A Bush Pilot’s Story

Renee Brewer is a remarkable woman. She became a pilot almost by accident, and now flies for Mission Aviation Fellowship. She has spent time flying in Uganda and now lives in Papua New Guinea flying NGO staff to remote and isolated villages doing medivacs and other essential services. Her days are spent navigating tricky terrain and making a difference for difficult to reach populations.

We salute you, Renee! Over to you….

Renee with the C208B on a sloping airstrip in the middle of a tea plantation in Uganda

I often get asked, “Why did you become a pilot?”

I always find it a bit difficult to answer, as I stumbled into aviation, and I am not really that interested in aircraft...

 At 15 years old, my father bought me a trial flight in a Cessna 152 at the New Plymouth Aero Club. Being in the air and seeing the world from above excited me, so I began taking flying lessons. My mother was pretty horrified by the $250 an hour it cost (in 2011), so it was up to me to fund it- and at this time, it was just a hobby.

 As a child, I remember feeling upset when I heard about the famines in Africa and the millions of displaced refugees. I felt a passion to choose a career where I could help people in disadvantaged situations like these, and I didn’t feel being an airline pilot would let me live out my passion.

 When I was 16, I heard about an organisation called Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). A Christian charity that uses aircraft to serve and bring hope to remote communities around the world. Hearing about MAF really got my attention, and since then has been a dream close to my heart.

 However, to work for MAF you must have a Commercial Pilots License (CPL) and a fair bit of flying experience. So, I applied to train as a pilot in the Airforce and after two unsuccessful attempts, I was accepted. Unfortunately, after fracturing my skull whilst travelling overseas, I was stood down and told to come back and reapply in 3 years.

Instructing at Massey University

Instead, I completed my CPL and Flight Instructor Rating and worked as a Flight Instructor for 4.5 years at three different flight schools. Now I live in Papua New Guinea and am training to fly with MAF here. I will eventually be transporting locals, supplies, NGOs and complete medevacs in and out of isolated and difficult-to-reach areas.

One of the projects I will be involved in is one called “Senisim Pasin” which means to “change your ways” in Tok Pisin (a local trade language). The project aims to change attitudes towards violence against women and girls in a country where more than two-thirds of women are affected by domestic violence. For this project, MAF is working with other NGOs to fly into isolated and remote communities and educate and encourage them to change their ways.

Flying past Mount Taranaki whilst completing my Commercial Pilots License

After spending 12 years in the aviation industry, it has always bothered me how out of reach aviation is. The shortfall between what it costs and the amount the government will lend is crazy and makes becoming a pilot impossible for some people. I would love New Zealand to be a place where anyone can reach their dream of becoming a pilot, so I was excited to hear about the Pauwels Flying Scholarship and the difference that it is making to the very worthy recipients.

My parents always encouraged me to pursue any dream I had, and my entry into the aviation world was accidental in a way. One day I looked around and realised, wow there are a lot of men here! I have had many fantastic male instructors and made amazing male friends along the way. There have been a few not-so-great, but mostly good. I have however at times found aviation to be a lonely place as a woman and find myself naturally gravitating towards the few females that are around. I wish I had gone to more New Zealand Association of Women in Aviation (NZAWA) events when I was beginning my career!

To those considering or embarking on an aviation career, my advice would be; to work hard and get into some good study rhythms. The tests/exams don’t finish once you get your CPL.

Lastly, I love how through aviation we can see the world, connect with loved ones, and provide relief and aid to those in need. I am blessed to have such a cool job!

In the middle of a tea plantation in Western Uganda