‘You can absolutely do it’: Cook Islands pilot on path to aviation history

Cook Islands woman Isabel Drollet Macdonald is on track to become Air Rarotonga’s first female pilot after becoming a qualified pilot and entering discussions with the airline about a possible future role.

The 23-year-old recently graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Aviation, completing years of training in New Zealand and officially earning her pilot qualifications.

“I’m really happy because I am officially a pilot,” Macdonald told William Terite on Pacific Mornings.

She says she is in talks with Air Rarotonga, the airline she has always hoped to fly for.

“I’m just really, really grateful to even be in their consideration right now,” she said. “As everyone knows, they’ve never had a female pilot. So I think that was just my one goal in life.”

Ewan Smith, Air Rarotonga managing director, said the airline had been aware of Macdonald’s journey and saw her as part of a growing pipeline of young Cook Islands aviation talent.

Despite studying and training overseas, Macdonald said her long-term goal has always been to return home to the Cook Islands. Photo/Facebook.

“It’s a great achievement for Isabel,” Smith told PMN News. “We have young Cook Islanders progressing through our ranks continuously, and we look forward to welcoming her to the company.”

Smith said another young Cook Islands woman is currently training as a pilot in New Zealand, while women also work in other parts of the airline, including engineering.

“It does inspire young people and school leavers to see that an aviation career is possible for them,” he said.

The next step for Isabel is to return to the Cook Islands. Photo/Air Rarotonga

The development comes as the global aviation industry continues to face a major gender gap. Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows women make up only around six per cent of pilots worldwide, despite ongoing efforts to increase female representation.

For Isabel’s parents, Alec Macdonald and Bredina Drollett, their daughter’s achievement is both personal and wider than that.

“One might call it historic, but it’s also a sign that not many Cook Islands’ girls have chosen aviation as a career pathway or have not been able to find a pathway in the Cook Islands,” they told PMN News. “Her experience may inspire an aviation pathway for more Cook Islands girls.”

Macdonald, who is of Sāmoan, Cook Islands, and Tongan heritage, says aviation has been her dream since she was young.

With her father a pilot and a mother who travelled often for work, she grew up around the idea of flying.

“I was always surrounded by the idea of travel,” she said. “When you think about travel, I guess the highest you can go is being a pilot.”

Isabel with her parents, Bredina Drollett and Alec Macdonald. Photo/Facebook

Despite studying and training overseas, Macdonald said her long-term goal has always been to return home.

“I’m just so grateful to serve my country,” she said.

Her parents said that while many Pacific young people wanted to bring their skills home, opportunities were not always clear or available.

“There aren’t always the right opportunities for them to bring these skills back,” they said in a statement. “We think Isabel knows how lucky she and other young Cook Islands’ pilots are to have the option to use their skills in a profession they love at home.”

Macdonald said the journey was not easy especially balancing study and flight training.

“I definitely second-guessed probably halfway through,” she said. “But my family is probably my number one supporter. I just did not want to let them down.”

Watch Isabel Macdonald's interview below.

She hopes her story will encourage more Pacific Islanders, especially young women, to pursue careers in industries where they are still underrepresented.

“I just want them to all know that they can do it,” she said. “And Pacific Islanders, I think they’re just really good at working really hard.”

For Macdonald, the next step is getting into the cockpit at home and opening the door wider for others to follow.