Colombian Aviation Pioneer, Angelika Helberger Frobenius
In 1940, Angelika Helberger Frobenius was born into an aristocratic family in Frankfurt, Germany. Her grandfather, Leo Frobenius, was a renowned ethnologist and archaeologist. After completing her high school education at Freie Waldorfschule Frankfurt, Helberger's life took an unexpected turn.
Due to difficulties in Colombia, she moved to Argentina to focus on writing and spending more time with her family. However, her reunion with her mother did not go as planned, and she was asked to leave. In search of a new beginning, she moved to another city in Colombia and started living in a poultry farm.
It was during this time that Helberger met a member of a local aero club, who inspired her to pursue a career in aviation. Intrigued, she moved forward, and in 1965, she obtained her pilot's license.
With determination in her heart, Helberger approached Juan Pablo Ortega, the president of Avianca S.A., to finance her flight training in exchange for working for the company. Ortega saw potential in Helberger and accepted her deal.
However, after becoming pregnant, Avianca fired Helberger following her maternity leave. Three months after her baby's birth, she and her husband separated. During this challenging period, she made a living by acting and modeling, using her fluency in German, French, Spanish, and English to her advantage, particularly with aviation companies like Air France.
Despite the setbacks, Helberger was determined to become a commercial pilot, a field dominated by men during that time. After starting with a small company, she made history in 1970, becoming the first female commercial pilot in South America, flying a Douglas DC-4.
Seven years later, she was flying a Boeing 727 for Avianca. However, details about her role or contributions related to aviation in Colombia or elsewhere are scarce. Despite her aristocratic heritage, the available search results do not provide specific information about her life or her impact on the aviation industry in Colombia.
Helberger's story serves as an inspiration for women aspiring to break barriers and pursue their dreams in a field traditionally dominated by men. Her journey, filled with resilience and determination, is a testament to her spirit and dedication.
- Angelika Helberger Frobenius, aviation pioneer, started her flight training with financial support from Juan Pablo Ortega, the president of Avianca S.A., in exchange for working for the company.
- Helberger's aviation career faced a setback when she was fired by Avianca after her maternity leave, which led her to make a living by acting and modeling, using her multilingual skills, particularly with aviation companies like Air France.
- In 1970, Helberger, a determined woman in the aviation industry dominated by men, made history by becoming the first female commercial pilot in South America, flying a Douglas DC-4.
- Seven years later, Helberger was flying a Boeing 727 for Avianca, although details about her role or contributions related to aviation in Colombia or elsewhere are scarce.
- Despite her aristocratic heritage and the limited information available about her life, Helberger's story serves as an inspiration for women aspiring to break barriers and pursue their dreams in the aviation industry and beyond.
- Helberger's journey, marked by resilience and determination, is a testament to her spirit and dedication, demonstrating the power of health-and-wellness, women's health, science, technology, business, and finance in shaping careers and industries such as transportation and aviation.
