Debbie Pollard hit the headlines when she helped to save the life of an 11-year-old boy. But what makes her story even more remarkable is that she was one of two female pilots on the RAF search and rescue helicopter team which airlifted the youngster to safety. Alexandra Phillips spoke to her about being one of few women in a male-dominated job

HER FATHER told her to stop being ridiculous when Debbie Pollard informed him at the age of 13 that she wanted to be a pilot.

But now, at the age of 27, her parents are more than proud of their daughter who has graduated as an RAF search and rescue Sea King helicopter pilot. And they were bursting with pride when her name was splashed across national newspapers.

The search and rescue co-pilot, based at E Flight 202 Squadron at Leconfield near Beverley, East Yorkshire, had helped to save the life of an 11-year-old boy who had fallen 250ft off a cliff on the east coast.

"It was amazing," said Debbie. "We were the first to spot him and we airlifted him to safety and took him to hospital in Middlesbrough. It was a good rescue because it had a happy out-come. It feels good to be involved in something like that."

The former Skipton Girls' High School pupil knew what she wanted from a young age and by the time she was 17 had finally persuaded her father, Trevor Nash, to give her the chance to get up in the air.

"He arranged for me to go gliding with the Burn Gliding Club, near Selby and then at Sutton Bank on the North York Moors. It was great fun and I really took to it but I knew it wasn't enough and I would have to get up in a powered aircraft at some point."

It was the take off for a flying career for the woman who is one of only a handful of women in the country to earn their wings.

Other rescues she has taken part in include sinking boats, ship collisions, injured divers and transporting ill and premature babies to hospital special-ist units.

"It really is fantastic," says Debbie. "When you get a rescue job it gets you going and if there is a good outcome it gives you a buzz to think you have saved somebody's life. But obviously it is very sad when somebody dies but at least you know that you tried to help."

Debbie speaks highly of her male colleagues and claims to have never experienced any malicious or sexist abuse in what is clearly recognised as a man's job.

"Of course there is a lot of banter such as 'a woman's place is in the home' but none of it is malicious and it is all meant to be friendly. It's good if you can give as good as you get. They like it.

"Women are accepted now as part of an air crew. It's just a sign of the times."

Debbie studied for her A-levels but never forgot about her dream and in the meantime found out about an Air League Flying Scholarship. Unbe-known to her parents she applied for a place and after interviews and aptitude tests was awarded the scholarship. "I couldn't believe it. It was my first time in a powered aircraft. I had only ever been gliding before and it was a great experience."

She was given 20 lessons at Sherburn-in-Elmet, near Leeds, with an instructor but after ten she was allowed to go it alone. "It was just fantastic," she added.

After passing her A-levels with flying colours Debbie went off to Durham University to study geography, and although she knew that she wanted to be a pilot she wanted to make sure she had an education to fall back on.

"I was always being told to keep my options open and not commit myself to anything so that's what I did. My dad was a geography teacher so I suppose it must be in the genes."

But Debbie does not know from who she inherited the flying bug because nobody else in her family has shown an interest in becoming a pilot.

"It was totally out of the blue," she said. "I just remember thinking about it when I was younger and how great it would be. Nothing could put me off it."

And while Debbie was at university she could not get the bug out of her system and joined the University Air Squadron which was part of the Royal Air Force Northumbrian Air Squadron.

"I was really lucky enough to be accepted and had three great years of experience. It stood me in good stead for my career and I'm very grateful."

When she graduated from Durham in 1985 Debbie joined the RAF. All applicants go through the flying training system to qualify and those that pass are streamed. Debbie was streamed with the fast jets at Linton-on-Ouse, near York but it was soon discovered that she was too short.

"I was disappointed that I didn't have the chance to have a go in the fast jets and there was a while when they were unsure about any aircraft I could fly because I couldn't reach anything so I'm more than happy flying helicopters."

She began her helicopter training at the Tri-Service Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury. In 1998 she graduated as a flight lieutenant and was awarded her pilot's wings.

"I felt really proud. I had finally achieved what I had wanted from being a child. It felt good."

Debbie also had something else to thank her time with the Air Squadron at university for - her husband.

She and Nick were both members and their love blossomed. The pair are posted at different RAF bases which means they don't have much time together. Debbie lives at the family home in Leconfield while Nick, 28, is based at Boulmer, north of Newcastle.

"I'm really pleased that I'm married to another search and rescue pilot. But sometimes we go through phases when we don't see each other for three weeks. That's hard but we both knew the nature of the job when we accepted."

There is also the two months of the year spent at the Falkland Islands which means even less time together but the couple are waiting for news of a post in Wales which means they will be able to live together. This is not expected in the immediate future however as Debbie expects to be at Leconfield for a while yet.

"Hopefully Nick will become an instructor and we can move to Wales together, but it's all a bit pie in the sky at the minute."

Debbie graduated as a Sea King pilot from RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall in June last year and was then posted to Leconfield. The E Flight base she works for covers the whole of the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, the Peak District and occasionally the Lake District and the North Sea.

"It really is a great job and I couldn't imagine doing anything else. I love it."

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