When Rhiannon Umfleet considered her future, she never imagined it would lead her to the cockpit of a plane. Now a student at the University of Central Arkansas Aviation Academy and a finance major in UCA’s College of Business, she is fully embracing her passion for aviation.
Originally from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Umfleet moved to northwest Arkansas at a young age and initially planned on becoming an aerospace engineer. After high school, while working full-time and taking community college classes, she realized a desk job wasn’t for her.
“I didn’t want to be in a space like that for the rest of my life,” she said. “I wanted a job where I could move, grow, do different things, and be outside. I thought, ‘Might as well fly the things. That sounds a lot cooler.’”
When her mom sent her a Facebook ad about UCA’s new aviation program, Umfleet jumped at the opportunity. A month later, she told her parents she had signed up and would be moving to Conway to start ground school. By June, she had piloted her first solo flight.
“I was in the downwind, and I was finally able to fully look up and take it all in,” she said. “Just to look over and see that right seat empty, I felt pure excitement coursing through my body like ‘I can’t believe I’m up here, 1,500 feet in the air by myself.’”
Beyond the classroom and cockpit, Umfleet has found a welcoming aviation community at UCA and in Conway.
“Brad Teague, the aviation director at UCA, Annie Fitzgerald, and Mark Valenzuela, the chief flight instructor at Central Flying Service, they have all been so kind and welcoming. They’ve truly made Conway feel like home,” Rhiannon said.
As the only woman in the first cohort of the UCA Aviation Academy, Umfleet has embraced her role as a trailblazer.
“At first, I shied away from focusing on being the only woman in the program,” she said. “But Miss Annie showed me the importance of embracing it and being a role model for young girls who may want to do this one day.”
For those considering aviation, her advice is simple: “Don’t be scared of how hard everyone says it is. It’s challenging, but the rewards are worth it.”
She hopes UCA’s Aviation Academy will continue growing and providing students with more resources and connections. With a new hangar under construction, she envisions a space where students can collaborate and build a strong aviation community.
“A year ago, I never imagined I’d be here,” she said. “Now, I can’t picture myself doing anything else.”