Inspiring Women in Aviation: Meet Sarah Tanis

Did you know? Female pilots continue to hold only 10% of industry representation, an extremely low number even for traditionally male-dominated STEM fields. To combat this, Women in Aviation celebrates Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) on September 23rd, an effort to inspire young girls and females around the world to realize their potential in the aviation and aerospace industry.

Sarah Tanis is a Pilot Instructor at Universal Avionics and an inspiring example of a female pilot who has achieved success in her aviation career. Today, she continues to break down barriers and serves as a role model for young girls interested in pursuing their dreams in the industry. In this blog post, Sarah shares her story.

What attracted you to aviation as a career?

As a young kid, I have always loved to travel. My father was an airline pilot who was a great mentor and role model in the aviation field. By getting to travel the world with him at an early age, I got the “flying bug.” There is no other thrill like adding power on the runway to takeoff or flying in the sky with the ability to see the world differently and freely.

Sarah picks up the “flying bug”, wearing her dad’s pilot uniform and learning what it’s like to live a day in his shoes.

What do you do in your current job role at Universal Avionics?

I am a flight test pilot and instructor at Universal Avionics. I am beyond fortunate that I get to test fly in our Gulfstream III with Paul Damschen, the chief flight test pilot. Paul has been an incredible mentor to me in the flight-testing world. I also teach classes for our products such as FMS, InSight, and soon-to-be ClearVision training. Universal Avionics has given me a dream career here where I can incorporate my love of flying with my passion for teaching as well.

Sarah Tanis is a flight test pilot and instructor for Universal Avionics, flying the company’s Gulfstream III

What excites you the most about our technology, or working with our company?

Working for Universal is a very exciting opportunity. I get to work with complex systems on a daily basis which is setting a true example for the future of avionics in aviation. Universal recognizes the importance of providing state-of-the-art training and I am so proud to be a part of that. Not only do I get to learn more about our sophisticated products and challenge myself, but I feel as if I am also giving back to the aviation field as I teach our community.

Sarah and her family share a passion for aviation.

What are your life ambitions beyond career (family? travel?)

My life ambitions are to set a good example for my kids. I want my kids to learn to never give up and chase their dreams, no matter what obstacles are in the way. At the end of the day, if you're doing what you love, you will never be working, just enjoying life. I also would love the opportunity to immerse my family in the aviation field to travel together and create life lasting memories.

In her free time, Sarah instructs student pilots and even teaches her husband how to fly!

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

In my free time, I work for a non-profit flying club called Alpha Air. I instruct student pilots all the way to achieving their Certified Flight Instructor Certification (CFI). I also love to spend time with my family by going to the zoo, making forts at the house, or playing with our Star Wars Lightsabers. It's important that we stay young at heart and enjoy every second we have together.

Sarah’s daughter wears her hat and a bomber jacket – like mother like daughter!

What’s your favorite aircraft (in general or to fly)?

I have flown Cessnas, Pipers, King Airs, Premiers, Gulfstreams, and Citations. Out of all the aircraft I've flown, my heart has a special place for the Piper Cherokee (PA28-140). The Piper Cherokee is my favorite just because of the time I had with it. It was the first airplane that I owned and did most of my training in. It was also the aircraft that I started flight school in. Her N-number was N6742W, I named her Percy and named the school “N6742W.” I have a lot of memories of that plane but always create more in my career!  

This Piper Cherokee “Percy” has a special place in Sarah’s heart! (Photo by Wil Goening.)

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in a male-dominated industry?

I've had a few challenges. When I first started my training, I was pregnant with my second child. I went to three different flight schools that were all male-dominated and none of them took me seriously as a student who was pregnant. I was looked at as if I wasn’t going to finish and that I would be a waste of time. Finally, I met an instructor in Tucson named Michael Garcia. He took me under his wing and helped me get all the ratings I have today. I am forever grateful to him.

Sarah Tanis received her Multiengine Rating with the help of Michael Garcia, her pilot instructor.

Once I started to fly in the corporate field, I was getting questions like: “How do you like being a flight attendant?” or “Does your dad own the plane?” I had to kindly correct them and stand up by saying that I was actually the First Officer of the aircraft being flown. At first, I was a little upset that I even had to say anything, but the more I began conversing with others and challenged that mindset, I was very surprised by the outcome. I found that aviation is a very supportive industry, and it was up to me to allow myself to realize that although it may be primarily male, there IS a place for women in it and we all get along. The passion for aviation outweighs the gender difference. We are all here for one reason: to fly. My advice is to not view it as a “male-dominated” industry, but simply as an industry with a strong passion that we all share.

Who is your inspiring female mentor or aviator?

In aviation, I honestly never had a female mentor or aviator. My biggest inspirators in aviation would have to be my father, Alex, and my flight instructor, Michael Garcia. Although they are not women, they were the most supportive of me getting into aviation. I grew up with my dad saying, “Anything a guy can do, you can do better.” He was a huge supporter of women flying.

However, I do have great respect for Ann Baumgartner. She went to join the Women Airforce Service Pilots where she became a test pilot. She was the first American woman to pilot a US Army Air Forces jet. I think all her hard work and dedication is a great example that proves that there is no need for gender obstacles.

Sarah Tanis is an inspiration to young girls in aviation and everyone with a passion for flying.

What advice would you give to young women interested in pursuing a career in the aviation industry?

My advice to give young women is: Don’t let anyone tell you that you can't. Because you can. Follow your dream and you’ll never have to work a day in your life. Learning to fly will come with some obstacles but it is all part of the journey. Learn to love the journey as it is because as you progress further, you're one step closer to achieving your dream.

Sarah Tanis (Left), Zach Baker (Middle) Flight test engineer, and Paul Damschen (Right) chief flight test pilot. Flying Universal Avionics' Gulfstream III on their way to KONT for TIA with the FAA.

Celebrate Girls in Aviation Day – September 23^rd

Universal Avionics is a proud member of the Women in Aviation (WAI) organization. To learn more about Girls in Aviation Day and how you can get involved in the 9^th Annual WAI event on September 23^rd, visit https://www.wai.org/giad.