Rebecca Barkhouse

Experience & Activities

Rebecca Barkhouse was born and brought up in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.  She knew at a young age she wanted to be a pilot and never lost that dream throughout her childhood and schooling.

Although she dreamed of becoming a pilot, taking another course was the more practical option after high school. She took a Hospitality course at her local community college and learned the ins and outs of the service industry by working at a family run hotel in Nova Scotia. Subsequently moving to Lake Louise, Alberta and working at a resort. Living out in Alberta among the mountains and the gorgeous scenery her dream of flying resurfaced and Rebecca started the process of applying to flight school.

Two years later, after the illness of a close family member, saving money and doing extra on-line courses, she started flight training in 2002 at Moncton Flight College in the Diploma program.  Two months into the course she knew with certainty she was in the right field and had entered a career of like-minded, energetic and passionate people.

Since her first day of flight school there have been challenges, such as breaking her leg in the first year which delayed her training, but the passion remained to keep moving toward the goal because even baby steps will reach the goal eventually!

Her career path since has taken her from getting a float rating in northern Manitoba, to teaching ESL students flight training in Moncton, New Brunswick; she spent 9 years in Beijing, China teaching Aviation English and preparation courses for flight training in an English-speaking country to presently working as a Medevac first officer out of Halifax Nova Scotia.

She may not have followed the traditional path of an aviator but to quote her, “I have no regrets on the path my career has followed.  I am living my dream of being a Medevac pilot in my home province and all the experience I’ve gained has only enriched me as a person and a pilot!”

Her extensive experience with ESL in the aviation industry makes her an invaluable resource to students and instructors in that environment.