She Learned To Fly, Lost Her Way, And Found A Healthier Path Back To The Flight Deck

Send us Fan MailArctic lakes for runways, fuel drums as baggage, and a young pilot learning to think three moves ahead—Jesslyn’s story grabs you from the first minute. We sit down with a Twin Otter alum who went from ramp work and SMS to flying floats, skis, and wheels across Canada’s North, then faced a harsh culture shock in pipeline surveillance that triggered burnout and a hard stop. What followed wasn’t a tidy montage—it was a honest reset: six weeks alone in Spain, a pregnancy pause, and a deliberate return to flying with new routines, clearer boundaries, and a stronger sense of purpose.We unpack the details pilots rarely say out loud. Jesslyn explains the invisible planning behind remote ops—bringing tools, carrying fuel, managing minus-forty starts—and why ten landings in a day can be the fastest path to skill. We also go deep on mental health: how fatigue quietly drives anxiety, why naps are performance tools, and how screens and late caffeine unravel sleep. Her take on women’s physiology is refreshingly practical: men’s daily hormone cycles aren’t the same as women’s 28-day rhythms, so strength, recovery, and sleep needs shift week to week. That insight reframes everything from training loads to minimum rest and makes a strong case for better education across the industry.There’s more: motherhood in a male-dominated field, handling separation guilt with young kids, earning respect through work not bravado, and letting the SIM remain the ultimate equalizer. Jesslyn’s toolkit is grounded and doable—protein-first mornings, delayed caffeine, walking after long legs, freezer-ready meals, and tight routines that travel. If you’ve ever wondered how to stay sharp, healthy, and human while living in time zones and duty windows, this conversation offers both candour and a map.If this resonates, follow the show, share with a friend who flies, and leave a review to help more pilots find these conversations. Your stories keep this community strong.BetterHelp, a paid partner.Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. My paid partner BetterHelp makes therapy easy.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show