University of the Fraser Valley alumna Kristin Long has spent more than two decades in the captain’s seat of airplanes, but her impact reaches well beyond the cockpit. Kristin mentors future pilots, shapes airline leaders, and works to open doors for the next generation of women in aviation. 

That commitment began long before she ever flew a commercial aircraft. Inspired by her mother’s passion for geography and travel, and by National Geographic magazines that filled their home, Kristin and her two siblings spent hours playing airplane, lining up chairs and loading them with stuffies bound for far-off destinations. 

“I’d look at those magazines and see beautiful images of all the people and places from around the world, and I found that so inspiring,” Kristin says. “I’ve always loved getting on an airplane and going somewhere.” 

Kristin earned her commercial pilot diploma at Coastal Pacific Aviation and UFV in 1998, and today, she flies at 35,000 feet as a Boeing 737 captain — but she remains part of a small minority. Women continue to be underrepresented in airline cockpits and leadership roles across the industry. 

“Eight per cent of airline pilots are women, and two per cent of captains are women,” she says. “While those numbers have doubled over the last 30 years, they’ve now stagnated, and any increases are very slow.” 

Kristin sees the impact of those numbers firsthand. At a recent event, she spoke with a 10-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a pilot but has already been told by classmates that women can’t fly airplanes. 

“I hear that families still feel an airline pilot job isn’t a great job for a woman,” she says. “You hear questions like, ‘How will you be able to have a family one day?’ or ‘How will you have a spouse who supports you being away all the time?’” 

Kristin adds that women often face greater difficulty accessing funding for flight training — another barrier she is working to help remove. 

She is the founding president of Northern Spirit, Winnipeg’s Women in Aviation chapter, and co-chair of the Girls in Aviation Day program in Winnipeg. Through both roles, she focuses on mentorship, visibility, and access. 

“I share my story, which shows that this is possible with determination and hard work,” she says. “Sometimes you have to work harder for it, but don’t give up. If you’re passionate about something, your passion and drive will help realize your dreams.” 

Mentorship is central to Kristin’s leadership approach. She serves as a standards pilot and facilitator for WestJet’s Captain Command Course, helping new captains develop leadership skills that extend beyond technical expertise. 

“We want our captains to be leaders because they have leadership skills, not because they have four bars on their uniform,” she says. “We want them to have mindfulness, empathy, and all the traits of a strong leader.” 

She also volunteers on WestJet’s ALPA Professional Standards Committee, where she is committed to fostering a culture of professionalism and respect. 

“It starts with how you dress in your uniform, how you hold yourself, how you interact with security and crew members, and how you greet the customer service agent when you get to your gate,” Kristin says. “When you get on the plane, are you saying hello to the flight attendants, looking them in the eyes and letting them know you’re there to support them? All of these things set the tone for your leadership.” 

By modelling respect and professionalism, she believes leaders have the power to shape workplace culture. 

“By treating people with respect, being friendly and supporting them in their roles, you create a really great place to work,” she says. “As leaders, we get to drive that culture.” 

Kristin also serves as an honorary colonel with the Royal Canadian Air Force and is chair of the RCAF Foundation.