An airline pilot, mother of two boys and small business owner, Carey Bouwer talks to us about her entry into aviation and how she has turned COVID-19 into an opportunity
From a young age, Carey knew she wanted to be a pilot. Today, she is a First Officer with South African Airways flying passengers on the Airbus A330 / A340. However, her path to success was not without its difficulties.
In her teenage years, Carey hoped to be accepted into the SAA Cadet scheme. Her application was unsuccessful, so her father encouraged her to study travel and tourism. Instead of spending her holidays travelling or with friends, she enrolled in a flying club where she worked hard to obtain her Private Pilot’s License.
Carey and her two sons
Aviation is an expensive career, but Carey was determined to persevere. She worked as a travel agent for three years, saving money and slowly building her flying hours at the same time. After spending six months doing menial tasks and ground work for a Johannesburg-based charter airline, Carey finally got a job as a pilot flying the Hawker Siddeley 748. From here, the transition into an airline was easier, having gained valuable experience from contract work in other countries such as Sri Lanka.
“Aviation must be something you love and have a great passion for… It is the most rewarding job, if it’s something you love”
As for many pilots, work often takes precedence over personal commitments. “I’ve missed out on some fairly important birthdays and family holidays due to the nature of my job and especially our leave process. Nevertheless, I’ve always found a good balance between home and work life. My kids are very adaptive and I have a great support team.”
Dealing with COVID-19: From flying to bespoke furniture
Carey and her husband Marc, a Comair pilot, have both been without pay since April this year. They have had to adapt and find a new way to support their family: “My husband is a very capable guy in the garage, so we have set up a small bespoke furniture business!” From lamps and chairs to wall-units and firewood stands, Carey and Marc create and manufacture beautiful, original pieces of furniture out of steel and wood. “We’re learning as we go along and are both working harder than we ever have. We will always appreciate the aviation lifestyle from now on,” Carey observes.
Determination, perseverance and passion have helped Carey turn an unprecedented crisis into an exciting opportunity. She certainly is an inspiring aviator and dynamic individual who has harnessed a uniquely creative energy.
Thank you to Carey Bouwer for giving up her time to take part in this interview. We look forward to watching your exciting journey continue to unfold.
Visit Carey’s new business, Fringe Design, for beautiful pieces of bespoke furniture.