SUPER FIRE 7

March 4, 2024 - International Women’s Day – was a day worth celebrating.

For the first time in Philippine Airlines’ history, nine all-female crew teams – pilots and cabin crew – operated nine flights heading out of Manila for Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sydney, Jakarta, Hanoi, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Tagbilaran.

The PAL Group pilots were sent off in a special event held at the R1 hangar. Seen with them were Capt. Aimee Carandang, the first female commercial captain in Asia, and Capt. Lilybeth Tan-Ng, AVP—Pilot Affairs.

The women pilots heading these unprecedented nine flights were given an extraordinary mass send-off by the PAL Group family at the airline’s R1 Hangar in Pasay City, a stone’s throw away from the Manila airport terminals. Teams representing PAL’s Airbus, Boeing and De Havilland fleet crew divisions were present for the emotional send-off ceremony, chanting “We Fly With Her”.

TWO SISTERS AMONG THE ALL-FEMALE FLIGHTS

Among the pilots cheered on by the crowd that day were two sisters, First Officers Kelloggs Tioseco-Ilustre and Bianca Tioseco-Gochangco, PAL pilots who have proudly carried the flag to the far corners of the world.

Kelloggs co-piloted the all-female flight to San Francisco with Capt. Lavina Ramnani, First Officer Mitch Padayhag, Second Officer Sunliz Donato, while the cabin of the Boeing 777-300ER was headed by Purser Edrose Mae Tang. Kelloggs exulted, “It was such a special flight, and the passengers were excited to participate. Some passengers even visited the flight deck before disembarking to congratulate us and have their photos taken with us. A couple of grandparents wanted to take our photo to show their granddaughters. One passenger was an aspiring pilot herself and it was humbling to hear how amazed and proud she felt to have flown in our flight.”

On the Hanoi flight, First Officer Bianca shared the Airbus A321CEO light deck with Capt. Emmie Inciong and First Officer Pam See. The cabin was in the charge of Purser Jocelyn Gonzaga. Bianca cherished the feeling of fun and fellowship because all the crew members felt like a close-knit family. She said, “It was definitely an honor being part of the nine all-female flights. It makes me believe that new heights can be achieved, so long as we stand strong.”

INSPIRING, ENABLING

Their mom, Purser Cherie, was instrumental in her daughters’ desire to become pilots and was an inspiration to both daughters.

Both sisters come from a large flying family. Their mother Cherie was a PAL Purser for 40 years, while several uncles were pilots.

Bianca and Kelloggs drew inspiration from their mother, who motivated them to pursue their dreams. Traveling with Cherie on PAL flights in their youth gave them keen insight into a possible future in the aviation industry. Kelloggs shared, “I observed how she greeted the passengers, how she assisted them and made sure that they were safe and comfortable throughout the flights.”

She added, “Honestly, as a young girl, these were what made me decide that I, too, wanted to pursue a career in aviation.”

At the young age of 13, on a trip from Vancouver to Manila, Kelloggs was invited to visit the cockpit of a PAL Airbus A340. She was instantly enthralled by the sight of the complex digital displays, controls and switches – and promptly fell in love with the idea of flying an airplane. By the time she arrived at home, it was clear to her that she wanted to be a pilot. She kept a drawing of herself as a pilot in her high school yearbook.

FO Kelloggs at a young age decided to become a pilot.

Kelloggs said, “When I decided that I wanted to become a pilot, I wasn't sure how I would achieve this.”  Then one day, Cherie came home with some exciting news, saying, "Kelloggs, you can enter the PAL Aviation School! Ms. Lilybeth, the daughter of Dr. Lucio Tan, is there now with other girls."

Fresh from college, Kelloggs applied at the PAL Aviation School and joined AO Class 2009 Bravo – one of only two women in her class of 16 pilot trainees.

Kelloggs’ progress had an unexpected effect:  Bianca, too, saw her dream began to take shape. She saw how her sister excelled in flying. “I would hear stories that she (Kelloggs) flew to Baler and bought fish from the market or flew to Vigan and ate Bagnet! I think there was also a time she brought home Ilocos Empanada from Laoag. I did not know schooling could be so much fun! My sister reportedly reigned supreme in the simulators and was even called the ‘Frasca Queen’ because she excelled during those sessions.”

The pressure and expectation was beginning to get very real for Bianca.  Originally hoping to become a doctor, she decided to shift from her medical studies to join her sister in the aviation world instead. By this time, the number of aspiring women pilots was on the rise, and no less than five female pilot trainees joined the PAL AO Class 2013 Bravo.

Bianca relished the new challenge. “Once our training started, we were all shaken up with what we got ourselves into. It was not just studying aerodynamics or flying touch-and-gos. There were practices and traditions in place. These traditions taught us respect, camaraderie, and teamwork – values that we bring with us up to this day while flying in the airlines.”

While both sisters carry the same surname, they are each their own person. Kelloggs admitted: “Even though we grew up together and are in the same career, Bianca and I have different personalities. I find her more serious and organized. I, on the other hand, am more laid-back.  I think we complement each other very well.”

To which Bianca agreed, saying: “Between the two of us, I am the real “Ate”. I am the ‘bunso’ my siblings were afraid of despite the five- and seven-year differences. We are very much the same and very different as well. We both stand 5ft 5in, but I am coffee, and she is cream.”

As sisters, they enjoy traveling together and creating adventures, as influenced by their parents while growing up. In 2015, Bianca and Kelloggs checked off a major item on their bucket list when they went skydiving together in Honolulu.

Handling different aircraft types – Kelloggs piloting the Boeing 777 and Bianca piloting the Airbus A321/A320 – gave them different schedules and career lives. Nonetheless, they would find ways to bond and celebrate family milestones. Their shared love for flying bonded them even more.

Being “Flying Moms” and having a solid support system give the sisters a special kind of work-life balance. Their respective husbands are pilots whom they both met at the PAL Aviation School.

Women fliers in PAL continue to grow in number over the years. Currently, there are around 60 female pilots in the different fleet divisions, and it is noteworthy that women are represented in the flight decks of all the different aircraft types in the PAL and PAL Express fleet.

Capt. Lilybeth Tan-Ng, PAL’s AVP for Pilot Affairs, explained, “Each of us has a story, each one has a purpose. To be chosen as one of the few female pilots in PAL is definitely an honor, and one should take it seriously.  We set the standard now and collectively establish the culture that will be the norm for the next generation. May it be one that will show professionalism and support for one another, because for all the roles that we have to do as women, at some stages, it will be quite a challenging road.”

FOs Kelloggs and Bianca fly different aircraft types but still find time to share their experiences over the phone, at lunchtime, or on play dates with the kids.

Kelloggs advises anyone taking up a flying career: “Build good habits. Take small steps every day and enjoy the process. This builds our character and lays the foundation of the person that we hope to become.”

Invoking her daughter’s name, Bianca counsels: “This is for Emma, and for all the readers, girl or boy, young or old: We can.” She adds, “It was constantly remembering what you wanted and working your way towards it. Small steps or big steps, it does not really matter because it is not a race.”

There have been many family tandems in the flight deck – father-son, father-daughter, brothers, and brother-sister – but it is not common to have two sisters flying alongside each other.

Bianca and Kelloggs have the ultimate bucket list item – to fly TOGETHER and share the intimate, magical space inside the flight deck, where missions are fulfilled and dreams take flight.

Both sisters remain hopeful that their dream will come true one day. The wings on their uniforms are living proof of the power of hope and courage!