{"id":47663,"date":"2025-11-17T11:42:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T11:42:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/?p=47663"},"modified":"2025-11-17T11:42:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T11:42:24","slug":"taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking Flight: How Shannon Turned a Childhood Dream into the Skies with Aer Lingus"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

From childhood dreams to cruising at 38,000 feet, First Officer Shannon\u2019s<\/strong> story is one of passion, perseverance, and purpose. In this inspiring feature, we follow her journey from watching planes take off at Dublin Airport to sitting in the flightdeck of an Aer Lingus Airbus A320 \u2014 sharing the highs, challenges, and unforgettable moments that shaped her path to the skies.<\/h3>\n

For Aer Lingus First Officer Shannon<\/strong>, flying was never just a job it was a lifelong dream that began in the most unexpected place: her granny\u2019s kitchen. \u201cEvery day after school, I\u2019d sit watching a show called Come Outside<\/em>, about a female pilot and her dog going on adventures,\u201d Shannon remembers with a smile. \u201cI was completely fascinated. From that moment, I knew \u2014 I\u2019m going to be a pilot.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

As a child, no family trip to Dublin was complete without a stop at the famous airport viewing mound, where she\u2019d watch planes take off and land for hours, mesmerised by the power of the engines and the magic of flight. \u201cI can still remember the roar of the engines and the excitement of seeing the aircraft so close. I could\u2019ve stayed there all day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her passion for flying never faded, and on her 18th birthday, a thoughtful gift from her best friend became the spark that set her dream in motion: a trial flight lesson. \u201cFlying over my hometown, seeing my family down below looking up for me\u2026 I knew for certain that this was what I wanted to do. Having the controls in my hands felt amazing \u2014 and it really confirmed for me, this is what I want to do.”<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cEvery time I step into the flight deck, I still get that same feeling I had when I was little \u2014 the excitement, the love of flying. It never fades.\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Charting Her Course to the Flight Deck<\/h2>\n

Shannon\u2019s path to the skies wasn\u2019t a straight one. After finishing school, she decided to pursue Aerospace Engineering at Queen\u2019s University Belfast, followed by a Master\u2019s in Aviation Human Factors at Coventry University.<\/p>\n

But while her academic journey gave her a deep understanding of the science and psychology behind aviation, there was still one major obstacle: the cost of pilot training. \u201cGrowing up, becoming a pilot always felt like a distant dream,\u201d she admits. \u201cThe cost was so high, it didn\u2019t feel achievable. I knew I had the passion and the dedication \u2014 I just needed the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

That opportunity came in the form of the Aer Lingus Future Pilot Programme \u2014 a fully funded training programme that takes aspiring pilots from little or no experience all the way to the right-hand seat of an Airbus A320. \u201cWhen I learned about the programme, I knew I had to apply. It removes the financial barrier that holds so many people back. It\u2019s life-changing.\u201d<\/p>\n

After working full-time as a Fraud Analyst in the online gaming industry, Shannon applied \u2014 and in December 2019, she received the call she\u2019d been dreaming of. She had earned a place. \u201cIt didn\u2019t feel real at first,\u201d she says. \u201cI was over the moon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

From Classroom to Flight Deck<\/h2>\n

The journey to becoming a pilot is one of dedication, resilience, and precision \u2014 something Shannon experienced firsthand.<\/p>\n

Training began at FTE Jerez in Spain<\/strong>, where she and her fellow cadets tackled everything from meteorology and human factors to air law and instrumentation. The early stages, she explains, are intense: \u201cWe covered 13 ATPL theory subjects in ground school. “It\u2019s a steep learning curve, but finishing those exams feels like a real accomplishment and the reward at the end is taking to the skies.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Advanced UPRT \u2013 FTE Jerez Training<\/p>\n

Once theory turned into practice, the magic truly began.<\/p>\n

Her first solo flight<\/strong> \u2014 in a single-engine Piper Warrior \u2014 was a defining moment. “There\u2019s nothing like the feeling of taking yourself up in a light aircraft and putting everything you\u2019ve learned into practice. My first solo landaway was to Seville – I\u2019ll never forget it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

After completing the single-engine phase, Shannon advanced to the Diamond DA42<\/strong> for multi-engine and IFR (instrument) training, followed by Advanced UPRT<\/strong> \u2014 learning to recognise and recover from stalls and unusual attitudes in an aerobatic aircraft. \u201cAdvanced UPRT was incredible. It\u2019s thrilling, it challenges you and it\u2019s one of my fondest memories from training.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Dublin – After Base Training<\/p>\n

From there, she transitioned into the Airbus A320 simulator<\/strong>, learning Aer Lingus\u2019 standard operating procedures before returning home to Dublin to complete her type rating and base training \u2014 the final steps before earning her licence. \u201cBase training was the moment everything came together,\u201d she recalls. \u201cYou take an empty A320 to Shannon or Prestwick and practice a series of take-offs and landings. It is the first time at the controls of the real aircraft. There was a mix of excitement and adrenaline, but it\u2019s also the moment you\u2019ve been working towards. We spend a lot of time in the simulator training and while it\u2019s incredibly realistic, nothing beats the feeling of flying the real thing.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Full Circle Moments in the Sky<\/h2>\n

Since completing training and officially joining the Aer Lingus flightdeck, Shannon\u2019s first year of flying has already brought unforgettable experiences.<\/p>\n

Operating the inaugural return flight to Seville<\/strong> stands out as a key milestone. \u201cMy first solo landaway as a cadet had been Jerez to Seville in the Piper Warrior. So touching down there again, but this time in an A320, felt like everything had come full circle.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was also the time she surprised her family mid-flight<\/strong> \u2014 an unforgettable moment of joy. \u201cThey were flying home from Malaga, and I managed to swap onto the flight. They had no idea until the senior cabin crew made the announcement. The look on their faces was priceless.\u201d<\/p>\n

And then there was flying\u00a0St. Brigid (EI-DVK)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 an aircraft that carries her grandmother\u2019s name. \u201cMy granny was a huge believer in me becoming a pilot when I was growing up. Flying that aircraft felt like having her right there with me, it was incredibly special.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Seville, Spain<\/p>\n

Life as a Pilot: Teamwork, Preparation and Passion<\/h2>\n

While passengers often see only the smooth take-off and landing, there\u2019s a world of preparation happening behind the scenes. \u201cBefore each flight, I review the flight plan, check the weather for our departure, destination, and alternates\u201d Shannon explains. \u201cThen I meet the captain to brief the flight and head down to the aircraft to meet our cabin crew.\u201d<\/p>\n

Every team \u2014 from ground staff to engineers to flight operations \u2014 plays a vital role in ensuring a safe and punctual departure. \u201cIt takes an incredible amount of coordination. When pushback finally happens, it might look effortless, but it\u2019s the result of so many people working seamlessly together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though the job comes with its challenges \u2014 including early mornings, late nights, and time zone shifts \u2014 Shannon wouldn\u2019t trade it for anything. \u201cYes, there are 3am alarms and long days, but the rewards are amazing. Watching the sunrise from the flightdeck, or seeing a city glow beneath you at night \u2014 it\u2019s magical. Those are the moments that make it all worthwhile.\u201d<\/p>\n

Favourite Routes and Hidden Beauty<\/h2>\n

Shannon particularly loves flying to southern Europe, especially Malaga<\/strong> <\/a>and Seville<\/strong><\/a>. \u201cI lived in Malaga for seven years before becoming a cadet, so flying there feels like going home. The approach has incredible views of the Andalusian mountains and coastline. It\u2019s breathtaking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Noctilucent Clouds<\/p>\n

Her favourite view from the skies? Lisbon<\/a>. <\/strong>\u201cThe approach into Lisbon is spectacular \u2014 the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge, the Cristo Rei statue \u2014 it\u2019s stunning. One night, on our way home from Lisbon I was lucky to get a fantastic view of rare noctilucent clouds; which are silver-blue clouds made of tiny ice crystals that glow after sunset. It was a moment I\u2019ll never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n

And when asked if anything unusual has ever happened on board, Shannon smiles. “Once, during boarding, a little girl came into the flight deck with her teddy bear and said, \u201cHey girl!\u201d to me \u2014 so full of confidence. It completely made my day. Those little moments with passengers are really special.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Reality Behind the Romance of Flying<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are plenty of misconceptions about what life as a pilot is like. \u201cPeople often think we\u2019re constantly travelling and sightseeing,\u201d Shannon laughs. \u201cBut while we do overnight on some routes, like London or Rome, most of our European flights return to base the same day. That stability allows for a really good work-life balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd as for the autopilot \u2014 no, it doesn\u2019t fly the plane on its own. \u2018The autopilot is a brilliant tool that helps us manage workload, especially in busy airspace,\u2019 Shannon explains. \u2018But we\u2019re always monitoring and adjusting. Take-off and landing are flown manually \u2014 except in very low visibility conditions. In such cases, the A320 can perform an autoland under strict parameters. We complete dedicated training for this, closely monitor the system throughout, and can take over control at any moment if necessary.\u2019\u201d
\n<\/p>\n

Travel Tips from the Flightdeck<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When it comes to flying, Shannon has learned a thing or two about making the journey more comfortable. \u201cHydration is key \u2014 the cabin air is dry, so drink plenty of water,\u201d she advises. \u201cNoise-cancelling headphones are also a must for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

And one final piece of advice before you settle into your seat? \u201cKeep your essentials \u2014 headphones, tablet, chargers \u2014 in the bag under the seat in front of you. It makes your flight so much easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, Shannon is eager to start transatlantic flying in the near future \u2014 and dreams of expanding Aer Lingus\u2019 horizons even further. \u201cIf I could choose a new destination for Aer Lingus, I\u2019d love to see us fly to South America \u2014 somewhere like Rio de Janeiro, S\u00e3o Paulo, or Buenos Aires.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Midtown Manhattan and Lower Manhattan<\/p>\n

A Dream Realised<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For Shannon, flying is more than a career \u2014 it\u2019s a calling. \u201cEvery time I step into the flightdeck, I still get that same feeling I had when I was little \u2014 the excitement and the love of flying. It never fades.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her journey from watching planes take off at Dublin Airport to flying them herself is a testament to what\u2019s possible when passion meets perseverance \u2014 and to the opportunities that programmes like the Aer Lingus Future Pilot Programme<\/a><\/strong> can create. “If flying is your dream, don\u2019t give up. With persistence, it really can happen. I never thought I\u2019d get here, but now I\u2019m doing what I love every day.”<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Inspired by Shannon\u2019s story?<\/strong>
Learn more about how you can take to the skies with the Aer Lingus Future Pilot Programme<\/a> \u2014 where dreams of flying become a reality.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Book your next flight with Aer Lingus!<\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Read more<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fly direct from Dublin to Raleigh-Durham from spring 2026. Discover why Irish travellers should visit North Carolina \u2014 and why North Carolinians will love Ireland.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":47672,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1432,1469,2163,1533,1430,1948],"class_list":["post-47663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers","category-destinations","category-guest-posts","category-news","category-routes","category-travel-essentials"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTaking Flight: How Shannon Turned a Childhood Dream into the Skies with Aer Lingus - Aer Lingus Hub<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how Aer Lingus First Officer Shannon turned a childhood dream into a flying career, from early inspirations to her journey through the Future Pilot Programme and life in the flightdeck.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Taking Flight: How Shannon Turned a Childhood Dream into the Skies with Aer Lingus - Aer Lingus Hub\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover how Aer Lingus First Officer Shannon turned a childhood dream into a flying career, from early inspirations to her journey through the Future Pilot Programme and life in the flightdeck.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Aer Lingus Hub\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/aerlingus\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-17T11:42:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IE-Banner-1600x1000px-Pilot-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1601\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1001\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Orla Flynn\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@aerlingus\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@aerlingus\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Orla Flynn\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Orla Flynn\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/08a020cd0a662c252cf1245f2c17a795\"},\"headline\":\"Taking Flight: How Shannon Turned a Childhood Dream into the Skies with Aer Lingus\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-17T11:42:24+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":14,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/IE-Banner-1600x1000px-Pilot-1-e1763380271239.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Careers\",\"Destinations\",\"Guest Posts\",\"News\",\"Routes\",\"Travel Essentials\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\\\/\",\"name\":\"Taking Flight: How Shannon Turned a Childhood Dream into the Skies with Aer Lingus - Aer Lingus Hub\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/IE-Banner-1600x1000px-Pilot-1-e1763380271239.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-17T11:42:24+00:00\",\"description\":\"Discover how Aer Lingus First Officer Shannon turned a childhood dream into a flying career, from early inspirations to her journey through the Future Pilot Programme and life in the flightdeck.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/IE-Banner-1600x1000px-Pilot-1-e1763380271239.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/IE-Banner-1600x1000px-Pilot-1-e1763380271239.jpg\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":830},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Taking Flight: How Shannon Turned a Childhood Dream into the Skies with Aer Lingus\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/\",\"name\":\"Aer Lingus Hub\",\"description\":\"For travel inspiration\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Aer Lingus\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/01\\\/Logo-with-text-on-teal-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/01\\\/Logo-with-text-on-teal-1.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":751,\"caption\":\"Aer Lingus\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/aerlingus\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/aerlingus\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/Aerlingus\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/aerlingus\\\/?hl=en\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aerlingus.com\\\/hub\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/08a020cd0a662c252cf1245f2c17a795\",\"name\":\"Orla Flynn\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f74941050204b934cae8014aaa1db4aed90a1e381af14b801ec58db0f6a3a0e0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f74941050204b934cae8014aaa1db4aed90a1e381af14b801ec58db0f6a3a0e0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f74941050204b934cae8014aaa1db4aed90a1e381af14b801ec58db0f6a3a0e0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Orla Flynn\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Taking Flight: How Shannon Turned a Childhood Dream into the Skies with Aer Lingus - Aer Lingus Hub","description":"Discover how Aer Lingus First Officer Shannon turned a childhood dream into a flying career, from early inspirations to her journey through the Future Pilot Programme and life in the flightdeck.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Taking Flight: How Shannon Turned a Childhood Dream into the Skies with Aer Lingus - Aer Lingus Hub","og_description":"Discover how Aer Lingus First Officer Shannon turned a childhood dream into a flying career, from early inspirations to her journey through the Future Pilot Programme and life in the flightdeck.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/","og_site_name":"Aer Lingus Hub","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/aerlingus","article_published_time":"2025-11-17T11:42:24+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1601,"height":1001,"url":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IE-Banner-1600x1000px-Pilot-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Orla Flynn","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@aerlingus","twitter_site":"@aerlingus","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Orla Flynn","Est. reading time":"1 minute"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/"},"author":{"name":"Orla Flynn","@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/#\/schema\/person\/08a020cd0a662c252cf1245f2c17a795"},"headline":"Taking Flight: How Shannon Turned a Childhood Dream into the Skies with Aer Lingus","datePublished":"2025-11-17T11:42:24+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/"},"wordCount":14,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IE-Banner-1600x1000px-Pilot-1-e1763380271239.jpg","articleSection":["Careers","Destinations","Guest Posts","News","Routes","Travel Essentials"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/","url":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/","name":"Taking Flight: How Shannon Turned a Childhood Dream into the Skies with Aer Lingus - Aer Lingus Hub","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IE-Banner-1600x1000px-Pilot-1-e1763380271239.jpg","datePublished":"2025-11-17T11:42:24+00:00","description":"Discover how Aer Lingus First Officer Shannon turned a childhood dream into a flying career, from early inspirations to her journey through the Future Pilot Programme and life in the flightdeck.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IE-Banner-1600x1000px-Pilot-1-e1763380271239.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IE-Banner-1600x1000px-Pilot-1-e1763380271239.jpg","width":1600,"height":830},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/taking-flight-how-shannon-turned-a-childhood-dream-into-the-skies-with-aer-lingus\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Taking Flight: How Shannon Turned a Childhood Dream into the Skies with Aer Lingus"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/","name":"Aer Lingus Hub","description":"For travel inspiration","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/#organization","name":"Aer Lingus","url":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Logo-with-text-on-teal-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Logo-with-text-on-teal-1.jpg","width":1200,"height":751,"caption":"Aer Lingus"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/aerlingus","https:\/\/x.com\/aerlingus","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/Aerlingus","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/aerlingus\/?hl=en"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/#\/schema\/person\/08a020cd0a662c252cf1245f2c17a795","name":"Orla Flynn","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f74941050204b934cae8014aaa1db4aed90a1e381af14b801ec58db0f6a3a0e0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f74941050204b934cae8014aaa1db4aed90a1e381af14b801ec58db0f6a3a0e0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f74941050204b934cae8014aaa1db4aed90a1e381af14b801ec58db0f6a3a0e0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Orla Flynn"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47663"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47663\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47710,"href":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47663\/revisions\/47710"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}