Ninety-Nines attend Female Instructor Pilot Meeting

Article and Photos courtesy of Ursula Hammer, German Section Ninety-Nines.

German Section and other Ninety-Nines attended the FIP Meeting (Female Instructor Pilots) in Reykjavik/Iceland.

At the end of September 2026, the members of "Elevate the Line - Female Instructor Pilots", a global community of women shaping the future of aviation training , met for the 4th time.

The group was a colorful mix. In addition to young and older flight instructors from the field of commercial aviation, some flight instructors from the field of general aviation were also present. Several of the participants were members of the International 99s. A total of nine 99s were present at the conference, seven had traveled to Reykjavik in person, and two others participated in the conference online.

In addition to a very interesting and really exciting conference in the rooms of Icelandair, the participants had the opportunity to enjoy the overwhelming hospitality of the Icelandair female pilots and to enjoy the beauties of Iceland in a short but intensive supporting program.

The meeting point on the first day was the Sky Lagoon on the outskirts of Reykjavik, a large, hot bath with bar, sauna and infinity pool with a view over the Atlantic. Afterwards, the participants met in a restaurant at the harbor for dinner.

The next day, Thursday, was dedicated to the conference. Icelandair welcomed us to its new administration and training center, where we were first able to take a tour. Meeting rooms were provided for our conference and we were guests in the modern canteen for lunch. The bright, open construction, the modern offices, the excellent kitchen, the simulators and the classrooms in the immediate vicinity of the administration (not to mention the good coffee and the pool table) made a deep impression on the participants.

After a round of introductions, in which there was already extensive discussion about what constitutes a good apprenticeship and what should be avoided in the context of an apprenticeship, the responsible employees of Icelandair took the time to introduce us to their company and its training concept. In the further course of the discussion, the further goals and the future of the FIP were discussed. In the afternoon, we traveled on to Hùsafell, a town with a spacious holiday settlement and a small airfield, about 2 hours northeast of Reykjavik. There we were the guest of Linda and other female pilots of Icelandair, whose hospitality overwhelmed us. Not only were we invited to a wonderful buffet for dinner and breakfast, we were even allowed to stay free of charge in two holiday homes (including a hot whirlpool) on the premises. At the end of the day, we went – in a light drizzle – first by car and then on foot to a hot spring in a gorge, where we could all enjoy Iceland's natural treasures together. In the pleasantly warm water, we discussed topics such as assessment procedures, training content and feedback discussions. That was its very special atmosphere.

Even a glimmer of northern lights showed itself to us.

The next day, after breakfast, we took time again to discuss the results of the previous day, to record them for ourselves and to make plans for future work. At the end of our visit to Hùsafell, the group hiked to a small hot spring, which offered the intrepid once again the opportunity to alternately warm up in the hot water and then cool off in the cool waters of the stream next to it.

Then it was time to say goodbye to the Icelandair colleagues. After a last meal together in Reykjavik, the first flew back home in the evening.

Thank you Icelandair, thank you Linda, Sigrun, Inga and Sigrun.

And last but not least, many thanks to Cordula Pflaum and

Fatima Ginard-Aguilera, who made the meeting possible.

The next meeting will certainly be as inspiring again.