A plane lands at the largest airport in Hawaii, located on the island of Oahu. More than 100 travelers grab their bags and step into warm sunshine. Their tropical stay has just begun—and so has Elise Krause’s work!

Krause is an aircraft mechanic for Hawaiian Airlines. From replacing broken seat belts to fixing jet engines, she makes sure planes are in top condition before they take to the skies again. Krause spoke to Scholastic about what it takes to keep planes soaring safely.

A plane lands at Hawaii’s largest airport. It’s on the island of Oahu. More than 100 travelers grab their bags. They step into warm sunshine. Their tropical stay has just begun. So has Elise Krause’s work!

Krause is an aircraft mechanic for Hawaiian Airlines. She makes sure planes are in top condition before they fly again. Krause fixes jet engines. She even replaces broken seat belts. Krause spoke to Scholastic about what it takes to keep planes soaring safely.

When I was a kid, I loved a type of construction toy called K’NEX. I used them to build small, working machines like roller coasters. When I was 18, I got a job repairing cars. I didn’t know how to find an engine at first! I learned a lot and liked what I was doing. My boss suggested that I might like working on airplanes even more. In 2021, I attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. That’s a special school for learning about aviation, or flying and repairing planes.

When I was a kid, I loved K’NEX. That’s a type of construction toy. I used them to build small, working machines like roller coasters. When I was 18, I got a job. I had to repair cars. But I didn’t know how to find an engine at first! I learned a lot and liked my work. So my boss had an idea. I might like working on airplanes even more. In 2021, I attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. That’s a special school for aviation. It teaches about flying and repairing planes.

I spend all day moving my body. I’m also proud to be a woman in this field! Only about 2 percent of aircraft mechanics are women. But my small size can be a good thing. Sometimes we need to get inside very tight spaces. It’s also cool to see the inside of something so big. I’m proud to work on machines with such incredible engineering!

I move my body all day. And I’m proud to be a woman in this field! Only about 2 percent of aircraft mechanics are women. But my small size can be a good thing. We may need to get inside very tight spaces. I get to see the inside of very big machines, and that’s cool. Airplanes have such amazing engineering! I’m proud to work on them.

As a 9-year-old growing up in Florida, Jill Prime went on a special field trip. Her local Boys & Girls Club took the group to Embry-Riddle. This university, in Daytona Beach, Florida, focuses on aviation, the operation of aircraft. Jill learned about Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, and other brave women who piloted planes in the early 1900s. She even rode in a four-seater airplane! “The Club gave me my first taste of flying and the confidence to pursue aviation,” she says.

Eight years later, Jill was still hooked. She went to flight school to train for her student’s pilot license at only 17! She spent 10 hours flying with an instructor and 40 hours learning how planes work.

Then Jill had one final test for her license—a solo flight! She flew 1,000 feet (305 meters) above an airport while planes took off and landed. In the air, Jill put her training into action—keeping track of the plane’s fuel, speed, and altitude, or height above Earth. Last, after a 45-minute flight, Jill guided the plane to a safe landing. “It was super exciting and a little bit scary,” says Jill. “But I believed in myself, and I did it!”

Now, at age 19, Jill is back at Embry-Riddle—this time as a college student. Instead of flying planes, she’s hoping to protect them. Airplanes use code, or computer instructions, to fly. Jill is studying how to keep the code secure from computer hackers. “I love airplanes, and I want to use my skills to keep them safe,” she says.

Jill Prime grew up in Florida. When she was 9 years old, she went on a special field trip. Her local Boys & Girls Club took the group to Embry-Riddle. This university is in Daytona Beach, Florida. It focuses on aviation, the operation of aircraft. Jill learned about Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, and other brave women. They flew planes in the early 1900s. Jill even rode in a four-seater airplane! “The Club gave me my first taste of flying and the confidence to pursue aviation,” she says.

Jill was still hooked eight years later. She went to flight school to earn her student’s pilot license. She was only 17! She flew with an instructor for 10 hours. For 40 hours, she studied how planes work.

Jill had one final test for her license. It was a solo flight! She flew 1,000 feet (305 meters) above an airport. Other planes were taking off and landing. In the air, Jill used her training. She kept track of the plane’s fuel and speed. She watched its altitude, or height above Earth. Her flight lasted 45 minutes. Then Jill landed the plane safely. “It was super exciting and a little bit scary,” says Jill. “But I believed in myself, and I did it!”

Jill is now age 19. She’s back at Embry-Riddle. This time, she’s a college student. She isn’t there to fly planes. She’s hoping to protect them. Airplanes use computer instructions called code to fly. The code must be kept safe from computer hackers. Jill is studying how to do this. “I love airplanes, and I want to use my skills to keep them safe,” she says.