think that is directly impacting on enrolment numbers."
While gender quotas and caps are periodically raised as a solution, Ms Heap says they risk "falsifying what's going on".
"What you want is to expand your pool of applicants and to get a broad range," she says.
"And, to do that, you have to let everyone know that this is a career that's viable to them, no matter what their sex, no matter what their background is, no matter where they're from."
'I want to fly helicopters like Georgie'
Reflecting on the future of aviation, Georgie doesn't mince words: "The sky isn't the limit."
“Working in aviation, like many careers, holds an enormous amount of responsibility and I believe that whoever is best fit for the job is deserving of it.
"However, I aim to discover why women aren’t picking the pilot seat and, hopefully, encourage more into joining."
In time, Georgie hopes to take the show on the road — or rather, in the air — to promote aviation as a career path for women.
And like those before her, she hopes to leave a different legacy for the next generation of pilots.
"[My friend's] daughter looked up into the sky and she saw a helicopter, and she goes, 'Oh, that's Georgie. I want to fly helicopters like Georgie when I grow up'.
"That was life-changing for me."
