CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS - VOL. 3
Maitely Santiago
CURRENT POSITION
Aviation Safety Inspector / TCPM
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Hawker; Boeing 737
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than the one with all the facts.”
– Albert Einstein
FUN FACT
I have visited five of the New Seven Wonders of the World and six of the seven continents.
Raiberys Lima
CURRENT POSITION
Senior Analyst Safety Programs
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
B747
FAVORITE QUOTE
“All of our fears are irrelevant if we look at the things that can provoke happiness.” -Unknown
FUN FACT
I have four B747 tattoos.
Tatiana Sabanero
CURRENT POSITION
F/A-18 Flight Test Engineering Intern
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
F/A-18 and B-17
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Be confident, for all things work together for good for those who love God and are called to Bible.” Romans 8:28
FUN FACT
I am a passionate volunteer and I have nearly 150 hours of volunteer work as a STEM and bible assistant teacher toward my goal of 500.
Almudena Rodriguez
CURRENT POSITION
Aviation Student
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Lockheed SR-7
FAVORITE QUOTE
“I’ll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear. I mean really, no fear!” -Nina Simone
FUN FACT
I’m a great writer and read the classics in my free time. When I was little, I wrote great poems!
Kristel Acevedo
CURRENT TITLE
Captain of an A320
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Twin Otter
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Take the leap and fly, you never know where it may take you.”
– Unknown
FUN FACT
I am afraid of fire.
Melany Bastos Salas
CURRENT POSITION
First Officer
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
A320
FAVORITE QUOTE
“No borders, just horizons—only freedom.” – Amelia Earhart
FUN FACT
I love mountain bikes!
Gabriela Valderramos
CURRENT POSITION
Captain of a Caravan 208
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Caravan 208 or Airbus 320
FAVORITE QUOTE
“If you can dream it, you can do it.”
-Walt Disney
FUN FACT
I’m a pilot and I’m afraid of heights…
Andrea Diaz Bohorquez
CURRENT POSITION
Lieutenant Colonel, Colombian Air Force
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
C-130
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Fight to the last gasp.” -William Shakespeare, Henry VI
FUN FACT
I love tennis!
Maria Cristina Maldonado
CURRENT POSITION
Airbus 320 Captain
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning
FAVORITE QUOTE
“She didn’t know it couldn’t be done, so she went ahead and did it.”
– Mary S Almanac.
FUN FACT
The first time my child saw me put the plane on autopilot, he exclaimed, “Mom, what on earth are you doing? Grab it! Grab it!”
Angela Sofia Beltran Cruz
CURRENT POSITION
Commercial Pilot and prospective Certified Flight Instructor
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Cessna 172
FAVORITE QUOTE
“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” –Henry Ford
FUN FACT
I am the first pilot in my family, and I never thought a woman could be in the cockpit!
Maria Guadalupe Valadez
CURRENT POSITION
Environmental Protection Specialist – FV-0028
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
SR-71 Blackbird
FAVORITE QUOTE
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
-Philippians 4:13
FUN FACT
I journeyed from tomboy to civil engineer.
Dr. Amanda Luz Rosado
CURRENT POSITION
Student Pilot
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Cessna 172
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Si se puede.” – Dolores Huerta
FUN FACT
I enjoy writing children’s stories.
Paula Upegui
CURRENT POSITION
Offshore Pilot in the Gulf of Mexico
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
UH-60
FAVORITE QUOTE
“What you do has far greater impact than what you say.”
— Stephen Covey
FUN FACT
I speak three languages and I’m kind of a nerd. I love to study.
Beth Ramirez
CURRENT POSITION
First officer for ATIJET
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
The C-130, because that was the military aircraft that my dad flew
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”
–Henry Ford
FUN FACT
I am a local artist in El Paso, Texas.
Helen Marie Dávila Caro
CURRENT POSITION
Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” -Alexander Pope
FUN FACT
They call me Tata.
Kelly Polanco
CURRENT POSITION
Multi-Engine Instructor / Stage Check Pilot
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Beechcraft Bonanza
FAVORITE QUOTE
“I refused to take no for an answer.” – Bessie Coleman.
FUN FACT
I want to give back to communities like the one I grew up in by teaching children and teens about aviation.
Ana Herrera
CURRENT POSITION
Pilot and Medical Assistant
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Cessna 150
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Fly as high as your dreams permit you.” –Amelia Earhart
FUN FACT
My family has no idea I fly aircraft!
Stephanie Valencia
CURRENT POSITION
Private Pilot SEL/MEL & Student Pilot
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
BE-76
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Go big or go home!” –Anonymous
FUN FACT
I’m a Halloween baby and was destined to fly either a broom or an airplane!
Juliana Correa
CURRENT POSITION
First Officer at Envoy Airlines
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
PT-13 Stearman
FAVORITE QUOTE
“There is no such thing as lucky, only hard work.”- My Dad
FUN FACT
I like to draw and paint.
Daisy Gomez
CURRENT POSITION
First Officer
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Boeing 787
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Though we tremble before uncertain futures, may we meet illness, death and adversity with strength may we dance in the face of our fears.” –Gloria Anzaldúa
FUN FACT
I try to visit three new countries each year, always making sure to stop by the local grocery store to try the local snacks.
Claudia Büchsenschütz
CURRENT POSITION
Traffic Management Coordinator at Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Super Guppy and UFOs
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” -Benjamin Franklin
FUN FACT
I hold dual citizenship (USA and Germany) and spell my last name differently than the rest of my family by using the German to English translation and the umlaut (two dots placed over the “U”) which gives my last name only 13 letters while the rest of my family uses 15.
Marluan Diaz
CURRENT POSITION
Operations Supervisor at the San Juan ATC Tower
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
F-22 Raptor
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks. That means do not do it just for yourself. You will want to leave the world a little better for you having lived.” -Ruth Bader Ginsberg
FUN FACT
I am obsessed with medicine shows like Grey’s Anatomy.
Aileen Natalie Steiert
CURRENT POSITION
Certified Flight Instructor
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
B-747
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”
–Psalm 126:5
FUN FACT
My first flight was at the age of 21 in a retired ATR 42-320 at an airline that closed.
Frida Azpetita
CURRENT POSITION
Airline Captain at Aeromexico
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
B737-9 MAX
FAVORITE QUOTE
“What do dreams know of boundaries?” – Amelia Earhart
FUN FACT
I play the piano and read about psychology, self-development, Kabbalah and the latest advances in medicine.
Andrea Paola Pimiento Núñez
CURRENT POSITION
Captain of the Colombian AirForce
Combat Air Command No. 3
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
B-212 RAPZ
FAVORITE QUOTE
“At certain moments in our existence, we lose control
Of our lives, and they begin to be governed by destiny.”
-The Alchemist, Paulo Coeho
FUN FACT
I played basketball for the Tolima team from 2005-2008.
Maria Camilla Villegas
CURRENT POSITION
Deputy Director of Space Modernization
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT
Bell 206 Ranger
FAVORITE QUOTE
“Surround yourself with people who believe in your dreams, encourage your ideas, support your ambitions, and bring out the best in you.” – Roy T. Bennett
FUN FACT
I love tennis and biking.
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