She is one of Barbados’ youngest commercial pilots, but her “flight path” was initially projected to take her into the world of medicine.
Shanae Daniel had pursued the sciences while at Harrison College because her heart was set on being a doctor.
However, during a simulation exercise when a cadaver was brought into the room while she was at the University of the West Indies, Shanae’s career “diagnosis” became a nightmare.
“From the time I saw the body, I wanted to pass out. I knew [then] that it was not what I wanted to do,” she told the MIDWEEK NATION.
Panicked
Shanae was a bit panicked because when choosing their CXC subjects, she said students were led to believe that their careers hinged exclusively on those choices.
She was steeped in the sciences, and feared that in becoming a doctor she would not be able to cope with handling corpses and it would have a devastating impact on her career.
Perplexed, she shared her concerns with her parents who advised her to take some time off to put her thoughts in perspective.
During this time, she weighed the option of being a flight attendant, but that did not meet the approval of her dad, who suggested that she “reach for the stars”.
With that, the idea of being a pilot took flight, and from there her plans soared.
“I cannot say that it is something I have always been interested in, but the minute that I attended flight school here, it was just everything for me.”
She had a hectic schedule while training, but vividly recalled her thrilling maiden flight at the controls of the light aircraft with the instructor and two students in the back.
The 22-year-old harboured no fears as she lifted off and said the overall experience unfolded like “second nature”.
With her private pilot’s licence in hand, Shanae was effusive in her praise for flight instructor Mr Gardier, who told her it seemed to be her calling.
As she soars, her dad and granddad have gotten on board, proudly taking trips with her, but the pilot admits that she is yet to convince her mum to follow suit.
Their first trip was “tumultuous” because it was a cloudy day and the aircraft “trembled a bit”, but Shanae had things under control in the cockpit and it impressed her dad.
“They loved it. They absolutely loved it. My dad said I was very steadfast and stayed very calm and he felt really good in the hands of his daughter.”
She has now received her commercial pilot’s licence and is to undertake further tests in another two months which would enable her to fly multiengine planes. Due to the limitations of the flight school here, the pilot said she had to relocate to Florida to get the commercial licence.
It’s an expensive process going through training school and Shanae noted that for some, it’s their life’s savings, or the securing of a major loan, to facilitate the journey.
“There are people who relocate to Florida and don’t even pass the private, some drop out, [others] run out of money. The failure rate is extremely high. Not everybody is built for it, so I try to be very careful and I am thankful that I have been given the skills to do it.”
Dismissing the notion of planes flying themselves when placed on auto pilot while pilots rest, she said: “100 per cent no. It’s a common misconception and I feel people use it to kind of degrade pilots and the hard work they put in.”
She stressed that even with the auto pilot on, pilots cannot take their eyes off anything at any time and must keep their hands on the yoke because the auto pilot can be unpredictable.
Home for Crop Over
As she looks forward to the completion of her studies in July, an excited Shanae expects to be back home to take in the Sweetest Summer Festival and hopes to jump in a band.
“I intend to go to parties and cruises with my friends . . . I love Barbados.”
Expressing concern about a worrying trajectory of lawlessness in Barbados, Shanae, a strong believer in Christ, said her path is guided by God.
“It’s sad to see this because a lot of people tell me that I have inspired them and it makes me feel that I am genuinely making a meaningful contribution.”
She noted the impact gun violence is having on the youth and society and hoped that her mission and that of other positive youth, like her friend and pilot Kayla Weeks, also 22, would serve to counter the negativity and bring hope back to all young people. (John Boyce)
