"If I were 20 years old again today – I would become a pilot all over again."

Ms. Hetzmannseder, do you enjoy being a pioneer?

Actually, I just wanted to fly. I only learned during the entrance exam that I would be one of the first women if I passed. Being a pioneer wasn't my goal at all; it was more of a side effect.

So, just a pilot. Why did you choose this job back then?

I imagined it would be so wonderful. When I was 16, I saw an airplane approaching for landing right over my head at the airport in Munich and I knew: That’s where I want to sit, all the way at the front. So I started my pilot training at Lufthansa in my early 20s. Since there had been a hiring freeze at Lufthansa before that, I studied musical education for a few semesters. To bridge the waiting period – and as a backup plan.

Which prejudices and challenges did you have to face?

I grew up almost exclusively with boys. I have a brother, was always part of a male clique. And I also had a lot of fun working with men at Lufthansa later. I never had to fight against anyone. I responded to silly remarks with silly remarks of my own. And later, when there started to be more women in the cockpits, I enjoyed talking to them – among like-minded people, so to speak – and I also thoroughly enjoyed flying with my female colleagues.

Are women in the cockpit completely normal nowadays?

People still take a closer look when they encounter a woman with three or four golden stripes on her shoulder. I include both the passengers and myself in this. Even today.

Do you have children?

I have two boys. They are 17 and 19 years old now.

How did you manage to reconcile that with your career as a pilot?

My husband worked part time as an electrical engineer and we had the additional luxury of having grandmothers and grandfathers nearby. I also worked part-time at Lufthansa for many years myself – the company offers great solutions for this.

Do you miss flying?

I am currently enjoying my vacations as well as being able to fly somewhere without having to fly back immediately.

Would you choose to be a pilot again?

The last 30 years at Lufthansa have been exciting. If I were 20 years old again today – I would become a pilot all over again.