Rising Above – Rachel Tuit’s Turn to Transform the World of Aviation

Rachel Tuit wants to become something she has never personally witnessed or experienced in action on the job -- a female airline pilot. 

A double major in flight science and aviation management and operations in the Western Michigan University College of Aviation, she is bulking up her resume to make certain her vision becomes reality. 

The 2019 graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School, located about 40 miles north of Western's Kalamazoo campus, is president of the college's Women in Aviation International (WAI) chapter, vice president of the Aviation Student Council, and one of the program's cadre of Aviation Ambassadors who shepherd potential students on tours as they check out what Western has to offer. 

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Plus, in rounding out her path toward becoming a well-rounded and solidly grounded professional, Tuit is a member of WMU's Campus Choir.  So, as well as "Singin' in the Rain," she often is "singin' in the clouds" as she goes about her collegiate preparations to become a professional pilot. 

"I have never been on a commercial flight that had a female pilot," she says, "so part of the reason I would like to work in the airline industry is so I can be visible and show young girls that it's a possibility for them too." 

Tuit can trace her aviation roots to the summer before seventh grade when, thinking she wanted to become an architect, she took part in a week-long STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) camp for girls at Grand Valley State University.  However, this particular session focused on the world of aviation, and included tours of facilities, a discovery flight, and building remote-controlled gliders.  That prompted a birthday request for a real remote controlled airplane that she constantly flew.  By the eighth grade, architecture had been shelved.  She wanted to become a pilot. 

The zeal stayed with her through high school.  Tuit attended events staged by the Great Lakes WAI chapter.  As a junior, she took part in the first Women's Aviation Career Symposium.  Along the way, she met a "WASP," a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots who flew civilian missions during World War II while their male counterparts trained for combat. 

While the profession of aerospace engineering was challenging aviation as a career path for Tuit, another summer camp -- this one offered by the WMU College of Aviation -- sealed the deal.  "On one of the discovery flights," she recalls, "I got to hand-fly most of the way to Muskegon.  I flew over my grandparents' house and other places I recognized.  That's when I knew I wanted to fly the planes, not design them." 

Tuit started working on her private-pilot license right after her graduation from high school.  "The only class I ever skipped in high school was my very last class on the last day of my senior year so I could take my first flight lesson," she says about being aboard a Cessna 150 that took off from nearby Sparta, Mich. 

Tuit's grandfather qualified for both commercial and private licenses in the 1970s but had quickly phased out aviation from his life.  "I actually didn't know he had his licenses until I started flight lessons," she says.  "When I passed my check ride, he was the first person I took up with me."  Since then, she's taken up her parents, all of her grandparents, brothers and an aunt. 

"It's special to share aviation with them," she says, "since it's something new for many of them and important to me."  That infant they once held in their hands is now watching her handling the controls of an airplane at 10,000 feet. 

Only Western and Purdue were on Tuit's radar as her home for higher education.  Western won out for two reasons.  The Indiana university would not allow a double major. No. 2?  Of the 80 incoming first-year students in the Purdue program, only seven were female.  "Western is very intentional about wanting the program to reflect the population and not just the industry," she says.  "That is something I really appreciate." 

While progress has been made in the gender ratio of airline pilots, there is still a ways to go.  "Right now," she says, "I don't really know any women who are where I want to get to, but being a part of WAI has been very encouraging because many of us have sensed the same frustration with classes or instructors, and the industry's environment in general.  I like being able to advocate for myself and my classmates.  I'm really excited that WAI started holding Girls in Aviation Day.  It lets us students share our passion with the next generation of aviators." 

"Sharing" is what Tuit also does as a program ambassador.  "I have some great co-workers which makes it fun.  I enjoy giving tours to prospective students and provide them with information so they can make the best decision in choosing where they want to go." 

When she's not winging her way toward the horizon, Tuit enjoys hiking, camping, reading, painting and, of course, humming a tune with the Campus Choir.  "Having a creative outlet is good for me and it's fun to know people in other programs," she says.  "I love the arts, which is why I appreciate Western and its strong fine-arts reputation.  I can go to theater productions as well as sing in the choir.  We have all of that here rather than just being an aviation school.  It's important to have other interests and passions.  Don't get me wrong!  I love airplanes, but there are other things important to me as well." 

One of those "things" is a growing interest in all things Africa, a zest that was spawned on a trip to Rwanda as a senior in high school.  "I love the country," she says. "African history isn't really something we learn about much in school. It's enlightening to hear more about the history of the continent and how it's been reshaped through so many challenges."  Which is why one of her favorite Western classes has been Global Africa Past and Present. 

Closer to her majors as special are any courses led by instructor Jessica Birnbaum.  "She's a really good teacher who brings to the table a lot of applicable industry knowledge.  She can relate her experiences working in airport management and operations.  Her classes are relevant and interesting." 

Resume reviewers will learn that Tuit has been as comfortable in the water as she is airborne.  She started summer lifeguarding for the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department as a 15 year old, duty that evolved into a year-round gig.  "Since then, I've lifeguarded for five different organizations," she says, "and also spent the last six summers with that department.  I've been a head lifeguard twice, served as a pool manager, and am certified to teach others to be lifeguards.  While I believe I'm done after six years with aquatics, I loved working for the city and helping people feel safe around the water."  She believes her teaching experience will help when she becomes one of Western's certified flight instructors. 

Long dreaming of flying for Delta Air Lines, Tuit has taken the next step toward being one of those females at the controls of passenger-carrying jets.  "I've wanted to work for Delta as long as I've wanted to be a pilot."  Her latest accomplishment is being accepted into the Delta Propel Collegiate Pilot Career Path program, a giant advancement toward someday wearing one of the airlines' stylish uniforms. 

Who knows?  On some flight to an African destination in the future, hundreds of passengers might hear something like this: "This is Captain Tuit.  The weather is perfect and we'll be arriving in (Cape Town, Algiers, Cairo, Nairobi, Tripoli, Dakar, Khartoum -- take your pick) shortly.  We hope you have enjoyed your flight and hope to see you fly Delta again very soon." 

And maybe some young female passenger will witness a uniformed person who looks like her come out of the flightdeck and say, "Thanks for flying with me."