Hairdresser leaves job, becomes pilot and Instagram star 

She shares incredible images of behind-the-scenes shots of her job and globe-trotting lifestyle.

From being a hairdresser to flying aircraft, this 33-year-old Swede reinforced the belief that it's never too late to pursue dreams. First officer Sara Johansson from Sweden trained to be a pilot and worked as a commercial pilot for two and a half years.
An avid Instagram user herself, Johansson has over 22,000 followers and is a star on the social media platform. She shares incredible images of behind-the-scenes shots of her job and globe-trotting lifestyle.
Her Instagram account is filled with pictures of her posing in her uniform in the cockpit, chilling inside an engine, or exploring exotic locations on her days off.

 

Third simulator session done. I love the #falcon7x ?? It's very high tech and in a way very demanding of your technical system knowledge. All that reading and studying is becoming very handy now when handling all these simulated failures!!!! #lovelearning #pilot #workhard
A post shared by Sara Johansson (@johsara) on Jun 21, 2018 at 9:38am PDT

 

#tbt on a Friday! During 8 month I only did Visuals or Non Precision approaches in Africa. Disconnecting the auto pilot and flying the Boeing like a little Cessna. It's one year ago today since I left Africa. Feels like a whole lifetime ago. Time flies!!! #letsdosomehashtags #pilot #femalepilot #boeing #pilotlife #aircraft #damnimterribleathashtags
A post shared by Sara Johansson (@johsara) on Jun 1, 2018 at 2:31pm PDT

But her journey wasn't a cakewalk as she explained the challenges she has faced simply due to her gender and how she overcame her fear of flying in the first place.
Johansson, who hails from Borås, Sweden, was afraid of flying until she got a chance to sit in an aircraft's cockpit when she was 16. "When I was 16, I had the opportunity to sit in the cockpit. I was completely amazed by it but at the time I was in school to become a hairdresser. Then I started a hair salon and the years went by," said Johansson.
"I felt that my true nature is to be a pilot. So I googled the possibilities and found a pilot school nearby," added Johansson who has flown both passengers and cargo on a Boeing 737. She now flies a Falcon 7X on corporate services, according to a Daily Mail report. "Flying is a feeling I can't even begin to explain. I love to learn and I love to evolve. In this occupation you never stop learning. You have a huge responsibility as a pilot and need to have great knowledge in so many areas," she added.
Sharing her one of the challenging learning experiences, Johansson said, "I've done a lot of challenging flying in Africa, when you have to fly and land the aircraft without any navigational aids. Basic flying in a 60 ton jet - doesn't get any better than that."
Reiterating hardwork always pays, Johansson said, "I've been tested extra hard compared to my other co-workers at a few occasions. One simulator examiner I had wanted to fail me at every cost. But I managed and he couldn't fail me." She added, "I'm working hard to be the best professional I can be. I try not to let anyone put me down. I know that I'm a good pilot and I want to learn even more from all the experienced captains I'm flying with. Gender doesn't fly the aircraft. People do."
Johansson believes Instagram is a unique way of connecting with people. "I've gotten several new close friends thanks to Instagram. Sometimes people come up to me asking if I'm Sara. That always makes me blush with a huge smile on face."