With her head in the clouds…Keely Kippenberger Vogt plans to make a career of it.

Traveling the United States as a flight attendant for over eight years, Vogt has seen many beautiful sites.

Now, she wants to see them from a different vantage point.

Furloughed with United Airlines during the pandemic, Vogt began to contemplate fulfilling her lifelong dream.

“I’ve always wanted to be a pilot, but had no clue how to do that,” Vogt said.

After graduation from Kingfisher High School in 2008, Vogt attended Oklahoma State University on a soccer scholarship, but wasn’t sure what career path to take.

Already possessing a minor in history, she decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in it.

After graduation, Vogt said she bounced around with various jobs until she decided “on a whim” to pursue a career as a flight attendant.

Over the next eight and a half years, Vogt became accustomed to operations of the airline industry.

“I began to understand airline scheduling, picked up aviation lingo and started talking to the pilots,” she said.

Rarely working with female pilots, Vogt said women comprise only approximately 5% of all commercial airline pilots (and only 1% as captains).

Early in her career, Vogt said she had an encounter with a female airline pilot she couldn’t forget.

“I told her how I’ve always wanted to be a pilot and want to be one so bad, but have no clue how to do it,” Vogt said.

Her response was, “‘Just do it.’” With significant expenses involved in becoming a pilot, as well as other obstacles, Vogt said she tucked that advice away in the back of her mind.

Along the way, she discussed wanting to become a pilot with some of the male pilots she worked with and the majority were very supportive and encouraged her to follow her dreams, she said.

Fast forward to 2021 while Vogt was on furlough.

Aware of the pilot shortage, which is expected to become worse with many baby boomers retiring, Vogt said the dream of becoming a pilot began to pervade her thoughts again.

As many of the airlines began to implement new programs to address the impending shortage and train more pilots, Vogt said she began to explore her options.

With encouragement from her husband, Thomas, Vogt ultimately decided to begin her training with ATP Flight School at Wiley Post Airport.

The couple live in Okarche with their two young children Randall (4), and Rosaleen (2), and Vogt said the program was the perfect starting point for her new career.

When Vogt returned from furlough, she said it became difficult to juggle work responsibilities, flight school and family life and she made the decision to focus strictly on becoming a pilot and caring for her family.

A difficult decision leaving her coworkers and friends, Vogt said she expressed to them that she would be back…hopefully in the cockpit.

Since then she has flown approximately 230 hours, earned her single engine private pilot’s license, instrument rating, single engine commercial rating and is in the process of obtaining her certified flight instructor (CFI) rating. Recalling her first solo flight, Vogt said it was very intimidating, yet exhilarating.

“I was so nervous, but I knew I’d be alright,” she said.

“The guys at the tower called and congratulated me…it was such an exciting and fun day.”

Though not essential to becoming a commercial airline pilot, the CFI rating, which requires intensive training, will allow Vogt to teach students and gain flight hours as well.

“I would love to teach our new generation and encourage more female pilots to join the industry,” she said.

There’s not a lot of female representation in a male-dominated industry, Vogt said, which can make it intimidating for women wanting to enter the field.

With increasing interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and implementation of high school aviation programs, Vogt said opportunities abound for the younger generation.

Listening to live air traffi c control conversations is a good way to begin to understand aviation terminology and become acquainted with the industry, she said.

Additionally, Vogt said, joining aviation clubs, such as the Ninety-Nines for women pilots and students provides educational and scholarship opportunities as well as mutual support for women who share a passion for flying.

Once she’s earned her CFI, Vogt said she plans to instruct students as they earn their single engine pilot’s license, while she’s also working to earn her multi-engine pilot’s license and multi-engine instructor rating, eventually gaining the required 1500 hours for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rating.

Since acquiring her pilot’s license, Vogt said, some of her favorite flights are those flying cross country and enjoying the scenery from above.

“I personally love instrument flying…just going my route,” Vogt said. “Flying in the clouds is so much fun and just seeing the countryside.”

Navigating her way to this point has had its twists and turns, Vogt said, but she wouldn’t change it.

“I wouldn’t have got to experience the things I have and I’m really excited about the next venture… to be able to teach and continue learning how to fly other aircraft,” she said.

As United Airlines is preparing to bring back supersonic airplanes, which fly twice as fast as today’s passenger jets (faster than the speed of sound), Vogt said, with a twinkle in her eye, “I’m not sure if a woman has ever flown a supersonic airplane…” Ultimately Vogt said her goal is to have her name added to the 1% of female captains, but is excited about the journey to get there.

Until then, she hopes to inspire a new generation to believe the sky’s the limit and to enjoy the ride.

“The journey has been fun and rewarding,” Vogt said.

“There are easier paths than I’ve taken, but I had to find my own way.”