Snowbirds alumna LCol (Ret.) Maryse Carmichael, who was the first female pilot in the world to be selected to fly on a military aerobatics team and later became the first female commander of the team, was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame on Oct. 27.
Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame said in their release that “In recognition of her pioneering contributions to Canadian aviation and to her ongoing commitment to the aviation community, Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame is pleased to induct Maryse Carmichael as a member for 2022.”
Carmichael is a 22-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Airforce. She has more than 3,500 hours of flight time logged.
“From a young girl, I was really lucky to have a strong foundation, from my family, to the Air Cadets, to the RCAF. They gave me all the tools that I needed to achieve the firsts that I did, and to have the career that I’ve had,” Carmichael told MooseJawToday.com.
Her family was present at the induction dinner in Montreal, as was Maj. Gen. Colin Keiver, deputy commander RCAF.
“It was really quite meaningful,” Carmichael added.
After learning to fly as an Air Cadet, Carmichael joined the Canadian military in 1990 and completed pilot training in 1994.
In addition to her time with 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, she served as a flying instructor at 15 Wing Moose Jaw and flew with 434 Combat Support Squadron, 412 Transport Squadron, and 436 (Transport) Squadron.
After retiring from the CAF as a Lieutenant-Colonel, Carmichael joined CAE Inc. CAE is the primary contractor for the NATO Flying Training in Canada. She is currently the Solution Lead, Future Aircrew Training, and in that role she continues to contribute significantly to the field of aviation.
LCol (Ret’d) Carmichael is a member of the Ninety-Nines, the International Chapter of Women in Aviation, and a founding member of the Snowbirds Alumni Association. She has also been named as one of the 100 most powerful women in Canada, as a YWCA Woman of Distinction, and is a recipient of the Northern Lights Aero Foundation “Elsie” award for Flight Operations.
Originally from Quebec, Carmichael now calls Moose Jaw home.
“There’s a wide range of people inducted into (Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame), from World War One and Two veterans all the way to astronauts … it’s about having a meaningful impact on aviation in Canada,” Carmichael explained.
“It’s a great honour. Aviation has been a passion since I started as an Air Cadet, so in my teenage years, I started flying. And there are so many people I look up to that are presently in the Hall of Fame. Now to join the ranks is quite an honour.”
