<strong>Flying high</strong>: 24-year-old Dutch pilot Lindy Kats is making a name for herself in the aviation world and on social media. She's a first officer based in Italy and has a popular Instagram account: <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fpilot_lindy%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">@pilot_lindy</a>.
Flying high: 24-year-old Dutch pilot Lindy Kats is making a name for herself in the aviation world and on social media. She's a first officer based in Italy and has a popular Instagram account: @pilot_lindy.
Courtesy @pilot_lindy
<strong>Words of wisdom: </strong>Kats hopes her social media presence will inspire others to become pilots: "I always like to say that even if it seems very, very difficult, just go for it and do your research," she says. "Don't think it's impossible until you've actually experienced it's impossible."
Words of wisdom: Kats hopes her social media presence will inspire others to become pilots: "I always like to say that even if it seems very, very difficult, just go for it and do your research," she says. "Don't think it's impossible until you've actually experienced it's impossible."
@pilot_lindy
<strong>Dream fulfilled:</strong> For Kats, working as a pilot is a dream come true -- she grew up fascinated by airplanes and airports: "The fact that I've been able to make it a profession, to make it my job, I'm so grateful for that and so happy," she tells CNN Travel.
Dream fulfilled: For Kats, working as a pilot is a dream come true -- she grew up fascinated by airplanes and airports: "The fact that I've been able to make it a profession, to make it my job, I'm so grateful for that and so happy," she tells CNN Travel.
Courtesy @pilot_lindy
<strong>Aviation affinity: </strong>Kats has always felt a connection with the world of aviation. "Whenever we would get close to the airport or driving by, I would just get this sensation seeing all the aircraft taking off," she recalls.
Aviation affinity: Kats has always felt a connection with the world of aviation. "Whenever we would get close to the airport or driving by, I would just get this sensation seeing all the aircraft taking off," she recalls.
Courtesy @pilot_lindy
<strong>No sleep: </strong>"I couldn't sleep on the plane because I was so interested by everything and looking outside," Kats recalls of her first experiences of air trave.
No sleep: "I couldn't sleep on the plane because I was so interested by everything and looking outside," Kats recalls of her first experiences of air trave.
Courtesy @pilot_lindy
<strong>Home and away: </strong>Kats' photographs document her globe-spanning travels, from spectacular, sun-bleached shots of her current home of Sicily to aerial views of New York's Central Park.
Home and away: Kats' photographs document her globe-spanning travels, from spectacular, sun-bleached shots of her current home of Sicily to aerial views of New York's Central Park.
Courtesy @pilot_lindy
<strong>Social media sensation:</strong> Dutch-born Kats started posting on Instagram to stay in touch with friends and family. "But at some point it started growing. People liked my pictures and more people started to follow me," she says.
Social media sensation: Dutch-born Kats started posting on Instagram to stay in touch with friends and family. "But at some point it started growing. People liked my pictures and more people started to follow me," she says.
Courtesy @pilot_lindy
<strong>Influencing others</strong>: Now Kats has 87.6k followers -- and the number's always growing. The appeal of her account lies in her behind-the-scenes look at the life of a pilot and the aspirational shots of her globetrotting lifestyle.
Influencing others: Now Kats has 87.6k followers -- and the number's always growing. The appeal of her account lies in her behind-the-scenes look at the life of a pilot and the aspirational shots of her globetrotting lifestyle.
Courtesy @pilot_lindy
<strong>Inspiring others:</strong> Kats' profile offers an insider look at the world of aviation and followers can ask the pilot questions about her industry. "I always try to reply and if I could inspire anyone that would be great," she says.
Inspiring others: Kats' profile offers an insider look at the world of aviation and followers can ask the pilot questions about her industry. "I always try to reply and if I could inspire anyone that would be great," she says.
Courtesy @pilot_lindy
<strong>Challenging stereotypes</strong>: Kats has carved a successful career in a male dominated industry -- occasionally she encounters negative comments from passengers, but she says her male co-workers have always been very welcoming.
Challenging stereotypes: Kats has carved a successful career in a male dominated industry -- occasionally she encounters negative comments from passengers, but she says her male co-workers have always been very welcoming.
Courtesy @pilot_lindy
<strong>Hard work: </strong>Kats hopes that she's ultimately judged on her capability -- not her gender. "I'll always, always do my best," she says. "I don't feel different than any of my male colleagues and I hope that my passengers will think the same, that's basically all I can do."
Hard work: Kats hopes that she's ultimately judged on her capability -- not her gender. "I'll always, always do my best," she says. "I don't feel different than any of my male colleagues and I hope that my passengers will think the same, that's basically all I can do."
Courtesy @pilot_lindy
<strong>New heights: </strong>Kats has now branched out into <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fchannel%2FUCAnbZXBF_79G2ui50oMTBog" target="_blank" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, uploading lively vlogs charting the day-to-day life of a pilot: "The things that I do in my off time, but also how I prepare for a flight, or how I prepare for some training over a simulator," she says.
New heights: Kats has now branched out into YouTube, uploading lively vlogs charting the day-to-day life of a pilot: "The things that I do in my off time, but also how I prepare for a flight, or how I prepare for some training over a simulator," she says.
Courtesy @pilot_lindy
<strong>Perseverance:</strong> Kats worked hard to get into flight school and says her first experience flying a plane was "the best moment" of her career so far. "It was more than I ever expected it to be, it was such an amazing experience," she recalls.
Perseverance: Kats worked hard to get into flight school and says her first experience flying a plane was "the best moment" of her career so far. "It was more than I ever expected it to be, it was such an amazing experience," she recalls.
Courtesy @pilot_lindy