For some, aviation is a career path, for others, it’s part of who they are. For Envoy pilot and mother of two, First Officer Tess Palmer, aviation has always been in her DNA.
With a father who retired flying the Boeing 777 and a mother who has spent nearly four decades as a flight attendant with American Airlines, her childhood was shaped by the pace of aviation. Airports, airplanes and travel weren’t distant dreams, they were home.
“My childhood revolved around the aviation world,” Tess says. “It’s been part of my core for as long as I can remember.”
That early inspiration eventually led Tess to the flight deck at Envoy Air, where she has found not only a career she loves, but a life that allows her to thrive as both a pilot and a mom.
Finding Balance
For many working parents, balance can feel elusive. But for Tess, aviation has created a rhythm that allows her to be fully present wherever she is.
“When I’m flying, I’m focused completely on the job,” Tess said. “Then, after a few days of flying, I come home and get to be fully present with my family.”
That time at home is filled with tee-ball games, swimming and golf lessons, field trips and community volunteering, plus boating, tubing and wakeboarding along the Mississippi River.
Tess jokes that one of the best part of being a pilot is simple: “Once you set the parking brake, you can truly step away and be at home without bringing work with you.”
For a mother raising two active boys, that flexibility means everything. It’s also one of the reasons she chose Envoy.
“The connection to American and the opportunities for growth made it feel like the right place to build my career,” Tess said. “But as a mom, the quality of life and schedule flexibility have been incredibly meaningful.”
Lessons from the Flight Deck and Motherhood
When asked what motherhood has taught her, and the answer sounds surprisingly similar to what makes a strong aviator: Patience, adaptability and training for whatever might happen, even when things don’t go to plan.
“All of that translates directly into aviation,” says Tess.
And then there’s multitasking — a skill any parent understands well.
“Holding a two-year-old on one hip, opening fruit snacks, helping a five-year-old practice letters and numbers, checking dinner in the oven, and updating flight charts for tomorrow’s trip…If you know, you know,” Tess laughed.
That ability to manage multiple demands while staying grounded has made Tess a stronger pilot. And the reverse is true, too. Being a pilot has shaped the way she approaches motherhood: With discipline, purpose and a commitment to helping her sons grow into smart, kind and successful men.
“The hard work I’ve put into becoming an airline pilot reflects the hard work I’m putting into raising my boys,” shared Tess.
Advice for Female Aviators
The most powerful lesson Tess hopes to pass along to young girls and future moms is that they do not have to choose between ambition and family.
“You really can have it all — the career, the family, the freedom,” said Tess. “It’s possible if you have the right support system, time management and planning.”
Tess hopes her children grow up knowing she didn’t give up her dreams for them—instead, she chose to pursue them with her boys by her side.
A Simple Mother’s Day, Well Spent
When she’s not flying, Tess’s ideal Mother’s Day is simple: warm weather, time on the boat, brunch along the river, and a day spent with her boys, close friends, family and her dog, Hutch. For someone who spends her career in the skies, the greatest destination will always be home.
This Mother’s Day, we celebrate the moms who lead in the flight deck, at home and everywhere in between. Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Envoy Air!