Catherine Woodard

Friday's Fabulous Flyer! 

 “The thrill of flying came to me a little later in life…  after a very full and successful career in law enforcement.  I suppose it’s fair to say I’m in my comfort zone when things are a little tense, and I thrive on challenge.”  

Catherine’s career began with the Tacoma Police Department in the mid-70’s. At the time she thought the criminals would be the challenge... her male colleagues.  They weren’t quite ready for this blond, intelligent, beauty to infiltrate their club. But despite the many challenges, she conquered them... and then some.

Among her many great assignments on the force, motorcycles were her favorite. She was the first woman to ride a police bike on the West Coast. As a sergeant on her motorcycle stint she had a daily goal: “To appear in the rear view mirror of as many unlawful motorists as possible!”

Late 70's... look out, she's behind you. 

“Did I mention that I like a little adrenaline mixed in with the speed?”

Living in the fast lane, she worked around the clock. Literally. She was on call 24/7, worked 24/7, finished a degree, and married husband number one. Somehow with her busy schedule she managed to have two beautiful children, too. She is one of the unique women who can divorce her husband and become his best friend. Catherine remarried, and Bill, her current husband, retired as an Assistant Chief from the same department Catherine did. Did I mention when Catherine retired, she retired as the Chief of Police? An amazing woman and inspiration to all. She says, “I achieved more than any woman had before, in our department.”

Never one to slow down, she tells me about the summer she went to the FBI.

“Bill exhibited extreme patience the summer I left the adolescent kids home with him and attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.  We were driving back from Virginia on 9-11. The higher I climbed the corporate ladder, the less time I had for recreation, although we always made time for water skiing and camping, and I finished a few marathons along the way.”

Bill retired before Catherine, and found himself at the Tacoma Narrows Airport taking flying lessons. With an instrument and float rating in hand, Catherine was a willing passenger.

“Oh, how I loved flying in the right seat!  It wasn’t the first time for me… I had opportunities several times before, and had flown in small planes many times in Alaska with friends.  We toyed with the idea of vacation property for about three minutes when we concluded that my love for travel and adventure and his love for flying would be much better served by a Cessna 182.  He went on a mission, found the perfect one in 2004, and flew it back from Texas.  We call it our Flying Summer Cottage, N819PS.” 

After retirement, Catherine satisfied her need for tension and adrenaline by taking flying lessons in a C-172 with her instructor, Jennifer Audette.  She soon gained experience and transitioned to her C-182. She and Bill have since flown several cross-country trips to California and Scottsdale.

“The first time I took non-pilot passengers unescorted for breakfast far away was a huge milestone for me.  It got me much closer to one of my ultimate goals: to take girlfriends shoe shopping in San Francisco!  I’ll have to closely figure weight and balance, but I think my Eagle Scout husband’s survival-gear-that-resembles-camping-gear may have to stay behind on that trip!”

Catherine is working towards her instrument rating with her “flying mentor and fellow adventurer” Kendra Cabbage.

Kendra and Catherine

“I think by the time I take my check ride, Kendra and I will have landed on every small field in the state, and many in Oregon.  I can’t learn and practice enough, and that’s what motivates me to be the best pilot I can be.  I’ve mapped out the next few years of endorsements and ratings: tail wheel next, a little acrobatic training, and then commercial.  And someday I hope to actually memorize the aviator’s phonetic alphabet.  It’s totally different than the one I used in police work for 26 years.  By the way, my love for learning and keeping my head engaged led me to another career as a health care investigator, working for the Washington State Department of Health.  I now know what all those cryptic notes mean that doctors write!”

Wedding Hangar alias Flying Summer Cottage

“This past fall we became the proud owners of a home for our Flying Summer Cottage on the field at Tacoma Narrows.  The floor is brilliant white and we have a few amenities to make it a comfortable environment for hangar flying, a little entertaining, and exposing even more friends and family to our passion for flying.  Since the kids are in their mid-20s now, maybe we’ll even host a wedding there, one day!”

Join us on Sunday  March 13th for our fly it forward event. Come fly with Catherine, she'll be one of our Pilots!

Enjoy the Journey! 

XOX Karlene