Kaitlin Clawson

I'm a commercial helicopter pilot based in Cocoa Beach, Florida, where I conduct helicopter tours. My journey into aviation began about 4 and a half years ago when I took my first demo flight in New York with Heather, who owns Independent Helicopters. Seeing a woman running her own flight school was incredibly inspiring and I fell in love with flying immediately. I completed one of my ratings up in New York with her company, then came down to Florida where I completed 3 more ratings over about a year and a half while working full-time. My private license took about 6 months, and then I went on to get my instrument, commercial, and CFI certifications so I could teach as well. I did some teaching initially, but then jumped right into doing tours, which I've been doing for about 2 years now. I started in Orlando and Daytona with another team before moving to my current position in Cocoa Beach. Before discovering aviation, I had completed high school, done some college, and worked in real estate for Berkshire Hathaway for a couple of years. I'm passionate about being a visible presence as a woman in the helicopter world, where we are even fewer in number than in aviation generally. I stay connected with my mentor Heather and regularly seek her advice on career decisions, resumes, and job opportunities. I'm an active member of Whirly Girls, the all-female pilot association, as well as Vertical Aviation and AOPA, which help me stay current with continued learning opportunities, safety notifications, and industry developments.