Altitude Meets Identity: How Ella Hanson Is Shaping Her Path in Aviation

Every time Ella Hanson heads skyward as a flight science major in WMU's College of Aviation, it's like an ethereal family reunion. 

Her deceased grandfather, Stan Hanson, served in the Navy aboard an aircraft that performed weather and oceanography missions.  He died about the time the 2023 graduate of Farmington Hills High School began her flight training at Western. 

"Once I started flying," Hanson says, "I felt closer to him.  Being up in the air gave me a sense of comfort, almost as if we were sharing something across time.  That feeling has stayed with me.  Each time I fly, I feel connected to him in a way that's difficult to put into words.   

"Not only did my discovery flight spark my passion for aviation," she says, "but the connection I felt to my late grandpa strengthened that passion even more." 

That "discovery flight" in which she "fell in love with flying" was the direct result of an article she read while a junior in high school.  Provided by her mother, it reported about a coming shortage of pilots and the lack of females seeking that profession.   

That prompted Hanson's research into how to enter the field.  She went on to earn her private pilot's license at Crosswind Aviation, a flight school in Pontiac near her home community of 83,000 22 miles northwest of Detroit.  

Pondering where to pursue her quest via higher education, she did analyze what Purdue University had to offer and planned to check it out personally.  But all that changed when she visited the College of Aviation's digs in Battle Creek and Western's home campus in Kalamazoo.   

"I really liked the facility," she says, "and how nice the aviation ambassadors were.  I saw the planes and the simulators, and the ambassadors didn't get sick of my questions."  There would be no exploratory trip to Indiana. 

During Hanson's freshman year as a Bronco, best friend Jacob Flick connected her with Western's chapter of the National Gay Pilots Association. 

"I was hesitant at first," she admits.  "At the time, I wasn't fully 'out,' especially back in Farmington Hills.  The idea of joining felt intimidating.  But it has been one of the best decisions I've ever made.  I've found a community of people who not only share my passion for aviation but also understand the personal challenges I have faced. 

"Being surrounded by individuals who support me," she says, "who relate to my experiences and encourage my growth has meant more to me than I can fully express.  I will always be grateful."  By the way, Hanson as a junior in the college, is now the chapter's president and represented Western at the group's national convention recently in California. 

It was at that gathering in Palm Springs where she met one of the national group's co-founders, Brian Samuelson.  "We had a meaningful conversation about what it took to accomplish that," she says, "and the challenges he faced as a member of the LGBTQ+ community seeking support within the industry.  He spoke about how rewarding it has been to watch the organization grow and see the impact it has today."  Hanson stands as an embodiment of Samuel's vision. 

Other than her chapter presidency and playing intramural soccer at Western with the verve of a World Cup seeker, Hanson cites among the many positive experiences her participation in a simulation activity.  It centered on low IMC (instrument meteorological conditions) emulating flying in Alaska's mountainous terrain and having to rely on flight instruments to promote safety during potentially dangerous weather situations. 

"This simulation was immensely eye-opening," she says, "because a lot of pilots, including myself, don't know how to judge visibility accurately.  It challenges your decision-making skills." 

Another valued opportunity, she says, is to take part in and promote the college's many career days.  "As a first-generation pilot, these experiences have been incredibly helpful for me in navigating a path that isn't always clearly defined.  Being exposed to industry professionals, hearing their stories and gaining insight into potential career paths has given me clarity and expanded my options for what I hope to pursue after college." 

In that vein, Hanson and her fellow chapter members crossed paths with Miguel del Rosario, a 2017 graduate of the college's aviation-technology curriculum.  Now an entrepreneur as the head of Piston Fly Aviation in Grand Rapids, which he founded in 2014 while still enrolled in the Western program, del Rosario, who also served in the National Guard, is involved in aviation consulting and marketing. 

"He has valuable insight in the aviation industry," Hanson says.  "Experiences like this have shown me how strong the Bronco network truly is.  Even outside of Western, you're likely to cross paths with fellow alumni who are willing to support and lift up your career." 

With still a semester or two to go before "Diploma Day" for Hanson, her immediate plans are to continue to enjoy her favorite WMU memory -- the personal connections.  "I have met my best friends," she says, "and have learned so much from amazing people.  I love being able to walk into the COA and see the familiar faces of friends and faculty I have met since my freshman year." 

And that WMU connection may be extended a bit.  Hanson hopes to be named one of the college's certified flight instructors "to not only gain experience but also have the chance to teach students who will be in a similar position as I was when I first began my flight training."   

Further down the line, she believes, could be a stint as a medevac (medivac) pilot of planes or helicopters that serve as airborne ambulances.  "That kind of piloting has caught my attention," Hanson says, "because it combines my love for flying with helping others in critical moments." 

Brian Samuelson would be proud.  And so would Grandpa Stan.