A 2nd Career Path Later in Life Saw Charnell Walls go from Student to Captain

King Schools has selected the winner of the 2022 Martha King Scholarship for female flight instructors, selecting Charnell Walls. 

Walls entered the world of aviation from a different position than the average pilot, deciding on a career change at 50, selling her home, and enrolling in the Aviation Department at the University of Oklahoma. She graduated with honors and Bachelor's in Aviation Management, as well as the school's Letzeiser Award for achievements and community service. She currently works at Flight Safety International as a simulator SIC to assist pilots training in the Falcon 2000 while intermittently working on her CFI whenever she has the free time to go fly. 

The scholarship from King Schools and Women in Aviation International will provide her with a $5,000 stipend plus lifetime access to the entire library of King Schools courses, bringing the total to around $18,000 total. Walls has planned out her career track to specifically fly beyond the ATP-retirement age of 65 as a flight instructor, which will come in after she finishes her tenure at Cape Air. Her company training seemed to come easier for classmates with their CFI under their belt already, though that didn't stop her from becoming a captain flying Cape Air's Cessna 402. 

The WAI Martha King Scholarship for Women Flight Instructors has been given to 7 recipients since its introduction, and applications for the 2023 awards will be available through the WAI beginning midyear 2022. 

FMI: www.WAI.org, www.kingschools.com