Testimonials - Captain on the A380

My name is Christine DEBOUZY, i'm 59 and i'm a captain at Air France for 34 years.

I'm also an instructor pilot in a flying club in Lognes.

Aviation is my passion since childhood.

When I was five, I was fascinated by the Nord Atlas cockpit in Berlin, where my father was working in the control tower.

Currently, I'm captain on the Airbus A380. Our principal destinations are in the United States, like New-York, Los Angeles and San Fransisco. We also desserving Mexico, Johannesburg and Shanghai.

I did my studies in France. I studied at ENAC school in Toulouse as an airline pilot student. Then, I worked as an instructor pilot in the national gliding center of Saint Auban, then as a pilot in the private aviation at Bourget Airport close to Paris.

I've successfully done the Air France contest in 1985.

As a woman, I did not have a job in Lybia for example. Also, it was necesary to fight in order to make its place in the business aviation.

These three years of waiting for the Air France contest, however, been rich in experiences and lessons.

In order to organize your life of airline pilot, you always have to anticipate everything, at least, for the next two months.

However, in a regular company, we have a stable shcedule.

We can leave 15 days in the month with a monthly rest of five to six days and rest before and after long haul flight.

To be an airline pilot, you need adaptability and rigor, listening to others to create synergy with your entire crew.

It's also necessary to update your knowledge: the evolution of the devices being very fast with the arrival of computers in the cockpit.

My family life went well: it requires a very great organization and an understanding of your family. As a pilot, you can have a home childcare.

I truly like my job because it's not monotonous. Landscapes of the sky are always different. Flights follow each other and are not alike. Discoveries are rewarding.

The disadvantages of my job are physical: you have to manage your sleep and play sports to maintain your health.

We have some flight simulator tests and flight tests three times a year. We also have refreshing tests of knowledge in e-learning. It requires a personal work!

Today, I would say yo young students that they are now familiar with these computer environment and these constant evolutions.

Motivation is the fuel to success !

You have to learn how to manage your stress : there are now many tools like the sophrology, yoga and even hypnosis.

Military pilots use it and that will come for commercial pilots as well.

The future promises to be excellent for the pilots recruitments and in the aviation in general ! Go for it !

Christine Debouzy

Mrs. Debouzy, here at the bottom left, with her female crew during the women's day on March 8th.

A very big thank you to Mrs. DEBOUZY for her time !

She is the president of the French Association of Women Pilots.

You can find all informations about it at the following address : http://www.femmes-pilotes.com/

Nicolas Lanussol