From Discovery Flight to Flight Instructor: Kaylee Phillips

Originally from Michigan, Kaylee Phillips earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Flight Technology from Eastern Michigan University. She completed her private through commercial training in her home state before coming to Phoenix East Aviation for her CFI and CFII. “I was eventually hired here as an instructor,” she explains, noting that she has now been teaching at PEA for almost two years.

Her love for aviation began at a young age. Kaylee recalls always being captivated by airports and the thrill of watching aircraft depart. But it wasn’t until a family vacation at 16, when she flew in a small airplane for the first time, that she began imagining a path in aviation. After returning home, she discovered a flight school just ten minutes away. “I went on a discovery flight and then signed up for lessons that same day,” she said. She earned her private pilot certificate during her senior year of high school and continued into college to complete her instrument training.

Interestingly, aviation wasn’t her intended career. “I actually always wanted to be a forensic psychologist up until I did the discovery flight,” she admits. That first flight changed everything. She realized aviation offered adventure, opportunity, money, and a future she could truly be passionate about.

As a woman in aviation, Kaylee acknowledges both the challenges and the camaraderie that shaped her training experience. “People may not always respect you or treat you the same as they would a man,” she said. Yet she emphasizes that the support among women in the industry is powerful and uplifting. “Most women in aviation have each other’s backs. I still have strong relationships with most of my female instructors and peers.”

That sense of community became a defining part of her journey; one she now carries into her own role as an instructor.

Like many new pilots, Kaylee remembers the nerves that came with starting flight training. “The night before my first flight, I couldn’t sleep at all,” she said.  With zero aviation knowledge at the time, she was most worried about “not being good enough and failing.” Today, she encourages students to build confidence through preparation: maintain a positive mindset, study hard, and approach each checkride feeling ready.

When reflecting back on her flight training, the triumphs aren’t measured only in ratings earned, but in relationships built. “I have made many great friends and networking connections throughout the six years of training,” she shared. Those bonds, many of which still remain strong, have been the most memorable part of her journey.

Kaylee holds a Commercial Multi-Engine license, Instrument Rating, and CFI/CFII, and brings that experience forward in the guidance she gives her students. In the short term, she encourages them, “to study hard, not take long breaks, and always come prepared.” Long-term success, she says, comes down to being “a good student” whose work ethic earns the respect of peers and instructors. That reputation becomes invaluable when seeking future pilot opportunities: “Don’t burn bridges with anyone.” 

For young women considering a career in aviation, Kaylee offers both honesty and encouragement. “You will need to work harder than others. You will always have more to prove” she said, acknowledging that aviation can still be “a bit old school.” She advises handling inappropriate or dismissive comments with professionalism, “defend yourself in a playful, yet respectful manner,” while staying focused on the hard work that brought you into the aviation industry.

Above all, she recommends building a strong support system. Finding other women with shared experiences or joining organizations like Women in Aviation can be transformative. “You can always rely on each other for advice and help,” she said.

Kaylee’s journey proves that sometimes all it takes is one discovery flight to change everything. From those first-night nerves before her first day of flight training, to become a trusted instructor at PEA, her story has come full circle. Now she’s helping others experience that same spark, from early jitters to the joy of earning their wings!