.jpg "Taking flight with STEM")
When Lisa Cusack was 13, she took her first flying lesson, and it set her on a path to become a fully qualified pilot.
Today, she flies the Airbus 330 for Aer Lingus to America twice a week, and she credits her degree in Applied Physics at DCU as a major stepping stone to get there.
“It taught me a great deal about applying myself to my goal and also about approaching and solving problems. A lot of that credit goes to the physics lecturers, who were extremely approachable and encouraging.
As part of my course at DCU I had the opportunity through my INTRA placement, to work in Air Traffic Control, which was a fabulous experience, that led to me getting more flying lessons.”
Understanding the physics of flight has helped Lisa on her journey to the skies.
“Getting a 230 tonne plane 38,000 feet into the air is an incredible feeling, much of which is governed by the laws of physics. We use a lot of technology to monitor and maintain the aircraft during flight and we need a constant insight into atmospheric conditions,” she explains. “Studying physics at DCU has definitely helped me understand aviation in depth, and I believe it played a crucial role in being selected as one of only 12 out of 3000 cadets!”
Lisa Cusack, A330 Pilot, Aer Lingus. BSc in Applied Physics, DCU.
As part of my course at DCU I had the opportunity through my INTRA placement, to work in Air Traffic Control, which was a fabulous experience, that led to me getting more flying lessons.”
Understanding the physics of flight has helped Lisa on her journey to the skies.
“Getting a 230 tonne plane 38,000 feet into the air is an incredible feeling, much of which is governed by the laws of physics. We use a lot of technology to monitor and maintain the aircraft during flight and we need a constant insight into atmospheric conditions,” she explains. “Studying physics at DCU has definitely helped me understand aviation in depth, and I believe it played a crucial role in being selected as one of only 12 out of 3000 cadets!”
Lisa Cusack, A330 Pilot, Aer Lingus. BSc in Applied Physics, DCU.
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Article brought to you by "A World of Opportunities: How Science, Technology and Engineering are Transforming the Careers of the Future" published by Dublin City University.
Lisa Cusack, A330 Pilot, Aer Lingus
