Limerick woman Captain Katie Hogan from Adare took to the skies at this year’s Bray Air Display, as Ireland’s biggest aviation event returned for its 19th consecutive year.

A pilot for Emerald Airlines – the exclusive provider for Aer Lingus Regional services – the Adare woman said she was “lucky enough to be asked” to captain an aircraft in this year’s display.

Flying an ATR72-600, Captain Hogan said the preparation for the flight required “many different specialised briefings,” since unique regulations were put in place for flying so low over a large crowd.

“The deputy head of training did a special briefing, and we also completed a 5-hour training session in the flight simulator. We had to pay specific attention to routine flight aspects like taking off and landing, as the schedule we were following needed perfect precision from all pilots to keep the show on track.”

With a crowd of over 40,000 onlookers gathered on the Bray seafront to watch the air display, the pilot said the sight was one unlike any other.

“You don’t usually get to see any people from the cockpit. Seeing the crowds so clearly was just amazing. We were low enough to see buoys in the water marking out the flight path, which was being kept unobstructed by the Irish Defence Forces Naval Services ship, the LÉ James Joyce,” Captain Hogan explained.

A training captain with Emerald Airlines since 2021, the Limerick woman made three appearances in the Aer Lingus Regional Aircraft, reaching speeds of over 240mph.

Flying only 500ft above the crowds, her very first opportunity to see the Bray Air Display was from a viewpoint that few get to experience. “I’d never had the chance to attend before, so to be seeing the airshow for the first time from the windows of the cockpit was just amazing – I am so grateful to have been a part of it.”

Despite being unable to make her way down to the crowd at any point, Captain Hogan wasn’t left without an onlooker experience – she got a close-up view of Team Raven’s performance; one of the world’s largest civilian aerobatic display teams.

“I had never seen Team Raven before so it was unbelievable to watch. With scheduling, the only aircraft I would get the opportunity to watch fly would be the ones in the slot ahead of me – and luckily for me, that just happened to be Team Raven.”

Now living in Kinsale, County Cork, the training captain said that while she “loves everything about her job”, there are a couple of stand-out aspects that have remained firm favourites over the years.

“I love that we get to see the sun all year round,” she smiled. “Even during gloomy winters, my work mornings always have a view of sunshine above the clouds. My favourite place to fly is Donegal. Alongside the gorgeous scenery, the sunrises up there are just the best.”

Captain Hogan said she also enjoys flying alongside new captains on their first commercial flight, and experiencing their passions come to life.

“I remember my first commercial flight. I flew out of Galway Airport. What I didn’t know is that both of my parents had travelled up from Limerick to see the flight for themselves. The memory of coming back into the airport after landing, only to find the surprise of my mom and dad waiting for me, is one that I treasure.”

While flying is a passion for the Kinsale resident, her aspiration to become a pilot didn’t begin with a childhood dream, but instead with a desk job in Sardinia, Italy.

“My sister Marion was living abroad at the time, so I decided to join her in Sardinia, where I became an au pair. The man I worked for started up a flight school, and a job opportunity to work for the company opened up, so I decided to apply.”

The flight school position required a worker who could also speak English. With the Italian language becoming second nature to her – she became self-taught in Italian – the then au pair found herself working an admin job in the flight school – a job that, little did she know, would propel her into her long-term career as a pilot.

“One day, I was sitting inside in the office, and a couple of the pilots asked me if I wanted to join them on a flight. Before the plane had even left the ground, there was something in me that just made me realise, ‘this is what I want to do’.”

Driven by this newfound longing, the young Katie stepped away from her desk and went on to complete her full flying training and licensing.

Taking all of her exams in Italian before officially becoming a pilot and kickstarting her career, she went on to return to Ireland, where she has been working since. The adventure doesn’t stop for the Dublin work-based training captain, as she makes sure to stay busy both on and off the clock.

On her days off, the pilot switches her epaulettes for a running vest, with sport being her next passion after flying. A member of the Kinsale Tri Club, running, swimming and cycling are pillars in her everyday life.

Even when outside of the cockpit, she can often be seen flying down the road in her runners in all seasons, partaking in multiple races throughout the year.

She often combines the three sports, competing in triathlons across the country, and even completing The Lost Sheep – a half Iron-Man length triathlon that has gained a reputation, both nationally and internationally, as the toughest half-iron distance race on the Irish triathlon circuit.

Having enjoyed many memorable experiences throughout her flying career, this pilot says the honour of flying in the Bray Air Display is one she will not soon forget.

From the Limerick Leader.

Picture: Training captain with Emerald Airlines, Katie Hogan from Adare, Co.Limerick, stood alongside an ATR72-600 – which operates as an aircraft for Aer Lingus Regional services – that she flew in this year’s annual Bray Air Display | 3rd Party Image