By Admin. Updated 12:35 p.m., Friday, December 8, 2023, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
A Vincentian pilot employed with American Airlines (AA) is set to make her inaugural flight into the Argyle International Airport (AIA) on Saturday (December 9).
According to information received from her mother through the Argyle International Airport today (December 7), the Vincentian-born American Airlines pilot is Mrs. Rochelle Roache-Lanza.
Mrs. Roache-Lanza is a commercial pilot with years of experience in the Caribbean, Nigeria, and the USA.
Here is her background, according to information from her mother – Mrs. Marilyn Roache:
Rochelle Roache-Lanza attended Primary School in Bequia. She then attended the St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown (SJCK) from 1985 to 1990, then on to sixth form at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College. It was while Rochelle was at Community College that she developed a love for Geography. There, she was pushed to excel by her Geography teacher – Mr Kelvin Malcolm.
Rochelle’s journey to excellence saw her embracing the job of Air Traffic Controller where she spent three (3) years in Union Island and Canouan in that position. She pursued studies in Trinidad and Tobago where she was inspired to become a pilot.
Her mom recalls fondly that her response when Rochelle called asking for $24,000.00 to finance this particular course of study was: “Where am I going to get this money”? Rochelle was even told that the sky is for birds and that’s a man’s job. Her parents couldn’t afford it so Rochelle came back and continued working, but she was not deterred. She applied for and was successful at securing a loan to attend flight school in Canada.
Rochelle was certain she wanted to do this even as her parents tried to discourage her. When Rochelle returned from Canada, her parents had to pay the loan and Rochelle had to attend another flight school in Guyana as well as obtain her Caribbean aviation license in Antigua for a further three (3) months, with an exam every six (6) months. Her mom Marilyn remembers the fun short stint Rochelle spent with SVG Air. Rochelle seized the opportunity when a position became available with Caribbean Star in Antigua, even after the merger with LIAT, and was based there for a couple years. Fortune favors the bold and so it was when another opportunity opened up in Nigeria. Rochelle took that massive leap in 2008.
From Nigeria, Rochelle relocated to the USA and was fortunate to fly corporate jets, one of her passengers being then President Biden. Not being able to settle, Rochelle went to Texas and taught at the aviation school.
Rochelle is now flying with American Airlines and is expected to make her inaugural flight into AIA on (AA) 9th December 2023.
Rochelle is the 3rd of four (4) children to Marilyn and Earl (deceased) Roache. Her brother works with General Motors in Canada, Her sister in the UK is a Master Chef (English version), and her last sister is a Cosmetologist.
Rochelle currently lives in the USA and is married to another pilot –American-born Stewart Lanza who is employed with West Global Airlines. They have one girl Zoey (8 years) who has her own business. Rochelle also raises a 17-year-old stepdaughter with her husband.
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