If the beer were named after the number of women pilots attending, it would need a new name, as many more than twelve showed up. The table was adorned with models of various aircraft types, captain’s hats, and, of course, a proper birthday cake. A very special guest also arrived: the legendary aerobatic pilot and honorary ČAP member, Ms. Radka Máchová. Olin the tiger, the mascot for the association’s children’s project, also made an appearance, because children are an inseparable part of the lives of women pilots.
Since its founding, the president of ČAP has been Dana Bauca Sastre, who gave us a short interview.
What has changed in the three years since ČAP was founded?
“We’ve grown. We started with just three members, and now there are over thirty of us, with an international mix. Today, we even have a French pilot who flies at Prague’s Letňany airfield with us. We were also deeply honoured to have Radka Máchová join us. We have many exciting projects ahead of us that we’re really looking forward to.”
What have been some of your highlights this year?
“Just to name a few: our winter training seminar, a fly-in for the traditional ‘Witches’ Night’ celebration, our regular meeting at the Czech Aviation Training Centre (CATC), the Podhořany airshow, and we also attended the Pardubice Airshow. And today, of course, our birthday party. They’ve all been great events.”
Can you describe the makeup of ČAP’s membership?
“It’s a diverse mix. Powered aircraft pilots are certainly in the majority, but we also have glider pilots, helicopter pilots, and some members are even converting to gyroplanes. We have good representation across all categories, perhaps with the exception of balloons and hang gliders. We even have model aircraft flyers among us. We hope to continue this growth and welcome more women to our ranks.”
Does a woman have to be an active pilot to join ČAP, or can members also be women who are passionate about aviation but don’t fly themselves?
“Our focus is on active aviation. A navigator, a mechanic, or a woman connected to flying in another direct way could join, but we primarily bring together people who will go up in the air with us. There are other groups, such as ‘Women in Aviation,’ which support female professionals in the broader industry, like managers, HR specialists, and press officers.”
You mentioned the ‘Women in Aviation’ group. Can you tell us about the gift you received from them?
“We are very grateful and honoured that Marta Guthová, the president of ‘Women in Aviation’ and a great supporter of ours, is also our ‘godmother.’ This year, we received a wonderful gift from them: four hours in an ATR simulator. We’ll certainly make good use of it during our winter training or perhaps at the recruitment event we’re planning for January at CATC. At that event, we’ll not only review the past year but also introduce attendees to our plans for the next one. We invite all interested women to come, try the simulator, and meet us. I believe that having a network of at least 30 women from different sectors with diverse experiences on various aircraft types is incredibly enriching for everyone.”
Besides this group, who else supports ČAP?
“We have the support of the Czech Civil Aviation Authority (ÚCL) and the Light Aircraft Association of the Czech Republic (LAA ČR). We are also a member of the Federation of European Women Pilots (FEWP), and we will be hosting their international fly-in here in 2027. In 2026, we’ll be flying to the FEWP meeting in Slovenia. These are fantastic opportunities for ČAP members to attend, connect with women pilots from across Europe, and enjoy a rich programme of events.”
In what practical ways do you help one another?
“We mentor and coach each other. For example, we can arrange a safety pilot for someone getting current again after a break, or we share experiences about different airfields. We pass on knowledge and information, creating a secure support network for ourselves. For instance, a colleague currently training for her airline transport pilot licence greatly appreciated valuable advice from our more experienced airline pilots. We also have an 18-year-old member who is just starting out but doesn’t have a supportive environment for aviation at home. We try to take her flying with us whenever we can and encourage her. Girls who are interested in flying but lack the right support can come to us, meet the members, and even go for a flight. We do this from the heart and with great passion.”
If someone wants to join ČAP, how should they go about it?
“They can contact us through our website or social media channels. If we don’t reply immediately, we’re probably out flying somewhere, or there might have been a technical glitch. So please, don’t hesitate to try again—we’re here and would be delighted to hear from you.”
