From First Flight to Future Pilot: Natalie Henson

Natalie Henson's journey into aviation started with a simple suggestion from her dad, who thought becoming a pilot would be a great fit for her. After taking an introductory flight, she quickly realized he was right. "I completely fell in love with flying," she said. Since then, her time at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute has shown her that aviation requires much more than a passion for flying. It takes discipline, responsibility, and dedication, and each step of her training has helped her grow both professionally and personally. She credits the supportive aviation community at UNO for helping her learn and overcome challenges along the way.

Outside of flight training, Natalie stays involved on campus as a member of Women in Aviation International (WAI) and the UNO women's golf team. Some of her favorite memories have come from WAI meetings, where she has met amazing people who helped make her first year at UNO such a positive experience.

Looking ahead, Natalie hopes to become an airline pilot. After graduation, she plans to build flight hours by working as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) before continuing toward a professional flying career.

Natalie's advice for students just beginning their aviation journey is simple: get to know your classmates and instructors. "People are there to help and guide you when things get hard," she says. Building those relationships can make all the difference throughout flight training.

When she's not flying or studying, Natalie enjoys pottery, especially working on the pottery wheel. It's a creative outlet that gives her a chance to relax while balancing the demands of aviation training.