UH Hilo aeronautical science alumna Aislynn Mandaloniz, first female from program to receive pilot’s license, reaches new heights
On announcing her new milestone of flying 1,500 hours, which qualifies her to fly commercial jets, Aislynn Mandaloniz says she’s thankful for UH Hilo.
By Susan Enright/UH Hilo Stories.
The first female graduate of the aeronautical program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo to complete flight training and receive a pilot’s license has reached another milestone.
“This past week I’ve hit a HUGE milestone in a pilot’s career – flying 1,500 hours, which makes you hirable for major airlines and here in the U.S., qualifies you to fly a commercial jet,” shares Aislynn Mandaloniz (Aeronautical Science, 2024).
A first-generation commercial pilot who was born and raised in Hilo and graduated from Waiākea High School in 2020, Mandaloniz has been flying for years. After completing her degree at UH Hilo, she did flight training at Lift Academy, tracking into her current milestone.
“If you are seeking a career, make sure this is something you truly want to do for the rest of your life,” she advises aspiring pilots. “Aviation is hard, but it is far worth it. It requires enormous amounts of self-discipline, but the end result is immeasurable.”
Mandaloniz interned in 2019 with Air Traffic Control at Hilo International Airport. She completed her bachelor of science in aeronautical science at UH Hilo in just three years.
“Back when I was 10 years old, I wanted to be a pilot,” she says in a video produced by the UH Hilo aeronautical program. “I didn’t know how I’d go about doing it, I didn’t know how I’d become a pilot, but I knew that was what I wanted to do.”
UH Hilo was the path to her future. Here’s the 2023 video where Mandaloniz and fellow aeronautical science student Nawaʻakoa Faurot give a tour of the Aeronautical Science Lab, sharing their passion for aviation, and providing insights into what makes the program at UH Hilo unique.
On announcing her new milestone of flying 1,500 hours, which qualifies her to fly commercial jets, Mandaloniz says she’s thankful for UH Hilo.
“I’m thankful for my time at UH Hilo, providing me with the ground knowledge of aviation and preparing me for the rigorous schooling I had up ahead to later land my first job as a commercial pilot, and now being able to move on to fly jets!”
Story by Susan Enright, public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.
