Flying Life: Happy birthday, Olivia
One young woman’s multiple-checkride challenge
Natalie Bingham Hoover recently congratulated Olivia Cardwell (above) on passing her commercial ASEL, commercial AMEL, CFI, CFII, and MEI on her first attempt, from June 16 through 19, with multiple designated pilot examiners.It turns out that spirit of loving a challenge is alive and well today, even in the hearts of the youngest among us. Last spring I was approached by an airport acquaintance, Mark Cardwell, who wanted to make an appointment for his daughter, Olivia. He explained that Olivia would be turning 17 years old on June 16 and would like to schedule her private pilot checkride with me as the examiner for that day. (Seventeen is the minimum age the FAA will allow someone to hold a private pilot certificate.)
“Sure,” I told him, excited. “That sounds like something I would love to be a part of.” He went on to explain that not only did she want to take the private ride, she also wanted to take her instrument and multiengine practical tests as well. At this point, I started to have some concerns. First of all, why would anyone want to put herself through that? The amount of stress and fatigue associated with taking three checkrides in one day would increase the chances of a negative outcome. Second, the FAA does not allow a designated examiner to give more than two checkrides in a day. Also, checkrides aren’t quick. Was there even enough daylight to accomplish all the tasks? Mark, a professional pilot himself, assured me he had voiced these concerns to Olivia, but she would not be dissuaded.
“Aviation is her passion,” Mark told me. “She soloed on her sixteenth birthday and now she wants to do this on her seventeenth. As her parents, we’re happy to support and encourage her, but no one is making her do this.” After looking at the regulations and speaking with another examiner, we developed a plan. I would do Olivia’s combined private and instrument checkride, which would allow us to save time by eliminating some of the required repeat tasks. Then another examiner would do her multiengine add-on, provided she passed the private/instrument. Luckily, weather cooperated on June 16, and Olivia passed her combo checkride with me before taking a late lunch break and starting on the multiengine. Later that night I received a text from her that made me smile. “I just got back, and I passed!!”
I was not too surprised, then, when Mark called recently and said that for Olivia’s eighteenth birthday, she’d like to do her commercial ASEL followed by the commercial AMEL add-on. He said that she would also like to schedule the CFI, CFII, and MEI in the following days. I didn’t even try to deter them this time. I just put it on my calendar. Pass or fail, her determination is admirable. She is really an amazing young woman. I called her last night just to check in and get our ducks in a row. Curious, I asked, “Olivia, why are you doing this?”
For 17, she is surprisingly eloquent. “First and foremost, I’m doing this for myself, to test the limits and see how much I’m capable of. But I think maybe, I also do it for other people, so they will know, if I can do something crazy like this, maybe they can do something big, too.”
That’s the thing about people who chase their dreams—they inspire other people to challenge themselves as well. As someone who has been inspired by those who’ve come before me, I am grateful for all those who considered the reward to far outweigh the risk. Aviation has long been a home for people who attempt, and sometimes succeed, in conquering seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The Wright brothers, Lindbergh, Yeager. Olivia, you are in good company. Happy birthday.
