Faces of PSA- Amy Carson
Name: Amy Carson
Title: Check Airman Supervisor
How long have you worked for PSA and what roles have you had? I’ve worked for PSA for nearly 12 years. I’ve had roles as a First Officer, Captain, Sim Instructor, Proficiency Check Airman, Aircrew Program Designee and Check Airman Supervisor.
How long have you been in the airline industry? Where did you work before PSA? I’ve been in the airline industry since 2001. I started as a Flight Attendant at America West, and after several years, I left to go to flight school. I was a flight instructor before being hired at PSA.
What made you switch from being a Flight Attendant to a pilot? I always wanted to be an astronaut as a child. Much of my family was in the aviation industry and I became a Flight Attendant because I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do a young age. I sat on a jumpseat during a flight as a Flight Attendant once and I quit the next week to go to flight school. I immediately knew that was what I wanted to do.
What brought you to PSA? Out of all of the regionals I interviewed with, PSA seemed to have the best people, and that still holds true today. PSA has the best people!
Give us a brief overview of what you do: I manage and support the pilot training department team. I also still fly when I can and do check rides in the simulator as an Aircrew Program Designee (APD).
Tell us about being working as a PSA pilot with your husband, who has now flowed to American (Alex Carson): Alex was my CFI instructor in flight school and we were engaged when we were hired at PSA in the same class. Being married to another pilot makes childcare complicated, but we manage to figure it out, and we both love what we do. We are very thankful for the opportunities we have been afforded.
Where’s your favorite place you have traveled? Germany and Italy were both amazing experiences. We started in Munich, took a train to Zürich, then Rome. The history, along with the food and drinks, were my favorite parts. I’m a total foodie since my dad was in the restaurant business my whole life.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in the aviation industry? I take a lot of pride in being in the six percent of female pilots in the industry. I love flying and I wish more women would take an interest in it. A challenge to attracting females to the industry is balancing work life with family life and childcare. To attract more females to the industry, airlines have the opportunity to build more attractive maternity leave programs and childcare benefits to help with the difficult balance. It’s a challenge to find time to fly, which I still love, while raising a family.
What are some of your hobbies? I love spending time with my kids. I love traveling and helping them experience new things. I also love going to concerts. My last two favorite concerts were Elton John and Justin Timberlake. I’m looking forward to New Kids on the Block this summer.
What do you love about working for PSA? The people at PSA are truly amazing. Even though the airline has grown exponentially, it still feels like a family. The biggest change in my 12 years with PSA has been the growth, which has been incredible to witness and be part of.
Would you recommend PSA and why? I would absolutely recommend PSA. I think it’s an amazing company and it affords pilots opportunities that they would never have at other airlines.
What you do like about your base? Charlotte is a fantastic city. There is so much to do and the cost of living is very affordable.
Tell us something about your role that most people don’t know: I think most people know how busy it is. I try really hard to take weekends off.
What has been the most rewarding part of your job? I love being able to help the instructors in the department in any way I can. It’s very fulfilling. I have the most amazing group of people in my department. They bend over backward to help us and I really find it fulfilling to do the same for them. I help with anything from training questions to vacation changes. It’s a very broad scope.
Tell us something no one knows about you: Not many people know I was a flight attendant before I was a pilot.