This helicopter pilot, mom of 3, flies into new territory as children's book author

For Kodey Bogart, buckling in behind the controls of a Blackhawk offered a respite from life on the ground.

“As soon as you start to lift that helicopter, whatever other stress or whatever else is going on it your life, it has to stay on the surface, because you have to be immersed in the mission,” the Merritt Island aviator said.

“You’re always thinking about what’s coming next. I think that’s the thing I miss the most, just being able to escape the rest of the world every time I would fly.”

Bogart, 44, served 12 years in the U.S. Army National Guard. Much of that time was spent flying the Blackhawk during medical evacuation missions.

In January, Bogart added “author” to an already impressive resume that includes wife, mother, combat veteran, entrepreneur and pilot. Not female pilot. Just pilot.

Through her Helo Girls book series, she hopes to pique the curiosity of children and share with them how exciting and diverse a career in aviation can be.

Bringing Helo Girls to life

Her first book, “Helo Girls: The Firefighting Pilot,” targets children 4 to 8, and features Abby, a pig-tailed pilot who invites the reader to join in a mission to fight a wildfire.

Bogart and her husband have three children, ranging in age from 6 to 17.

She was inspired to write the book after looking for something to read to her children that reflected what she did as a helicopter pilot. The books she found weren’t safety-focused and didn’t feature female pilots.

As she writes, her children act as sounding boards and editors. She reads the stories the them, and they offer their feedback.

Bogart’s 6-year-old son, especially, has gotten involved.

A comment from him served as a stark reminder of how children are influenced by what they see and hear.

“My little dude asked me, ‘Mommy, can boys be helicopter pilots, too?’” she said.

He knew he could be a fighter pilot, but his mother was his only experience with helicopter pilots.

It reinforced to her how important it is for children to see people like themselves reflected in books and on television — and in the pilot’s seat.

How it all began

When Bogart  joined the Florida Army Guard in 1997, she hadn’t planned to fly.

Her childhood hadn’t been idyllic. She was 17, about to graduate from high school in Lakeland, ready for a change.

She told her recruiter she was up for any job the Guard had available, and spent the first few years of her military career as a truck drive and a tank mechanic.

Her aspirations changed after she got to participate in a helicopter ride meant to raise soldier morale.

“I knew I wanted to be a pilot,” she said.

Unfortunately, though she met all the other fitness standards, Bogart's vision didn’t meet requirements. She settled into a job in human resources.

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Then she learned about a program that had been launched to study the effectiveness of vision-correcting surgery for flight school candidates. She signed up to participate and got the surgery.

“When I went to flight school, they would pull me out of class and check my eyes,” she said.

Her vision remained perfect, and she was cleared to fly.

Bogart’s military career included two years active duty in Iraq. She’s a decorated combat veteran, having been awarded two Air Medals and a Sikorsky Rescue Award.

Returning to civilian life

Bogart left the Guard in 2009 and spent the next eight years working as an instructor at a helicopter training school in Titusville and flying for the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

She also earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautics with a minor in helicopter safety from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a master’s degree in aviation safety from Florida Institute of Technology.

She’s nearing completion of her aviation doctorate and is an adjunct instructor at Florida Tech.

In 2017, when Bogart was pregnant with her son, her husband suggested she start her own business.

Now, she serves as CEO of KB Solutions, an aviation consulting firm focused on Safety Management System development, implementation and training.

Earlier this year, she received the Women Who Rock Excellence in Mentorship award from weVenture Women’s Business Center at Florida Tech.

Looking ahead: Toons? Dolls?

Meanwhile, “The Firefighting Pilot” is just the beginning for the Helo Girls.

Bogart wants to create Helo Girls dolls and she would love to see a Helo Girls animated cartoon.

"The Law Enforcement Pilot” is nearing publication, and she’s already started working on a third book about an air ambulance pilot.

Those books will feature Hispanic and Black heroines. And like the “Firefighting Pilot,” they will focus on safety, teamwork and excitement.

“At some point, I’ll probably do a military one,” she said. “There are tons of helicopter missions.”

Suzy Fleming Leonard is a longtime journalist and retired writer and editor for FLORIDA TODAY. Email her at[email protected].

Check out helogirls.com for more about the book series.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Mother of 3, a decorated combat vet, adds author to high-flying resume