An aviation enthusiast is on course to become a qualified commercial airline pilot at the age of 21.
Sophie Martin from Lossiemouth got her first experience in the cockpit with a flying lesson for her 13th birthday, after being inspired by visits to the town’s RAF base.
Ever since, the 18-year-old has had her sights set on taking to the sky as a pilot.
Earlier this year the former Lossiemouth High School pupil enrolled for a Middlesex University degree in Dundee.
The Tayside Aviation course has already helped Sophie secure her private pilot’s licence and the teenager regularly flies over Aberdeenshire as part of her studies.
Having experienced life in the air, a career on the ground was never likely to be an option for the teenager.
She said: “A family friend is a captain with Cathay Pacific. When we went on holiday a couple of years ago he was telling me all about the job and I got my first flying lesson after that.
“Mr dad’s an engineer in the RAF too so when I was young I went on the base a lot and he would show me round the planes and everything.
“It pretty much went from there. I looked at some other courses at university open days but it just didn’t feel right for me.”
After taking advice from another former pupil at Lossiemouth High, Sophie enrolled in the course that is based at Dundee Airport.
To build up her flying experience she will now be plotting a course from Dundee to destinations between Wick and Newcastle.
The teenager will also work as a flying instructor to pass on her skills to other hopefuls.
With the course having close links with airline Loganair, which flies regularly from the north-east and Highlands, Sophie is eager to forge a career with them.
She said: “I’d love to work for them. It would be really interesting flying with them, landing on beaches on the islands. It would be amazing.
“I don’t really know at the moment though. I’m just going to see where it takes me.”
Andy Thornton, Loganair’s director of flight operations, said: “We’re proud to help the students along their education pathway, helping them gain the skills and experience needed to become industry-leading pilots.”
