CK
Well-Known Member
.
The older members will remember Eagle. I was a know it all and got into a lot of fights, he was one of the guys I fought the most with. My major is history, I go to school a lot.
Alex.
How has your career progressed?
- Thread starter t-cart
- Start date
The older members will remember Eagle. I was a know it all and got into a lot of fights, he was one of the guys I fought the most with. My major is history, I go to school a lot.
Alex.
MusketeerMan
Well-Known Member
Hmmm....not too exciting, but here goes.
*Started private in 2001, soloed on 9/10/01, took mandatory time off after 9/11 and finished private early in 2002. Got PPL just for fun.
*Did "normal" jobs for several jobs, finally realizing in 2005 I wanted to fly for a living.
*Wife OK'd the job transition shortly after and started looking at options late in 2005. Decided to buy a plane (Musketeer) and do all the training through a local FBO.
*Started instrument early in 2006 while working..finished in April and went right into commercial, multi and cfi's.
*Started instructing in March of 2007 for about 7 months or so.
*October 2007, interviewed at AWAC, offered job and turned down.
*November 2007, interviewed at Republic, offered job and accepted.
*December 2007, interviewed at XJT, offered job and accepted into pool.
*December 17, 2007, started E-170 training at Republic, made it through training and started flying the plane mid February.
*Making the 2 leg commute from CA to OH, taking up about 8 hours out of my day, but not ready to make the move.
*900 hours in airplane so far, still have a lot to learn, but having fun.
*Started private in 2001, soloed on 9/10/01, took mandatory time off after 9/11 and finished private early in 2002. Got PPL just for fun.
*Did "normal" jobs for several jobs, finally realizing in 2005 I wanted to fly for a living.
*Wife OK'd the job transition shortly after and started looking at options late in 2005. Decided to buy a plane (Musketeer) and do all the training through a local FBO.
*Started instrument early in 2006 while working..finished in April and went right into commercial, multi and cfi's.
*Started instructing in March of 2007 for about 7 months or so.
*October 2007, interviewed at AWAC, offered job and turned down.
*November 2007, interviewed at Republic, offered job and accepted.
*December 2007, interviewed at XJT, offered job and accepted into pool.
*December 17, 2007, started E-170 training at Republic, made it through training and started flying the plane mid February.
*Making the 2 leg commute from CA to OH, taking up about 8 hours out of my day, but not ready to make the move.
*900 hours in airplane so far, still have a lot to learn, but having fun.
mtsu_av8er
Well-Known Member
April-ish '98: Took a Discovery Flight in jacksonville, NC . . .
Sometime-ish in '98: started taking lessons, slowly but surely
April '00: Got my PPL
Feb '02: Got my Instrument Cert in ISO
Sometime in '02 - or maybe '03 . . . can't remember: Got my Commercial -SEL in BWG.
Somewhere between '03-'05 (can't remember): Added CFI, CFII
'05 : added a CMEL and MEI. Found myself ferrying a beat-up, barely legal Twin Commanche from New Mexico to Nashville. Stopped in and enjoyed a wonderful NJC BBQ, hosted by Bob (I need some Oberon, jtrain!!!).
'04-'06: Started flight instructing full time, working my way up to becoming Assistant Chief Flight Instructor at a Part 141 flight school.
'06 Sometime: left flight instructing and went to work for a part 135 carrier. Based in MKC, CPS, and BNA.
'07: Left said part 135 company to go fly an E-145 for a regional airline.
'08: Moved into different aircraft, now flying E-170 in a different base.
Love it as much as I did when I first started! Several of the folks here said that I would hate it after I had been doing it a while (that's how they justify their moaning and whining). They were wrong. oh, well.
It's truly living the dream, folks!
Sometime-ish in '98: started taking lessons, slowly but surely
April '00: Got my PPL
Feb '02: Got my Instrument Cert in ISO
Sometime in '02 - or maybe '03 . . . can't remember: Got my Commercial -SEL in BWG.
Somewhere between '03-'05 (can't remember): Added CFI, CFII
'05 : added a CMEL and MEI. Found myself ferrying a beat-up, barely legal Twin Commanche from New Mexico to Nashville. Stopped in and enjoyed a wonderful NJC BBQ, hosted by Bob (I need some Oberon, jtrain!!!).
'04-'06: Started flight instructing full time, working my way up to becoming Assistant Chief Flight Instructor at a Part 141 flight school.
'06 Sometime: left flight instructing and went to work for a part 135 carrier. Based in MKC, CPS, and BNA.
'07: Left said part 135 company to go fly an E-145 for a regional airline.
'08: Moved into different aircraft, now flying E-170 in a different base.
Love it as much as I did when I first started! Several of the folks here said that I would hate it after I had been doing it a while (that's how they justify their moaning and whining). They were wrong. oh, well.
It's truly living the dream, folks!
Propilot
Well-Known Member
Here is my life summarized...
MiddleSchool and High School, I weigh about 280lbs at my heaviest weight, in 9th grade, thinking about skiing, not flying. Some kid in my junior H.S. class is a pilot, but I am not interested and dont even listen to him when he wants to talk to me about it. I rememebr saying "no I'm going to be a Heli-Ski guide".
Talked my H.S. superintendent that I need to take off 4 weeks before and after x-mas break (for a total about about 6 weeks off) to go out to N.M. and study snow avalanches at Taos for my Senior Physics project. Somehow, I convinced him and spent a month out there teaching skiing. Got an A on my paper a few months later.
I know I need to be in shape if I want to be a mountain guide so I start working hard on it.
On graduation day, I weigh about 220lbs.
Summer 2002-fall 2002 University of Akron.
Winter 2002/2003 Ski Instructor Snowbird, Utah. After a season of skiing i weigh in at 195lbs. Decided my idea of being a career mountain guide/heli-ski guide wasn't smart..saw old instructors who had been doing it for years...they didnt look well. wanted to find something with was hands on, not in a office, but required lots of skill and hard work......
Summer 2003 Bought private pilot package from local club before taking first flight. Flew butt off for a year, got private at club in Ohio, commerical, multi and instrument at skymates in texas, CFI and CFII back in Ohio at part 141 FBO.
Summer 04 First flying job, back up to 250lbs! but a lot of it was muscle...still very fat....was at the Arnold Convention (weight lifting) in Columbus when I get a call for the job... flew C206 jumpers in Cape Cod for 3 months, Flew a ton! company imploded,
then 4 days later scored job in C206 flying jumpers in Colorado, again, flew my BUTT OFF, was their only pilot and was flying sunup till sunset, 5-6 days a week. several months later, at 950 hours, scored PIC gig in DHC-6 Twin Otter flying jumpers in Tecumseh Mi.
(I was a skydiver, and saw an ad in a jumper forum. I didnt think I had the experiance but I decided to call and tell them I was interested in next summer, after I had more hours....on the phone the owner said "well how many do you have now..."950" ....hrmmm can you be here in one week?" Later, I found out that the drop zone owners where I used to jump knew I was looking and had already called this guy to tell him about me.bada boom bada bing, job scored).
Fall/winter 05 Kent State.
Summer 05 - back at MI job flying jumpers in Twin Otter. down to about 230lbs.
December 2006 Graduated Kent State with B.S. Aeronautics. 230lbs.
Jan 2007 Ameriflight Ground school, flew BE99 in SLC.
*****Total Debt at this point = 80K (18K of credit card, 36K flight loan, 31 education loan) Total minimum loan payment around 700/month thanks to high interest CC.*******
October 2007, 220lbs. Going bankrupt at AMF so quit after 8 months and took job as Captain on BE350 for charter/management gig near NYC. Making well above average for position. Paid off all credit cards in 6 months. Working out hard and eating as best as I can.
July 2008, weigh in at 205lbs, owner sold king air 350, i saw the writing on the wall well beforehand and had next job lined up. ****Total debt at this point around 63K******
July 2008, King Air captain in Africa and Saudi Arabia flying scientific research/weather mod flights. Making extremely good money,
Jan 28...still in Saudi******current debt at 35K******
Finally figured out the nutrition side of the equation, after 10 years of trying, and am now at 178lbs!. About 10lbs away from seeing my abs. Should be debt free in 4 months.
Places I have lived....
2002 Ohio, Utah
2003 Ohio, Utah, Ohio (twice)
2004 Ohio, Texas
2005 Ohio, Massachusetts, Colorado, Michigan, Ohio (Twice)
2006 Ohio Michigan
2007 California (5 weeks), Utah, Pennslyvania
2008 Pennsylvania, Mali (africa), Abha. Saudi Arabia
2009 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia then Abha, Saudi Arabia
...all in all, not to bad of a run so far as the career goes, but personal life has suffered.
Current plan is to stay overseas till my debt is paid off and I save a little up. That should be mid summer time 2009.
I really am not sure where I will go after this. Saudi is not a long term option, but the economy is definitely affecting my career goals after this job.
So far I have made all decisions based on advancing the career. Friends? Girlfriend? Family? I left them all, repeatedly, to chase the career.
I have been doing a lot of soul searching, and am not sure I will continue with the career. I have been entertaining all sorts of ideas, from going back after my mountain guide/heli-ski career, to sticking with aviation, to becoming a firefighter.
But, honestly, those feelings may just be my way of coping with the reality that my entire life has been my career....for years and years and years...maybe once I find a more permanent solution..ah crap, I already know there is no permanent solution in aviation...
I'm hoping my next job will be a keeper. I want to hang my hat somewhere, set up shop, make little people...and get a dang dog!
I am taking the AFOQT in a few weeks, and if I get into an ANG or AFRES UPT slot, that will answer a lot of questions about the future.
My brother is a Metro captain for AMF in SLC, I am hoping he can get hired over here in Saudi, pay off his debt, and then perhaps we will move on from here together (we both want to start a business together).
Another thought....
I have absolutely nothing tying me down anywhere...no house, no apartment, no girlfriend, no wife, no kids, no dog,... and I lost my last good friend a few months ago.
I want ALL those things, but this is one time in my life where I am free of them, and I might as well take advantage of it.
to that end...
I am also thinking that if I last here till this November, I will quit then, be debt free with big savings account, and just head East on a big pilgrimage... see the world, travel by foot, car, thumb, airplane, boat, etc and just see everything that I can. Then, make it home to Utah by Jan and ski all winter long....after that...who knows.
MiddleSchool and High School, I weigh about 280lbs at my heaviest weight, in 9th grade, thinking about skiing, not flying. Some kid in my junior H.S. class is a pilot, but I am not interested and dont even listen to him when he wants to talk to me about it. I rememebr saying "no I'm going to be a Heli-Ski guide".
Talked my H.S. superintendent that I need to take off 4 weeks before and after x-mas break (for a total about about 6 weeks off) to go out to N.M. and study snow avalanches at Taos for my Senior Physics project. Somehow, I convinced him and spent a month out there teaching skiing. Got an A on my paper a few months later.
I know I need to be in shape if I want to be a mountain guide so I start working hard on it.
On graduation day, I weigh about 220lbs.
Summer 2002-fall 2002 University of Akron.
Winter 2002/2003 Ski Instructor Snowbird, Utah. After a season of skiing i weigh in at 195lbs. Decided my idea of being a career mountain guide/heli-ski guide wasn't smart..saw old instructors who had been doing it for years...they didnt look well. wanted to find something with was hands on, not in a office, but required lots of skill and hard work......
Summer 2003 Bought private pilot package from local club before taking first flight. Flew butt off for a year, got private at club in Ohio, commerical, multi and instrument at skymates in texas, CFI and CFII back in Ohio at part 141 FBO.
Summer 04 First flying job, back up to 250lbs! but a lot of it was muscle...still very fat....was at the Arnold Convention (weight lifting) in Columbus when I get a call for the job... flew C206 jumpers in Cape Cod for 3 months, Flew a ton! company imploded,
then 4 days later scored job in C206 flying jumpers in Colorado, again, flew my BUTT OFF, was their only pilot and was flying sunup till sunset, 5-6 days a week. several months later, at 950 hours, scored PIC gig in DHC-6 Twin Otter flying jumpers in Tecumseh Mi.
(I was a skydiver, and saw an ad in a jumper forum. I didnt think I had the experiance but I decided to call and tell them I was interested in next summer, after I had more hours....on the phone the owner said "well how many do you have now..."950" ....hrmmm can you be here in one week?" Later, I found out that the drop zone owners where I used to jump knew I was looking and had already called this guy to tell him about me.bada boom bada bing, job scored).
Fall/winter 05 Kent State.
Summer 05 - back at MI job flying jumpers in Twin Otter. down to about 230lbs.
December 2006 Graduated Kent State with B.S. Aeronautics. 230lbs.
Jan 2007 Ameriflight Ground school, flew BE99 in SLC.
*****Total Debt at this point = 80K (18K of credit card, 36K flight loan, 31 education loan) Total minimum loan payment around 700/month thanks to high interest CC.*******
October 2007, 220lbs. Going bankrupt at AMF so quit after 8 months and took job as Captain on BE350 for charter/management gig near NYC. Making well above average for position. Paid off all credit cards in 6 months. Working out hard and eating as best as I can.
July 2008, weigh in at 205lbs, owner sold king air 350, i saw the writing on the wall well beforehand and had next job lined up. ****Total debt at this point around 63K******
July 2008, King Air captain in Africa and Saudi Arabia flying scientific research/weather mod flights. Making extremely good money,
Jan 28...still in Saudi******current debt at 35K******
Finally figured out the nutrition side of the equation, after 10 years of trying, and am now at 178lbs!. About 10lbs away from seeing my abs. Should be debt free in 4 months.
Places I have lived....
2002 Ohio, Utah
2003 Ohio, Utah, Ohio (twice)
2004 Ohio, Texas
2005 Ohio, Massachusetts, Colorado, Michigan, Ohio (Twice)
2006 Ohio Michigan
2007 California (5 weeks), Utah, Pennslyvania
2008 Pennsylvania, Mali (africa), Abha. Saudi Arabia
2009 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia then Abha, Saudi Arabia
...all in all, not to bad of a run so far as the career goes, but personal life has suffered.
Current plan is to stay overseas till my debt is paid off and I save a little up. That should be mid summer time 2009.
I really am not sure where I will go after this. Saudi is not a long term option, but the economy is definitely affecting my career goals after this job.
So far I have made all decisions based on advancing the career. Friends? Girlfriend? Family? I left them all, repeatedly, to chase the career.
I have been doing a lot of soul searching, and am not sure I will continue with the career. I have been entertaining all sorts of ideas, from going back after my mountain guide/heli-ski career, to sticking with aviation, to becoming a firefighter.
But, honestly, those feelings may just be my way of coping with the reality that my entire life has been my career....for years and years and years...maybe once I find a more permanent solution..ah crap, I already know there is no permanent solution in aviation...
I'm hoping my next job will be a keeper. I want to hang my hat somewhere, set up shop, make little people...and get a dang dog!
I am taking the AFOQT in a few weeks, and if I get into an ANG or AFRES UPT slot, that will answer a lot of questions about the future.
My brother is a Metro captain for AMF in SLC, I am hoping he can get hired over here in Saudi, pay off his debt, and then perhaps we will move on from here together (we both want to start a business together).
Another thought....
I have absolutely nothing tying me down anywhere...no house, no apartment, no girlfriend, no wife, no kids, no dog,... and I lost my last good friend a few months ago.
I want ALL those things, but this is one time in my life where I am free of them, and I might as well take advantage of it.
to that end...
I am also thinking that if I last here till this November, I will quit then, be debt free with big savings account, and just head East on a big pilgrimage... see the world, travel by foot, car, thumb, airplane, boat, etc and just see everything that I can. Then, make it home to Utah by Jan and ski all winter long....after that...who knows.
Graduated high school in 1999. Started at Central Missouri State University in the fall of 99.
Got my private at CMSU in 2000. Instrument in 2001, Commercial, Multi, CFI in 2002.
Started to instruct at CMSU in August 2002. Worked my way up with CFII and MEI ratings in 2003. Also became a part 141 check instructor in 2004. Got my BS in Aviation Technology in 2003, MS in Aviation Safety in 2004.
Started flying Part 135 Charter in May 2005 in PC-12's and Piper Meridians. Was an instructor and check airman on the Meridian. Stayed at this company until November 2007.
Went to a regional fractional in November 2007 as a King Air C90B captain and King Air 350 FO. I've since upgraded to Captain on the 350 and also checked out as SIC on the Beechjet. Slated to go to Phenom 100 initial this summer. Also became Director of Safety for the company in December 2008.
Career goal is to retire with less than 10,000 hours of flight time.
Got my private at CMSU in 2000. Instrument in 2001, Commercial, Multi, CFI in 2002.
Started to instruct at CMSU in August 2002. Worked my way up with CFII and MEI ratings in 2003. Also became a part 141 check instructor in 2004. Got my BS in Aviation Technology in 2003, MS in Aviation Safety in 2004.
Started flying Part 135 Charter in May 2005 in PC-12's and Piper Meridians. Was an instructor and check airman on the Meridian. Stayed at this company until November 2007.
Went to a regional fractional in November 2007 as a King Air C90B captain and King Air 350 FO. I've since upgraded to Captain on the 350 and also checked out as SIC on the Beechjet. Slated to go to Phenom 100 initial this summer. Also became Director of Safety for the company in December 2008.
Career goal is to retire with less than 10,000 hours of flight time.
KVNC
Florida Man
:yeahthat:
I like hearing about everybody's story, makes my own goals seem not so far fetched.
jrh
Well-Known Member
2002--While sitting in a high school math class, realized engineering was not for me and decided to do what I'd wanted to do since I was 7 years old, to be a pilot.
2003--Graduated from high school, got my private license and instrument rating.
2004--Got my commercial and flight instructor certificates by the start of my sophomore year of college (Nov. 2004). Started reading JetCareers...a lot.
2005-2006--Worked as a flight instructor for my college. Got burned out by the long hours.
2006-2007--Took a year off school, moved to Pennsylvania, and worked part time as an instructor for a little flying club in the middle of nowhere. Got burned out by the low pay.
2007-Present--Bought a plane for the hell of it, finished college, moved to Nebraska, kept instructing, somehow ended up managing a small flight school. Pays well, great people, and I generally love it here.
Obviously the past six years of my life have been a lot more complicated than that, but that's the general break down.
I never thought I'd say it, but I think I might be one of the few people in the world lucky enough to make a living at instructing. The teaching aspect of my job is more rewarding to me than the flying part...although I don't think I'd be satisfied with either component missing.
There is a lot of room for growth where I'm at which makes me think I'll be here for a while. We want to partner with a university, become 141, and I'd like to eventually become a designated examiner. There's a lot on the drawing board and I think it might work.
I live in a great city, have great friends, and work at a great job. My life rocks.
2003--Graduated from high school, got my private license and instrument rating.
2004--Got my commercial and flight instructor certificates by the start of my sophomore year of college (Nov. 2004). Started reading JetCareers...a lot.
2005-2006--Worked as a flight instructor for my college. Got burned out by the long hours.
2006-2007--Took a year off school, moved to Pennsylvania, and worked part time as an instructor for a little flying club in the middle of nowhere. Got burned out by the low pay.
2007-Present--Bought a plane for the hell of it, finished college, moved to Nebraska, kept instructing, somehow ended up managing a small flight school. Pays well, great people, and I generally love it here.
Obviously the past six years of my life have been a lot more complicated than that, but that's the general break down.
I never thought I'd say it, but I think I might be one of the few people in the world lucky enough to make a living at instructing. The teaching aspect of my job is more rewarding to me than the flying part...although I don't think I'd be satisfied with either component missing.
There is a lot of room for growth where I'm at which makes me think I'll be here for a while. We want to partner with a university, become 141, and I'd like to eventually become a designated examiner. There's a lot on the drawing board and I think it might work.
I live in a great city, have great friends, and work at a great job. My life rocks.
KLB
Well-Known Member
I'm trying to get your brother to let me be a silent partner or atleast invest a little in it. I'm all for investing in a few of my friends business ventures.
(I'm still awaiting a business plan)
Richman
JC’s Resident Curmudgeon
Hey all,
1987 1st flight
1988 Inst/Comm/Multi
1989 Finished college/CFI/some heilo
1990 Heilo CFI (recession starts)
1991 Grad School (last haven for the unemployed)
1992 Good CFI job/first commuter gig (BE-1900)
1993 Better Commuter gig (DHC-8)
1998 Major Airline gig
2008 Same major airline gig...
Oct 30, 2008 Different major airline gig...sorta...
Richman
1987 1st flight
1988 Inst/Comm/Multi
1989 Finished college/CFI/some heilo
1990 Heilo CFI (recession starts)
1991 Grad School (last haven for the unemployed)
1992 Good CFI job/first commuter gig (BE-1900)
1993 Better Commuter gig (DHC-8)
1998 Major Airline gig
2008 Same major airline gig...
Oct 30, 2008 Different major airline gig...sorta...
Richman
Propilot
Well-Known Member
I'm trying to get your brother to let me be a silent partner or atleast invest a little in it. I'm all for investing in a few of my friends business ventures.
Is that all we need to get your money? I'll have one banged out tomorrow! (and over here in Saudi, you know its the only thing I'll be banging).
Yea man, I started the LLC over a year ago and we haven't gotten off the ground. Its amazingly difficult to work on it together when you are 10,000 miles apart.
I'm thinking we may just open a brothel in Nevada...even if the business fails it would be tons of fun trying to make it work!
You in?
fsiflyer
Well-Known Member
Let's see here...My life in a nutshell.
Started Flying in 1996
Graduated High School in 1998
Private Pilot at HS graduation in 1998
Joined USMC(R) 1998-2004 (Had some active duty time in that)
Comm/Multi/IFR/CFII/MEI in 2001
Worked as a CFI in 2001-2005
Graduated ERAU in 2002
King Air Pilot 2004
LearJet 60 pilot 2006
MBA in Finance and Accounting 2006-2008
LearJet 60 Captain 2007
Moved to Moscow for a corporate flight department as an expat pilot in March 2008
Hawker and Challenger 300 Captain August 2008
Became Chief Pilot of the corporate flight department here in Moscow in December 2008 at the age of 28.
I have also been very lucky so far. At times I thought I had very bad luck in this industry because alot of plans did not work out but looking back things worked out VERY well.
Started Flying in 1996
Graduated High School in 1998
Private Pilot at HS graduation in 1998
Joined USMC(R) 1998-2004 (Had some active duty time in that)
Comm/Multi/IFR/CFII/MEI in 2001
Worked as a CFI in 2001-2005
Graduated ERAU in 2002
King Air Pilot 2004
LearJet 60 pilot 2006
MBA in Finance and Accounting 2006-2008
LearJet 60 Captain 2007
Moved to Moscow for a corporate flight department as an expat pilot in March 2008
Hawker and Challenger 300 Captain August 2008
Became Chief Pilot of the corporate flight department here in Moscow in December 2008 at the age of 28.
I have also been very lucky so far. At times I thought I had very bad luck in this industry because alot of plans did not work out but looking back things worked out VERY well.
Screaming_Emu
Well-Known Member
Like many others on here I knew that I wanted to fly at a very early age. My family has home video of me watching planes when I was about 4. I was getting so excited that I was jumping up and down flapping my arms. I have been extremely fortunate so far. I would say the reason I am where I am now is 5% work and 95% being in the right place at the right time.
I graduated high school on a small Army base in Germany in the spring of 2001. When I was researching what to do next I had not yet discovered Jetcareers. From what little info I could find at the time it seemed that majoring in aviation was the best way to go.
I'm also a lifelong hockey player so I wanted to go to a school where I would be able to continue playing. I applied to and was accepted to the University of Minnesota in Crookston, St. Cloud State U, and the University of Western Michigan.
Because I lived overseas I was not able to go tour the colleges of my choice like many are so my choice was based almost entirely on the flashy brochures that every college sent out at the time. I ended up picking the University of Minnesota.
A few weeks after I graduated high school my family moved to Yokota AFB in Japan. Sometime that summer I took my first intro flight in a Cessna 172 from the base's flying club. To say that I enjoyed it would be an understatement. I brought my camera because we would also be doing some sightseeing over Tokyo. I ended up not taking a single picture because I was having so much fun.
August 2001 I packed two suitcases to the brim and hopped on a Northwest Airlines flight to Grand Forks, ND by way of Minneapolis. Then rented a car and drove 40 miles west to Crookston, MN. My brother came from upstate NY to help me move in. From the second we left the airport we were both pretty convinced that I had made a mistake.
Crookston, MN is a small town in northern Minnesota that is surrounded by nothing but farm fields. The school itself only had about 2000 students. To say that it was a bit of culture shock moving from Tokyo to a town like this would be an understatement. After about two weeks there I decided that I would stick out the semester, then go home and figure the rest out from there. Luckily the upside was that I had a great CFI who got me up to (but not including) my solo cross country.
I took the next semester and summer off to live in Japan with my family. I worked as a short order cook at the bowling alley snack bar and used the money to keep my skills sharp with the flying club on the base. That was some of the most fun flying I have ever done. Putting around in a Cessna 152 over Tokyo for $35 was lots of fun. I even did a couple cross countries to seek out the $100 bowl of ramen.
Meanwhile I was researching my options as to where I should continue my training. Summer of 2002 is when I came across jetcareers. My parents were also involved in the decision making process. My dad had heard about the University of North Dakota from a coworker whose son had gone to school there. They were quite impressed with "the Harvard of the skies" claim so...to put it lightly I was financially persuaded to go to school there. It also worked out well as the University of Minnesota program that I was in was a satellite campus of UND, so it was easy from a part 141 standpoint to transfer.
I attended UND from the fall of 2002 until December 2006. The facilities at this school were great, most of the professors are quite knowledgeable, and I'm very glad I went to a state school that also had other majors instead of a purely aviation school. That being said, my time there showed me that there are really two major factors that affect the quality of your training. The first is your willingness to actually get the work done and the second is the dedication of your instructor. Without those two things it does not matter how new the plane is you are flying, or that you get to go in an altitude chamber, etc, you're not going to learn anything.
During the fall of 2006 I took at trip to Maryland to interview at two flight schools. The first was a smaller school that had two locations, one of which was very close to where I would be living. The second was based out of BWI and was a much nicer school run by some absolutely classy people.
January came around and unfortunately I chose the convenient one and very quickly learned my mistake. Two days after I started we found out that because the owner was not paying the bill for fuel they were closing down the operation that was closest to my house and moving everything to another airport. So now instead of driving 15 mins to work, I had to drive 55 mins (and that was without traffic). That combined with their inability to pay their employees on time caused me to contact the school at BWI again to see if they were still looking for instructors. Fellow JCer and friend of mine Vanhoolio was really the only reason I got that job. He used to instruct there and his boss was so impressed with his work ethic and abilities that if he suggested anyone work there, they were more or less hired. Networking...it works.
Between my time with the two schools I instructed from Jan 07 until November 07 when I started class at ASA. I'm currently an F/O on the CRJ-700 and like Lloyd still love it like the day I started. Is it perfect? Absolutely not...but no job is. It is pretty easy to let the complainers around here and at work influence your outlook on the profession. A friend of mine from JC reminded me of something this month when I was complaining about having to sit in a classroom for a few days of recurrent ground school. He said "recurrent reminds you how badass being a pilot is because most people sit inside a building all day every day". Extremely valid point.
Well, I know that was really long but I don't really have a lot going on today. It has been really interesting reading everyone else’s stories. I think it’s important especially with things as they are now, to still help inspire those who are still aspiring to be where we are right now.
I graduated high school on a small Army base in Germany in the spring of 2001. When I was researching what to do next I had not yet discovered Jetcareers. From what little info I could find at the time it seemed that majoring in aviation was the best way to go.
I'm also a lifelong hockey player so I wanted to go to a school where I would be able to continue playing. I applied to and was accepted to the University of Minnesota in Crookston, St. Cloud State U, and the University of Western Michigan.
Because I lived overseas I was not able to go tour the colleges of my choice like many are so my choice was based almost entirely on the flashy brochures that every college sent out at the time. I ended up picking the University of Minnesota.
A few weeks after I graduated high school my family moved to Yokota AFB in Japan. Sometime that summer I took my first intro flight in a Cessna 172 from the base's flying club. To say that I enjoyed it would be an understatement. I brought my camera because we would also be doing some sightseeing over Tokyo. I ended up not taking a single picture because I was having so much fun.
August 2001 I packed two suitcases to the brim and hopped on a Northwest Airlines flight to Grand Forks, ND by way of Minneapolis. Then rented a car and drove 40 miles west to Crookston, MN. My brother came from upstate NY to help me move in. From the second we left the airport we were both pretty convinced that I had made a mistake.
Crookston, MN is a small town in northern Minnesota that is surrounded by nothing but farm fields. The school itself only had about 2000 students. To say that it was a bit of culture shock moving from Tokyo to a town like this would be an understatement. After about two weeks there I decided that I would stick out the semester, then go home and figure the rest out from there. Luckily the upside was that I had a great CFI who got me up to (but not including) my solo cross country.
I took the next semester and summer off to live in Japan with my family. I worked as a short order cook at the bowling alley snack bar and used the money to keep my skills sharp with the flying club on the base. That was some of the most fun flying I have ever done. Putting around in a Cessna 152 over Tokyo for $35 was lots of fun. I even did a couple cross countries to seek out the $100 bowl of ramen.
Meanwhile I was researching my options as to where I should continue my training. Summer of 2002 is when I came across jetcareers. My parents were also involved in the decision making process. My dad had heard about the University of North Dakota from a coworker whose son had gone to school there. They were quite impressed with "the Harvard of the skies" claim so...to put it lightly I was financially persuaded to go to school there. It also worked out well as the University of Minnesota program that I was in was a satellite campus of UND, so it was easy from a part 141 standpoint to transfer.
I attended UND from the fall of 2002 until December 2006. The facilities at this school were great, most of the professors are quite knowledgeable, and I'm very glad I went to a state school that also had other majors instead of a purely aviation school. That being said, my time there showed me that there are really two major factors that affect the quality of your training. The first is your willingness to actually get the work done and the second is the dedication of your instructor. Without those two things it does not matter how new the plane is you are flying, or that you get to go in an altitude chamber, etc, you're not going to learn anything.
During the fall of 2006 I took at trip to Maryland to interview at two flight schools. The first was a smaller school that had two locations, one of which was very close to where I would be living. The second was based out of BWI and was a much nicer school run by some absolutely classy people.
January came around and unfortunately I chose the convenient one and very quickly learned my mistake. Two days after I started we found out that because the owner was not paying the bill for fuel they were closing down the operation that was closest to my house and moving everything to another airport. So now instead of driving 15 mins to work, I had to drive 55 mins (and that was without traffic). That combined with their inability to pay their employees on time caused me to contact the school at BWI again to see if they were still looking for instructors. Fellow JCer and friend of mine Vanhoolio was really the only reason I got that job. He used to instruct there and his boss was so impressed with his work ethic and abilities that if he suggested anyone work there, they were more or less hired. Networking...it works.
Between my time with the two schools I instructed from Jan 07 until November 07 when I started class at ASA. I'm currently an F/O on the CRJ-700 and like Lloyd still love it like the day I started. Is it perfect? Absolutely not...but no job is. It is pretty easy to let the complainers around here and at work influence your outlook on the profession. A friend of mine from JC reminded me of something this month when I was complaining about having to sit in a classroom for a few days of recurrent ground school. He said "recurrent reminds you how badass being a pilot is because most people sit inside a building all day every day". Extremely valid point.
Well, I know that was really long but I don't really have a lot going on today. It has been really interesting reading everyone else’s stories. I think it’s important especially with things as they are now, to still help inspire those who are still aspiring to be where we are right now.
DPApilot
GUYSH! GUYSH! GUYSH!
Cessna414JJB
Unknown Member
Thanks for posting your progress everyone. It really motivates me to read other people's adventures.
+1!
Brand new here. Hello everyone.
1989-1994 Flying lessons for Gliders in Germany @ Age 14
1994 Private Pilot SEL in Germany
1994-2004 Hobby Flying, Towing & Dropping, Sightseeing & Photo
1999 FAA Private SEL @ 153 Hours with 622 T.O.&L
1999-2004 Spending my vacations in the US to fly.
2004 Relocation to the U.S. (Citizen by birth)
2004-2007 Relocating is expensive, but flying more...
2008 Instrument Rating and IGI and CFII written in Florida, Commercial Pilot SEL in Maine, Commercial Pilot SES in Maine, Commercial Pilot MEL in Connecticut
Got done just in time to see the market collapse :banghead:
2009 Looking with 520 TT (1.676 TO&L)/30 ME, 30 SES,
50+ Night (235TO&L) 50+ H.P/ 75+ Complex, 135+ XC
45 Instrument +12 on Elites
.Goals: Possibly complete CFI, finally get tail wheel endorsed.
Get more Twin & Instruments, find job dropping, sightseeing or as Copilot to gain more experience. Not really interested in the 121 world.
Types Flown:
Cessna : 150/152/172/172XP/172SP Steam/185/208 (185&208 all dual)
310/402B/402C/421C + 414AW
Piper: PA 28-160/ PA28-201RT, PA28-180R, PA34-200
Beech: Be19/ Be23/ Be24R
Katana: DV20; Tecnam: P92E; Dornier: Do27 (dual); Grumman: AA1B
That would be it.
Cheers,
pilot4500
IT Architect/ Former Cirrus Charter Pilot
1999: Graduated High School one year early and worked on a plan to become a Professional Pilot.
2000: Took first intro flight at Pan Am Flight Academy in Vero Beach, Florida.
2001: Enrolled in Airman Flight School in Norman, OK (they went out of business a few years ago). Earned Private, Instrument, Commercial SEL, CFI, and CFI-I.
2002: Earned Commercial MEL. Spent 6 months trying to find a CFI job and searched 7 different states. Got lucky and got my first CFI gig at Glendale Aviation in Glendale, AZ. Instructed here for 2 and a half years.
2005: Took another CFI job at Western Michigan University, Battle Creek, MI. Got some time instructing in the Cirrus which was a great airplane to fly.
2006: Took a job with Airnow in Bennington, VT. I quit after 3 weeks of training due to their atrocious safety record, horrible training program, and lousy maintenance.
2006: Took a job with Ram Air Freight where I have been ever since. Currently fly the Piper Lance and Seneca aircraft.
2009: Working on plans to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. Hoping to find a decent Corporate flying job. If unable to do that, I will probably become an accountant and just fly for fun.
2000: Took first intro flight at Pan Am Flight Academy in Vero Beach, Florida.
2001: Enrolled in Airman Flight School in Norman, OK (they went out of business a few years ago). Earned Private, Instrument, Commercial SEL, CFI, and CFI-I.
2002: Earned Commercial MEL. Spent 6 months trying to find a CFI job and searched 7 different states. Got lucky and got my first CFI gig at Glendale Aviation in Glendale, AZ. Instructed here for 2 and a half years.
2005: Took another CFI job at Western Michigan University, Battle Creek, MI. Got some time instructing in the Cirrus which was a great airplane to fly.
2006: Took a job with Airnow in Bennington, VT. I quit after 3 weeks of training due to their atrocious safety record, horrible training program, and lousy maintenance.
2006: Took a job with Ram Air Freight where I have been ever since. Currently fly the Piper Lance and Seneca aircraft.
2009: Working on plans to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. Hoping to find a decent Corporate flying job. If unable to do that, I will probably become an accountant and just fly for fun.
Fly_Unity
Well-Known Member
2005 started my private pilot training at a local FBO (took 9 months while I worked at a full time job) Also started classes at Utah Valley University
2006 went to ATP
2007 Instructed for about 9 months in Tulsa, OK, built my TT to 1000
2008 Moved back to WY in the Rockies, mostly fly a Cirrus for a corporation. Also flight instruct on the side, mountain courses, and tail-wheel instructing. (currently have about 1500 TT)
If I had to do it all over, I wouldnt change a thing!
2006 went to ATP
2007 Instructed for about 9 months in Tulsa, OK, built my TT to 1000
2008 Moved back to WY in the Rockies, mostly fly a Cirrus for a corporation. Also flight instruct on the side, mountain courses, and tail-wheel instructing. (currently have about 1500 TT)
If I had to do it all over, I wouldnt change a thing!
c172captain
Well-Known Member
2005
Had my first demo flight while I was a sophmore in high school. Was awesome, was scared s**tless when he said "Ok you're gonna fly now" and then just let go. I couldn't believe I was flying a plane. I flew about once a month at my parents' expense and then determined that it was going too slowly. Picked up a job and worked just about full time (30-36 hours a week) and got paid under the table, about $20/hr washing dishes, I hit the jackpot with that job. The job paid for all my flying.
2006
Turned 16 in June, soloed in October
2007
Turned 17 in June, got my Private license in July
2008
Got my Instrument in February (day before Superbowl), Graduated High school, turned 18 on June 11th, got my CSEL June 13. Started Multi Traning immediately, got my CMEL-Instrument Addon July 12 (one year after getting my private). Started the CFI Academy on July 8th at Santa Monica with American Flyers. Got my CFI-A/CFII August 15
2009
Got my MEI January 18th... Looking for a job better than instructing atm Goal would be 1000TT by my 19th birthday, but at the moment, at the current rate of time building, about 50hr/month, looks like I might fall short of that goal.
My story isn't too detailed, I'm not the most articulate writer. Enjoy
Had my first demo flight while I was a sophmore in high school. Was awesome, was scared s**tless when he said "Ok you're gonna fly now" and then just let go. I couldn't believe I was flying a plane. I flew about once a month at my parents' expense and then determined that it was going too slowly. Picked up a job and worked just about full time (30-36 hours a week) and got paid under the table, about $20/hr washing dishes, I hit the jackpot with that job. The job paid for all my flying.
2006
Turned 16 in June, soloed in October
2007
Turned 17 in June, got my Private license in July
2008
Got my Instrument in February (day before Superbowl), Graduated High school, turned 18 on June 11th, got my CSEL June 13. Started Multi Traning immediately, got my CMEL-Instrument Addon July 12 (one year after getting my private). Started the CFI Academy on July 8th at Santa Monica with American Flyers. Got my CFI-A/CFII August 15
2009
Got my MEI January 18th... Looking for a job better than instructing atm
Goal would be 1000TT by my 19th birthday, but at the moment, at the current rate of time building, about 50hr/month, looks like I might fall short of that goal.My story isn't too detailed, I'm not the most articulate writer. Enjoy