Girl Commercial Pilot

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31111, 14 July 1966, Page 1

Girl Commercial Pilot

A 19 - year - old Christchurch girl, Miss Margaret Ellis, yesterday was notified that she had gained her commercial pilot’s licence. Miss Ellis intends to be a topdressing pilot. She had a flight test with a North Island company, with which she will soon start work. Two years and a half ago Miss Ellis began flying training with the Canterbury Aero Club, and gained her private pilot’s licence. To obtain her commercial licence she changed for instruction to the Christchurch Central Flying School. To obtain a commercial licence a pilot must complete a minimum of 200 flying hours. Miss Ellis did her theoretical examinations at Commercial Aviation School in Wanganui.

Miss Ellis said yesterday she had always been “dead keen to fly. My rooms are plastered with photographs of all types of aircraft,” she said. Topdressing appealed to her. It was essential to primary production and so would enable her, she said, to do her bit for her adopted country (she came from England 13 years ago). “Also I

just love low flying, and this is one way of doing it legally,” she said. Miss Ellis is believed to be the first girl in Christchurch to obtain a commercial pilot's licence. She is a member of the New Zealand Airwomen’s Association, and this year holds the association’s aerobatic trophy. As for hobbles, Miss Ellis says she has no time for one. “Flying occupies all my time, although lately I’ve taken up judo,” she said.