Eveline Borges, the First
Latin-American Aviatrix
flying a wide-body aircraft
Eveline Borges
On January 23, 2006, Eveline Borges, 34, was the First Female Pilot in Latin America to fly a Boeing 767-300F as Flight Captain on an international flight.
Eveline completed her first cargo flight as Master Chief Pilot on the route from
Campinas, Brazil to Miami operating a Boeing 767-300F. The flight included stopovers
in Maiquetia, Venezuela - Bogota and Medelin, Colombia, where it faced foggy
weather, but was greeted by a beautiful sunrise in Miami for the completion of
the route.
Aero Angels:
Hello Eveline, I was really excited having this interview with you.
You are the one and only Female Pilot flying in Latin America. Is this true?
Eveline: By the time I was promoted, I was the only captain of
wide body. Now, in Brazilian aviation, there are a few colleagues who are
flight captains of small, medium and large jets. Like in most professions,
the skirts are taking over!
Are you born in Brazil?
Yes, I’m from Pernambuco, a richly cultural state in the northeast
of the country. My city is called Recife (reefs), due to the beautiful
shore we have along the town.
You started flying at the age of 17. When did you start
with your PPL and how did it come that you wanted to become a pilot?
Is someone in your family flying, too?
Actually, I’m the first pilot in the family, something that
always surprises people because they expect me to be following
somebody else’s steps. When I look back, it’s quite hard to establish
how I decided to become a pilot. I had just turned 17 and had to
choose which major I would go for at University. I chose Law, but
before I even began studying, I changed my mind and went to flying
school, a shock to my friends and family at the time. Everybody
thought I would be a vet because animals have been my passion since
I was little.
Has it always been your dream, flying a wide-body aircraft?
I believe it’s every pilot’s dream, but sometimes I think that it
has happened to quickly in my career. I went from flying small planes to
being a co-pilot of a Boeing-767 and, a few years later, as a captain of
the 767. It is quite exciting.
Which Great Aviatrix of the Past do you admire and why?
All the pioneers who could not accomplish their dreams and, for that
reason, their names are unknown to us.
You have already achieved so much, do you still have a dream you would like to fulfil?
In Aviation there is always a dream to pursue. I hope to have the opportunity
to fly the modern big jets that are being built as we speak.
May I ask you, are you married and do you have kids?
Of course you can. I’m separated, no kids, except for my three dogs
:-)
I have three Labradors, one of each colour: brown, black and yellow. They are
my precious puppies.
When you have a day off, what do you prefer doing?
I love going to the theatre (I’m watching a play tonight, for instance),
the beach – quite far from where I live – movies, and joining my sister
for a girl’s night out in Sao Paulo. I also enjoy having my friends over
for dinner or for spending the weekend.
How do you like Aero-Angels Site?
It´s a very cool site. The travel section is very informative in a different
way, it doesn’t follow the traditional travel sites with their 'to-do'
lists. I saw myself in many aspects, good initiative, keep it up!
Thank you very much for your time, Eveline.
Happy Landings.
