On Leah Murphy – for HeliOps Magazine

It’s every pilot’s nightmare – the possibility that, after investing hundreds of hours and however many thousands of dollars in a license, it could all be dashed away in a second. For Leah Murphy, partway through her CFI training, that dreadful dream became a reality.

In just a brief moment in her car, Leah was rear-ended by a distracted driver. Though the pain was immediate, the full effects of the accident were more than just physical and eventually led to more than a year out of the sky.

“The diagnosis took months to receive. Unfortunately, the medical professionals who were treating me did not believe my symptoms warranted further investigation, so I, along with my pain, was dismissed.” Though Leah continued to experience ongoing issues, she was unable to convince doctors that something was still amiss with her body. “It’s scary when you think something is wrong, but everyone else is telling you it’s all in your head.”

“After months of unbearable pain, I even gave up on my goal of flying. Though the medical professionals were telling me I was fine, I grounded myself, knowing something was definitely wrong.”

Unable to care for herself, Leah moved back in with her parents, who worked tirelessly to find a new doctor who would take on her case. Finally, they were successful and learned that Leah had damage to her lower spine that would require major surgery to correct. In one way, it was a relief to know the facts – but it was yet another obstacle between Leah and her aviation medical.

Back in 2007, Marine Capt. Jennifer J. Harris was the first Massachusetts woman killed in the Iraq War. A young Leah learned of her passing while watching the morning news as she was getting ready for school. The helicopter Harris was piloting had been shot down, killing all seven people on board.

“Before this, I never heard of a woman being a pilot and was under the impression women didn’t – or weren’t allowed – to fly. I remember being mesmerized and devastated all at the same time; mesmerized by how amazing Capt. Harris must have been, and devastated to learn of her death.”

Over a decade would pass before Leah would even hear of another woman pilot. “I never fully understood the power of visibility until looking at my personal experience.”

During her university years, while pursuing an unrelated undergraduate degree, Leah took up the hobby of skydiving. The drop zone where she most frequently jumped happened to feature a helicopter flight school, and glimpses of the resident students’ flight training rekindled her interest in becoming a pilot. That was enough for Leah, who transferred into the helicopter program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. Within two and a half years, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science, focusing on rotary-wing. She was now the proud holder of a Commercial-Instrument Flight Certificate.

Following her fateful car accident and subsequent search for answers, Leah underwent the spinal fusion required to get her back on the path to recovery. “Once I received a diagnosis for my symptoms and had the corrective surgery, I regained my love for flight and, with the help of a fantastic support system, went on to earn my Certified Flight Instructor rating in the same year.”

Leah’s aviation career officially launched in 2020 when she began working as a flight instructor and then as a tour pilot. She says that it has been challenging to find employment amid a global pandemic, but, in an encouraging turn of events, she recently landed herself a job as an ENG (Electronic News Gathering) pilot based out of Maryland, USA. In this position, Leah coordinates with the local news station, reporting breaking news and capturing relevant events. She swiftly plans flights and makes a beeline for the location with a photographer on board – sometimes even taking a reporter to go live from the aircraft. “I love it. Every day is different, and I am continually being challenged as a pilot, which allows me to grow.”

Leah’s worked hard to get to where she is today, but readily acknowledges the generosity she has received along the way. “I have been fortunate to receive a handful of scholarships to assist in funding my flight training. I owe the biggest thanks to the National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA), which provided me with multiple scholarships – most recently the generous Steven Moore Advocacy Scholarship, which allowed me to complete my CFI rating.”

Always looking for ways to give back to her industry, Leah currently serves on the board of directors as the Vice-President of Membership for Whirly-Girls, the international organization of women helicopter pilots. “Being a working part of Whirly-Girls has allowed me to expand my network and learn about other elements of the helicopter industry.”

“We are always looking to expand the membership,” she reminds me. “Both women helicopter pilots and associate members who support our mission: to provide educational resources and advance women in the industry.”

“I am also fortunate to be surrounded by a plethora of amazing mentors and role models. One mentor I am grateful to interact with frequently is former Boston MedFlight Chief Pilot Lynda Colarossi.” Leah met Lynda when she reached out to Rick Kenin, COO of Boston Medflight (and now member of HAI Board of Directors), to inquire about doing a ride-along. “They generously let me shadow Lynda during her shift, and I was hooked. I could not have asked for a better role model.”

With hopes to one day fly as an air ambulance pilot, it’s impossible to put a price on the value of being able to witness another woman in the field first-hand – even for Leah, who grew up in a family of first responders and already has a strong appreciation of the service they provide. That’s why it’s so important to get the stories of female pilots out there and encourage networking and communication wherever possible. After all, since she was compelled to contact me after reading this column, that’s how I met Leah in the first place!

With her unique experience, tenacity, and convivial, frank way of offering assistance to others, there’s no doubt that Leah Murphy will go on to have a professional and positive impact, both from the controls of her heli and on the industry in general.