High hopes for the future (From Warrington Guardian)

High hopes for the future

AT an age when most girls are worried about taking their driving test, Runcorn teenager Ann Ibbetson has set her sights a lot higher.

The 18-year-old budding pilot from Halton Village is currently training for a European Private Pilot's Licence at Shropshire Aero Club.

The former Frodsham High School pupil was recently offered a place on a prestigious course to train as a commercial pilot, by the Spanish Flight Academy - an achievement even more impressive considering only six per cent of commercial pilots are women.

But she has rejected the offer so she can go to university and hopes to start a course in Aeronautical Engineering at Loughborough University in September.

Ann, a product of Priestly College's aviation and potential officers course, said: "I decided I wanted to go to university after college. If I went straight into flight training, it would be my career for life and so I'd never get the chance to go to university.

"I want to be able to experience university life then I can re-apply for the Spanish course again when I finish my degree."

She first flew a plane last October, an experience she described as 'amazing'.

"When the pilot let me have a go with the controls it didn't feel like I was doing it, it felt unreal," she said.

"I don't know exactly where my passion for flying came from, it's just something I've always been interested in."

Ann now hopes her success in breaking into such a male-dominated profession will inspire other girls to want to follow in her footsteps.