When Gustavia left Texas A&M with a degree in bioenvironmental sciences and found a job in civil engineering, she felt like she was lacking something. Or rather something was tying her down.<\/p>\n
Freedom of the skies<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.envoyair.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/IMG_FLT_DFW_Gustavia_Cartwright_blog_feb-13-4.jpg\" "\\"First")
<\/a>First Officer Gustavia Cartwright on the flight deck of an Embraer 175.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWith the understanding and blessing of her family, Gustavia sought a career in aviation as a flight attendant for American Airlines.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have too much energy to sit at a desk all day,\u201d she said. \u201cBecoming a flight attendant seemed like the best job I could pick.\u201d<\/p>\n
Until the day she sat in the jump seat of a Boeing 777 during a ferry flight from Santiago, Chile. The view of the mountains, the thrust of the engine, the feeling of freedom \u2013 all hit Gustavia like a ton of bricks. The pilots flying the jet got wind of Gustavia\u2019s background in civil engineering and encouraged her to become a pilot.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought to myself, \u2018why not?\u2019\u201d Gustavia said. \u201cThat moment was so special and amazing, I needed to become a pilot!\u201d<\/p>\n
So, she did.<\/p>\n
“The best choice for me”<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.envoyair.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/IMG_Pilots_DFW-Hangar_E175_oct-19-33.jpg\" "\\"First")
<\/a>First Officer Gustavia Cartwright standing in front of the engine of an Embraer 175.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThrough Envoy\u2019s Cadet Program<\/a>, Gustavia found flight training and a job as a Certified Flight Instructor at American Flyers in Addison, Texas. Eventually, she transferred to Coast Flight Training in San Marcos, Texas where she was promoted to Assistant Chief and finished her hours to become a First Officer.<\/p>\n\u201cEnvoy is the original American Eagle and a wholly-owned regional of American, so it was the best choice for me to get to mainline,\u201d said Gustavia.<\/p>\n
In February, at the Women in Aviation International Conference<\/a>, Gustavia was given a Conditional Job Offer to fly for American. Her goal once she reaches mainline is to become a Captain on a Boeing 787 flying international routes.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.envoyair.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/IMG_FLT_DFW_Gustavia_Cartwright_blog_feb-13-3.jpg\" "\\"First")
<\/a>First Officer Gustavia Cartwright on the flight deck of an Embraer 175.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIn the meantime, Gustavia is determined to increase the number of women on the flight deck through her involvement with the Girl Scouts and the C.R. Smith Museum. Once a month, Gustavia said she loves to have her Bill Nye \u201cThe Science Guy\u201d moment and teach meteorology to young girls at the museum.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like kids need to see people who like them in the roles they want to live,\u201d said Gustavia. \u201cSome of them are shocked to see that, yes, there are women pilots, and they want to take pictures with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also makes it a point to inspire them and share advice she wished she had received when she was their age. First, Gustavia suggests having a vision board to remind them of their goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the first thing you see when you wake up, and if you haven\u2019t crossed something off of it, you know it\u2019s time to get up and grind,\u201d she said. \u201cI also remind them to be focused and determined. Don\u2019t let anything hold you back. You will get there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Return to dream<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.envoyair.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/IMG_FLT_DFW_Gustavia_Cartwright_blog_feb-13-1.jpg\" "\\"First")
<\/a>First Officer Gustavia Cartwright in the terminal of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGustavia also reminds herself to keep her original dream alive of establishing her own clothing line and owning a storefront selling women\u2019s clothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will revive my clothing line one day,\u201d she said. \u201cI have to remember that first and foremost, I\u2019m an artist. I want to bring that back.\u201d<\/p>\n
As she said of herself, Gustavia \u201ccan\u2019t just sit still,\u201d so she\u2019s already in the process of completing a line of outfits she\u2019s creating at a studio in Los Angeles. One of her outfits, she hopes to make out seatbelts from a Boeing 777 \u2013 showcasing her artistry and her newfound passion for aviation.<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t see Gustavia in the skies, you might catch her at Austin Fashion Week in November. A long way from drawing on her mother\u2019s walls.<\/p>\n
\nInterested in becoming a pilot? Click here<\/a> to learn more about the Envoy Cadet Program.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/a>With the understanding and blessing of her family, Gustavia sought a career in aviation as a flight attendant for American Airlines.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have too much energy to sit at a desk all day,\u201d she said. \u201cBecoming a flight attendant seemed like the best job I could pick.\u201d<\/p>\n
Until the day she sat in the jump seat of a Boeing 777 during a ferry flight from Santiago, Chile. The view of the mountains, the thrust of the engine, the feeling of freedom \u2013 all hit Gustavia like a ton of bricks. The pilots flying the jet got wind of Gustavia\u2019s background in civil engineering and encouraged her to become a pilot.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought to myself, \u2018why not?\u2019\u201d Gustavia said. \u201cThat moment was so special and amazing, I needed to become a pilot!\u201d<\/p>\n
So, she did.<\/p>\n
“The best choice for me”<\/h3>\n<\/a>First Officer Gustavia Cartwright standing in front of the engine of an Embraer 175.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThrough Envoy\u2019s Cadet Program<\/a>, Gustavia found flight training and a job as a Certified Flight Instructor at American Flyers in Addison, Texas. Eventually, she transferred to Coast Flight Training in San Marcos, Texas where she was promoted to Assistant Chief and finished her hours to become a First Officer.<\/p>\n\u201cEnvoy is the original American Eagle and a wholly-owned regional of American, so it was the best choice for me to get to mainline,\u201d said Gustavia.<\/p>\n
In February, at the Women in Aviation International Conference<\/a>, Gustavia was given a Conditional Job Offer to fly for American. Her goal once she reaches mainline is to become a Captain on a Boeing 787 flying international routes.<\/p>\n<\/a>First Officer Gustavia Cartwright on the flight deck of an Embraer 175.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIn the meantime, Gustavia is determined to increase the number of women on the flight deck through her involvement with the Girl Scouts and the C.R. Smith Museum. Once a month, Gustavia said she loves to have her Bill Nye \u201cThe Science Guy\u201d moment and teach meteorology to young girls at the museum.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like kids need to see people who like them in the roles they want to live,\u201d said Gustavia. \u201cSome of them are shocked to see that, yes, there are women pilots, and they want to take pictures with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also makes it a point to inspire them and share advice she wished she had received when she was their age. First, Gustavia suggests having a vision board to remind them of their goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the first thing you see when you wake up, and if you haven\u2019t crossed something off of it, you know it\u2019s time to get up and grind,\u201d she said. \u201cI also remind them to be focused and determined. Don\u2019t let anything hold you back. You will get there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Return to dream<\/h3>\n<\/a>First Officer Gustavia Cartwright in the terminal of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGustavia also reminds herself to keep her original dream alive of establishing her own clothing line and owning a storefront selling women\u2019s clothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will revive my clothing line one day,\u201d she said. \u201cI have to remember that first and foremost, I\u2019m an artist. I want to bring that back.\u201d<\/p>\n
As she said of herself, Gustavia \u201ccan\u2019t just sit still,\u201d so she\u2019s already in the process of completing a line of outfits she\u2019s creating at a studio in Los Angeles. One of her outfits, she hopes to make out seatbelts from a Boeing 777 \u2013 showcasing her artistry and her newfound passion for aviation.<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t see Gustavia in the skies, you might catch her at Austin Fashion Week in November. A long way from drawing on her mother\u2019s walls.<\/p>\n
\nInterested in becoming a pilot? Click here<\/a> to learn more about the Envoy Cadet Program.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/a>Through Envoy\u2019s Cadet Program<\/a>, Gustavia found flight training and a job as a Certified Flight Instructor at American Flyers in Addison, Texas. Eventually, she transferred to Coast Flight Training in San Marcos, Texas where she was promoted to Assistant Chief and finished her hours to become a First Officer.<\/p>\n \u201cEnvoy is the original American Eagle and a wholly-owned regional of American, so it was the best choice for me to get to mainline,\u201d said Gustavia.<\/p>\n In February, at the Women in Aviation International Conference<\/a>, Gustavia was given a Conditional Job Offer to fly for American. Her goal once she reaches mainline is to become a Captain on a Boeing 787 flying international routes.<\/p>\n In the meantime, Gustavia is determined to increase the number of women on the flight deck through her involvement with the Girl Scouts and the C.R. Smith Museum. Once a month, Gustavia said she loves to have her Bill Nye \u201cThe Science Guy\u201d moment and teach meteorology to young girls at the museum.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like kids need to see people who like them in the roles they want to live,\u201d said Gustavia. \u201cSome of them are shocked to see that, yes, there are women pilots, and they want to take pictures with me.\u201d<\/p>\n She also makes it a point to inspire them and share advice she wished she had received when she was their age. First, Gustavia suggests having a vision board to remind them of their goals.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the first thing you see when you wake up, and if you haven\u2019t crossed something off of it, you know it\u2019s time to get up and grind,\u201d she said. \u201cI also remind them to be focused and determined. Don\u2019t let anything hold you back. You will get there.\u201d<\/p>\n Gustavia also reminds herself to keep her original dream alive of establishing her own clothing line and owning a storefront selling women\u2019s clothing.<\/p>\n \u201cI will revive my clothing line one day,\u201d she said. \u201cI have to remember that first and foremost, I\u2019m an artist. I want to bring that back.\u201d<\/p>\n As she said of herself, Gustavia \u201ccan\u2019t just sit still,\u201d so she\u2019s already in the process of completing a line of outfits she\u2019s creating at a studio in Los Angeles. One of her outfits, she hopes to make out seatbelts from a Boeing 777 \u2013 showcasing her artistry and her newfound passion for aviation.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t see Gustavia in the skies, you might catch her at Austin Fashion Week in November. A long way from drawing on her mother\u2019s walls.<\/p>\n Interested in becoming a pilot? Click here<\/a> to learn more about the Envoy Cadet Program.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a>Return to dream<\/h3>\n
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