Pilot and Mom Cello Santos Custodio on Balancing Work and Life
While many companies are shifting their focus to increasing gender and ethnic diversity, there are still industries out there that are heavily male-dominated. This includes aviation, where careers like aircraft piloting are taken by more males than females. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the participation of women holding positions as pilots, air traffic controllers, and maintenance technicians has only increased from 4.5% globally in 2016 to 4.9% in 2021. It goes without saying that women have a long way to go in the aviation industry with certain barriers like the cost of training and how “women are often held to a different standard.”
But that doesn’t mean they’re giving up. Times are changing, and though it’s at a slow pace, we are seeing an increase in women in male-dominated careers. In 2023, CEO Magazine reported that the Philippines ranked 10th among countries with the highest number of women CEOs, but other industries, like aviation, are a little tougher to crack, with approximately only 6% of women pilots worldwide, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
This Women’s Month, we sat down with Cello Santos Custodio, an airline pilot and mom, to talk about breaking barriers in the aviation industry, the significant contributions they make in the industry, and how she manages her work and family life.
An Unexpected Detour
Cello is currently a pilot for Philippine Airlines (PAL), the country’s flagship carrier. Now 29 years old, she’s been with the company for over seven years, starting as a First Officer flying their Turboprop planes from the Q300 to the Q400 to now flying the Airbus 320/321.
One would think that wanting to fly a plane would’ve been fostered at a young age, but Cello never thought about becoming a pilot till her final year in college while working towards getting a degree in Business Administration with a major in Human Resource Management. During that time, she also ventured into pageantry and modeling, having won "Mutya ng Pasig" in 2014 and 1st Runner Up at the 2016 Miss Aviation Philippines pageant. She was also a competitive swimmer back in her early school days. With many experiences under her belt, we were fascinated to know why she decided to pursue becoming a pilot.
“My dad is also a pilot, but growing up, I didn't see myself following in his footsteps,” she told The Beat Asia. “It was during my last year in college while doing my OJT (On-the-Job training) when I realized that field of work isn't for me.”
“Being in an office set up wasn’t something I see myself doing in the long run. So, I brought up the idea of being a flight attendant to my dad, but he offered me an option to take up flying school. I was hesitant at first since I had no plans of being a pilot, but after he talked me through it, I was fascinated by it! I became curious about the work and life behind the cockpit door. This curiosity fueled my journey into flight school.”
Today, she’s one of the 80 women pilots who fly for PAL, which represents 9% of their pilot roster. When asked if it was in any way tough to be a woman in her career, she replied, “I personally don’t see any difference between working with men or women. We are employed and trained based on our skills and not our gender. The pilot seat doesn't know any gender. But when I had a family of my own, that’s when I realized how tough it is to be a woman in this field.”
Cello mentioned some of the challenges she faced through the years, such as how women in general need more emotional understanding and social support, which the opposite sex often sees as a lack of competence in a job where there is little or no room for personal emotions.
“I also see that women value work-life balance more, especially as they shoulder the greater share of child-bearing, caregiving and domestic responsibilities,” she added.
In terms of overcoming these challenges, the pilot shared how these issues only fueled her determination. It pushed her to try harder and prove that she could do the job as well as any man. She mentioned how it’s not just about the job, but a matter of resilience.
“As soon as I sit in the cockpit, the pilot in me becomes dominant, and I can easily focus on my work.”
On Balancing Flights and Family
Cello got married recently to fellow pilot and PAL Captain Luigi Custodio and has an adorable two-year-old son. Between being a pilot and mom, we could only imagine how tough it could be to handle both at once, but Cello sees this challenge as a blessing and trusts in her capabilities, which she also believes is an advantage for women in her industry.
“Women are good at multitasking, communication, and handling different personalities, which are essential in ensuring the safety of each flight.”
She also shared how women serve as “equalizers in the workplace” and have the ability to break established norms and challenge existing assumptions that will eventually lead to new ideas for growth and equal opportunities, especially in male-dominated industries.
When it comes to work-life balance, Cello admitted that it has been a challenge, especially since giving birth to her son. But she described this challenge as more of a matter of wanting to spend more time with him without sacrificing a career she loves.
“It’s always painful to leave him behind. He begins to understand his mom has to go to work, and as I wear my uniform, he says, ‘You have work again?!’ and sometimes I can’t help but tear up,” she shared.
“Switching roles from a pilot to a mom after a long day of work is a challenge. Flying is a demanding job, and so is being a mom with all the stress and fatigue. Having a strong support system that understands the need to be rested before and after duty is so important. Luckily, I have the help of my mother, who takes care of my son when I’m away. I would never have been able to do this job without her help. Being a mother and an airline pilot has given me the best of both worlds. I get to continue doing what I love, but when I come home, I have a family to share my life with.”
PAL has also been working towards building a more diverse workplace and gender-balanced workforce. In fact, the flag carrier recently pledged P10 million for aspiring women pilots through their Fly With Her initiative, which is aimed at increasing female representation in the airline’s pilot workforce.
“When I was still starting in the industry, there were only 5% of the total population who are women. Now, I see that more women make up the workforce — not just as pilots, but flight mechanics, dispatchers, and others roles,” Cello said. “I get to fly with seasoned female captains and fellow moms whom I learn a lot from. Like our previous chief pilot of the Airbus fleet, she was the very first chief pilot in Asia! Every barrier we break and every step we take opens the way for future generations.”
Balancing life and work will always be challenging no matter what industry you’re in, and being a woman poses its own unique challenges, but Cello is determined to break stereotypes while also enjoying the blessing of being a mother and a wife.
“Give and show love no matter what,” she advised. “I am reminded of this by my 2-year-old son daily. Most of the time, I am gone the whole day, and I come home tired and irritated, but I’m always welcomed by a running little boy shouting 'Mama you’re back!' with lots of hugs and kisses. Sometimes, I lose my patience and get mad at him, but what do I get in return? Love. He always makes me feel like I am the most amazing person in the world. He shows me the kind of person that I need to become.”
She also added that working moms should push through and believe that they are capable of so much more than what people — or society — let on. For all the hardworking women reading this, we echo Cello’s words:
“We don’t have to stick to traditions. Everyone gets to choose what works for them and what makes them the happiest. I know these days are tiring and chaotic, but these are some of the best days of our lives. Enjoy it!”
Follow Cello Santos Custodio on Instagram to get a glimpse of her flight and family journeys.
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