Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
INTERVIEW 'Love for sky led me to become pilot'
Song Chan-mi, Jeju Air's first female pilot, poses inside the cockpit. Courtesy of Jeju Air
By Kim Hyun-bin
Jeju Air's first female pilot
By Kim Hyun-bin
Flying high over the horizon and watching over beautiful vast blue skies is nothing out of the ordinary for Song Chan-mi, the first female pilot for the nation's leading budget carrier Jeju Air.
Song's love for flying started at a young age with numerous signs early on that led to her profession.
“It is a combination of numerous things. My favorite color is blue so it became natural to love the sky and the ocean,” Song said. “My hometown is Jeju Island. I used to lie on the roof and watch planes pass by all the time, never witnessed anything more wonderful, which naturally made me want to become a pilot that freely flies through the skies.”
In December 2007, Song started her career as a co-pilot at Jeju Air, at a time when there were no female pilots in the country.
“I was the only female co-pilot at Jeju Air and there were no female pilots in the country. At the time, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines had one to four female co-pilots,” she said.
She was promoted to pilot in 2013.
Over the 11 years, Song has racked up close to 9,000 flight hours, but says she has never feared turbulence. However, she still finds late night flights difficult. But no matter what the flight conditions are, she said she does her utmost inside the cockpit as “a pilot's first duty is to maintain safety.”
Generally, the airline industry had avoided pairing up female co-pilots and female pilots together on one flight. However, since April 2018, Jeju Air has been matching them up. Now there are five female pilots and 10 co-pilots there.
“Jeju Air has no prejudice toward female pilots and provides a family- and female employee-friendly environment,” she said.
A lot has changed since she started her career with Jeju Air, but most notably, her seat in the cockpit.
“When I started work as a co-pilot, I sat on the right seat in the cockpit. Since 2013 when I became a pilot, I sit on the left.”