Captain Talitha
My name is Talitha. I am 11 years old and I’d really like to be a pilot myself one day.
I am really interested in aviation but I’m not the best at mathematics. My dad says that I shouldn’t let that stop me. He says that people think they have to be a genius with numbers to pilot a plane when all you really need is a reasonable grasp of the subject.
What’s it like having a pilot parent?
Well, it affected the very start of my life. When I was born my dad was at work, down-route in Bratislava! My mum couldn’t reach anyone by phone to take her to hospital. She got in touch with dad, but he was drinking hot chocolate in a little cafe close to the River Danube! Dad had to ring from Bratislava to a friend in England to ask for help to get mum to the hospital. I was on my way in to the world. I was born before the hospital could even check my mum in!
What’s the best thing about having a pilot parent?
That we get to go on lots of fabulous holidays.
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Actually, on second thoughts, the best thing is when he receives his roster and we find that he is going to Japan: he always comes back some Royce chocolate which is a Japanese speciality. In fact it is so good that we ask Dad to go to Japan as often as possible!
And the worst thing?
That my dad is away a lot. Even on Christmas Day my dad can be in a different country to me.
How much is he away?
Hmm, probably about 4 days every week. I find it strange that he can leave home as I’m going to school in the morning and be on a different continent by the time I get back home.
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The good thing though is that when he’s home he’s home – there are no late nights or early mornings in the office – he’s with us for breakfast and can pick me up from school and help me with my homework!
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When he’s away he stays in touch with us through WhatsApp, Facetime and Skype