It's Nicest to Be High Above Everything, Completely Free

The skies above Celje, Slovenia, became a gathering point for over 70 female pilots from across Europe this past weekend. They convened for a meeting of the European Female Pilots Association, an event hosted this year by the Slovenian Association of Female Flyers.

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Perfect freedom is when you decide to fly over the Alps in a small plane and land in another country to meet another pilot. That's fantastic.

Maja Pukl, president of the Slovenian association and a professional pilot herself, welcomed attendees to the Levec airfield. She emphasized the event's dual purpose: fostering friendship and promoting aviation careers among women. "We are all equally free in the sky," Pukl stated, highlighting a shared passion that transcends borders.

This gathering, the first in Slovenia for the association in many years, brought together pilots from various backgrounds. For some, flying is a profession. Pukl, for instance, pilots a Saab 340 cargo plane for an Estonian company, transporting mail and other goods across Europe. She described the demanding nature of her work, which includes navigating challenging weather conditions and managing potential emergencies, though she noted that rigorous simulations prepare pilots for such scenarios.

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There hasn't been a European meeting of female pilots in Slovenia for a long time, so this is quite a big event for our association as well, which besides female pilots also includes balloonists, paragliders, skydivers – everyone who flies.

Another participant, Breda Šprajcar, shared her 18 years of experience as a helicopter pilot with the Slovenian police air unit. As one of only two women in her unit, she presented on helicopter rescue operations. Šprajcar recalled the most demanding period of her career during the devastating floods in August 2023, an experience that still deeply affects her when she sees related footage.

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We don't carry passengers, mostly mail or other cargo. We fly within Europe, and the plane is smaller, propeller-driven, with a maximum takeoff weight of just over 12 tons. I work for an Estonian company. I work for fourteen days and fly around Europe, then I'm home for fourteen days.

The association's goal is to build a supportive network, encouraging women to pursue and thrive in aviation. The meeting provided a platform for these women to connect, exchange knowledge, and inspire the next generation of female aviators.

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Even though it's been almost three years since the floods, it's still hard for me when I watch those videos. So many people at once...