Mellisa Whitfield — From Showjumping to Sky Climbing
“I didn’t trade in my passion. I layered it.”
Mellisa Whitfield didn’t follow the traditional flight path. Before she earned her wings, she was already flying high — as a competitive showjumper for Great Britain and a salon entrepreneur. But aviation had always been in her heart. Now, as a newly minted commercial pilot, she’s bringing bold energy, balance, and unstoppable work ethic into the cockpit.
Her journey is proof that you don’t have to give up one dream to chase another — and you don’t need a blueprint when you’ve got vision.
✈️ A Day in the Life
When she was in flight school, her week was a masterpiece of motion:
Monday to Friday, she trained in Spain. On Friday nights, she flew home to the UK — not to rest, but to work at her beauty salon and compete in horse shows. Then on Sunday night? She caught the last flight back to Spain to start again.
It was routine, rigorous, and real — a rhythm only possible when passion and purpose are working together.
🧠 Cockpit Insight
“Being a first-generation pilot means I’m building this from scratch. But I’ve built before — in business, in sport. Aviation just became my next arena.”
— Mellisa Whitfield
💕 Why She Belongs Here
Mellisa’s story isn’t just inspiring — it’s multi-dimensional. She’s proof that you can evolve without erasing your past. That your femininity, your hobbies, your grit, and your hustle can coexist at 38,000 feet. She didn’t drop the reins — she simply took the yoke.
🛫 Pilot Profile
Name: Mellisa Whitfield
First Role in Aviation: Student Pilot
Current Role: Commercial Pilot
Based In: UK/Spain
Loves: Horses, entrepreneurship, mentoring, and empowering underrepresented voices in aviation
Follow Her: @mitsywhitfield
💥 She Belongs Here
This series celebrates women building altitude — from pre-solo to post-promotion. Because you don’t have to start at the top to take flight.
✍🏽 Follow-Up Questions to Ask Mellisa
To complete her feature with depth and voice, consider sending her these:
What originally sparked your interest in flying?
(Was it a person, a flight, a moment?)What was the biggest challenge you faced during training, and how did you push through it?
Did you ever feel pressure to choose between your passions? If so, how did you navigate that?
What’s a moment in your aviation journey so far that made you feel unstoppable?
If you could leave one piece of advice for other girls and women chasing nontraditional aviation paths, what would it be?
What’s next on your aviation journey? (A goal, a dream job, a license?)
