From top biology student to pilot: When dreams take flight

She recently completed pilot training with honors at RMIT University in that country, achieving a 3.4/4 GPA and logging over 200 safe flight hours.

The native of Can Tho in Vietnam's Mekong Delta was the only Vietnamese woman in her class.

Thai Hai Tran at the RMIT Aviation Academy in Australia. Photo courtesy of Tran

A former student of the specialized biology program at Ly Trong High School in Can Tho, she had won several top awards in academic competitions, including second place in a national science competition in biomedical and health sciences.

These achievements could have easily taken her to medical school and a career as a doctor, as her father had been hoping for.

But her true passion lay elsewhere.

Her love for aviation took root early in her life. While in sixth grade she once had the opportunity to Huynh Ly Dong Phuong, a woman pilot. Her image in a uniform, flying an airplane with hundreds of passengers on board, captivated the 12-year-old girl. From that point on, Tran began learning about aviation, all the while nurturing a dream of becoming a pilot.

The opportunity to pursue her passion came in her final year of high school when she passed the Aviation Data Acquisition and Processing Test, a specialized assessment used in the aviation industry, held by a local airline.

She had not yet graduated, but the airline allowed her to carry over the results to the future and promised to send her for pilot training.

She then worked hard to convince her father to allow her to become a pilot instead of a doctor. With support from her mother, she eventually got her father's consent.

"I know my father loves me, but he was worried that being a pilot would be tough, and that I would often be away from home," Tran says.

In 2020 Tran became a pilot student at RMIT University in Australia. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic she completed her first year in Vietnam before transferring to Australia.

The first year focused on theoretical courses in aviation and aviation fundamentals, combining them with flight simulator sessions.

In her second year Tran began training in real aircraft. Her first lesson in the personal pilot certificate program was also the first time she flew a plane.

"I was nervous," she says.

"The control panel had so many buttons, and there was a list of tasks to complete while flying."

But her anxieties disappeared once the plane took off. From the cockpit, she could see the clear blue sky and fluffy white clouds, which was much more exhilarating than sitting in a plane as a passenger.

After the lesson she called her mother and excitedly described how "the sky was as beautiful as a dream."

That joy and excitement fueled her determination to take on the more challenging lessons that followed.

For Tran, the most difficult maneuver was making a smooth landing. "When landing, the nose of the plane tends to dip toward the ground, and so trainees often panic and pull the throttle too soon, resulting in a rough landing."

To improve, she would stay back at the airport after her lessons, observing pilots land and seeking advice from her instructors. At night she would watch instructional videos to refine her timing and technique.

The most challenging course was flying in bad weather. Rather than rely on visual cues, pilots must depend on radar systems and stay in close communication with air traffic control to navigate.

Despite the pressure, this course taught Tran to be cautious, always preparing for scenarios like rerouting or making an emergency landing in poor weather.

Knowing that being a pilot requires top physical fitness and the ability to handle high-intensity work and irregular hours, Tran works out two hours at a time three or four times a week in a gym.

During her free time she also runs and does more exercises to strengthen her arms and legs.

A significant milestone in her training was her "solo flight," the first time a trainee flies alone without an instructor.

To be eligible for this, students must pass several tests.

When Tran was informed that she was ready for her solo flight, she had only a few minutes to prepare mentally.

"I was surprised, excited and a bit nervous," she recalls.

"I quickly reviewed everything I had learned, from pre-flight procedures to landing, and was hoping to perform as well as I could."

Though she was tense during the flight, she also felt a greater sense of responsibility, knowing that every decision she would make affected not only her own safety but also that of the plane, passengers and crew.

She was satisfied with her landing and felt she had made significant progress in overcoming her weaknesses.

Thai Hai Tran with her teacher at Australia RMIT University. Photo courtesy of Tran

George Daniil, one of Tran’s teachers during her personal pilot certificate course at RMIT Aviation Academy, has nothing but praise for her.

While most students take six months to complete this program, Tran finished in just two months due to her hard work and "passion," he says.

She was always punctual for meetings and lessons, took full advantage of every learning opportunity, communicated well and was well liked by the 300 students and staff in the program, he says.

"Tran was an international student, but she really made herself at home."

Throughout her four years at RMIT Tran was excellent academically, never failing an exam and getting a 20% annual scholarship.

This month she will graduate with honors.

She has already submitted her results and certificates to an airline, and hopes to return to Vietnam to work.

"Dreams are beautiful, but you only have a chance to achieve them if you dare to pursue them," she says.