From Forestry to Aviation: Mae MacLean Receives FPL’s Xenia Morales Women in Aviation Scholarship
A New Brunswick graduate is turning her passion for aviation into a career in aircraft maintenance, supported by a scholarship designed to help more women enter the aviation industry.
For Mae MacLean, a career in aviation was not part of the original plan. A summer job at Forest Protection Limited (FPL) changed that.
A graduate of the University of New Brunswick’s (UNB) Bachelor of Science in Forestry program, Mae discovered her interest in aviation while working at FPL, where she gained hands-on experience supporting aircraft operations and aerial firefighting.
Today, she is pursuing a career as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) through Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) and is the recipient of the FPL Xenia Morales Women in Aviation Scholarship, a $5,000 award supporting women pursuing careers in aviation.
Finding a career path in aviation
Mae grew up in Harvey, New Brunswick, and began her post-secondary education at UNB in 2021, pursuing a degree in forestry.
After her first year, she joined FPL as a summer assistant, working alongside ground crews and operations staff and gaining exposure to a range of aircraft, including Air Tractor tankers.
That experience opened her eyes to the opportunities within aviation.
After spending another summer working in forestry in Alberta, Mae returned to FPL and realized that aviation was more than an interest. It was the career she wanted to pursue.
Following her graduation from UNB in 2025, Mae enrolled in NSCC’s Aircraft Maintenance Technology program, where she is working toward becoming an AME.
Her journey reflects the connections between forestry and aviation, and how hands-on experience can help people discover new career opportunities in Atlantic Canada.
Supporting women and breaking barriers
Women remain underrepresented in many aviation careers, particularly in technical and maintenance roles.
Mae knows what it means to enter a traditionally male-dominated field. Her forestry experience helped her build confidence, develop practical skills and recognize her potential in aviation.
She is now bringing that experience to aircraft maintenance, where she sees opportunities to grow and build a rewarding career.
The Xenia Morales Women in Aviation Scholarship helps women take that next step by providing financial support as they pursue aviation education and training.
For Mae, the scholarship will help cover the cost of her second year at NSCC, reduce the financial pressure of continuing her education and help her purchase the tools and equipment she will need as she enters the workforce.
It is an investment in her education, her career and the future of the aviation industry.
Building aviation careers in New Brunswick
Mae’s story is rooted in New Brunswick. From growing up in Harvey to studying forestry at UNB and gaining experience at FPL in Lincoln, her journey demonstrates how local education and industry experience can create pathways to specialized careers.
Her experience also highlights the value of connecting forestry, aviation and technical training to help build the skilled workforce needed to support the region’s natural resources and aviation industries.
At FPL, we are proud to support women pursuing careers in aviation and to help create opportunities for the next generation of pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers and aviation professionals.
Congratulations to Mae on receiving the Xenia Morales Women in Aviation Scholarship. We look forward to seeing where her aviation career takes her.
About the Xenia Morales Women in Aviation Scholarship
The FPL Xenia Morales Women in Aviation Scholarship is awarded annually to a woman working toward a career in aviation as an aircraft maintenance engineer or agricultural pilot. It provides financial assistance to individuals passionate about aviation and committed to protecting our natural resources. The scholarship recognizes the importance of opening doors, supporting career development and helping build a stronger, more diverse aviation workforce.
