Legends of Aviation: Erika Armstrong Aviation Gods and the Mosh Pit of the Skies

The Courage to Speak Up, No Matter Who Sits in the Left Seat 

There is a moment in every pilot’s journey when the sky stops being a teacher and becomes a test. For Erika Armstrong, that moment arrived at 9,070 feet above sea level in the mountain town of Telluride, Colorado, where the thin air, stunning peaks, and deceptive calm hide one of aviation’s most humbling lessons: nature does not negotiate. 

Before she was a captain, an aviation educator, or the bestselling author of A Chick in the Cockpit, Erika was a young corporate jet pilot from the flat plains of Minnesota, where air is thick, runways are long, and performance charts feel like polite suggestions rather than lifelines. When she volunteered to fly to Telluride, she expected adventure. What she got was a lesson from the “Aviation Gods”. 

“They especially enjoy the day we think we know it all,” she writes. “That was the day I learned what mountain flying really meant.” 

Flying a Citation II into Telluride was both breathtaking and nerve-wracking. The airport sits in a box canyon surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks. The runway, before it was lengthened and levelled, dipped in the middle, leaving little margin for error. On that summer afternoon, what began as a routine charter flight turned into a moment that would define her perspective on aviation professionalism forever. 

The air was hot and thin, the aircraft heavy, and the clock ticking. Her performance charts said no-flap take-off, but her captain disagreed, insisting on using flaps to “play it safe.” She deferred, trusting his seniority. Moments later, as the Citation struggled to lift off, dipping below the runway and barely climbing out of the valley, she realised how dangerous assumptions can be. 

That flight became a near-fatal example of why aviation demands humility, constant learning and the courage to speak up, no matter who sits in the left seat. 

In typical Armstrong fashion, she turns a technical concept into something anyone can visualise. To explain density altitude, she uses a metaphor that is as vivid as it is unforgettable: 

“Think of air like a mosh pit and your airplane as the lead singer about to jump in. When it’s hot, the crowd spreads out, fewer people to catch you. When it’s cold, everyone’s huddled closer together, ready to hold you up.” 

That “mosh pit” analogy distils complex aerodynamics into human terms, the kind of clarity that defines Erika’s teaching style. It’s not just about physics; it’s about respect for the unseen forces that keep a pilot humble. 

Erika Armstrong’s story is more than a tale of turbulence; it’s a testament to a career built on transformation. With over 30 years in aviation, she has worn nearly every hat the industry offers, from working the front desk at a small Minnesota FBO to captaining corporate jets, cargo flights and airliners. She has flown 28 aircraft types under Parts 91 and 135, from Red Cross missions to hazmat operations, before taking her seat in the Boeing 727-200 flight deck. 

Today, she channels those experiences into education and leadership as Vice President of Business Development at Advanced Aircrew Academy, where she designs training programmes that blend technical expertise with real-world insight. 

A graduate of the University of Denver with a degree in International Business and Economics and now pursuing an M.S. at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Erika also holds the NBAA 2020 Professionalism in Aviation Award and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. 

Beyond the cockpit, Erika has become one of aviation’s most respected and relatable voices. With a following of more than half a million across social media, she uses her platform to demystify aviation, share lessons learned and remind pilots that the sky rewards those who remain teachable. 

Her bestselling book, A Chick in the Cockpit, now in development as a screenplay, captures the humour, grit, and humanity of life in aviation, where mistakes are measured in feet, seconds, and humility. 

That day in Telluride, Erika learned that flying is not about conquering the skies, it is about earning your place among them, one decision at a time. The “Aviation Gods” she speaks of are not cruel; they’re mentors in disguise. They remind every pilot, whether student or seasoned captain, that complacency is the true altitude killer. 

Brookfield Aviation is proud to recognise pioneers like Erika Armstrong, whose dedication to professionalism and continuous learning reflects the values that drive progress across global aviation.