How has your career progressed?

2002 First Flight

University of North Dakota 2002 - DEC 2006

Flight instructed at Sierra Academy of Aeronautics
JAN 2007-JAN 2008 (1000 hrs)

Republic Airways FO EMB-145
MARCH 2008-Sep2008 Furloughed (1220 hrs)

Back to Sierra Academy
Sep 08-NOV 08 (1250)

Hired at Mesaba Airlines FO SF-340
November 08-present
 
Started taking lessons during the school year 1976, then got a job that summer at the ag strip.

Continued the lessons during school year 1977 and continued working at the ag strip that summer. Graduated High School and earned the private.

Bought an old 1946 BC12-D Taylorcraft and started flying every chance I could. Continued working at the ag strip.

Spring of 1978, Got the limited commercial and started flying a Piper Pawnee PA-25.

1979, The boss had to go in the hospital during the "rush season" and I got promoted into a Ag Cat.

1980,continued working at the ag strip
1981, ",and got the multi engine.
1982,"
1983," Got married.
1984,"
1985,"
1986,"
1987,"
1989,"
1990,"
1991,"
1992,"
1993,"
1994,"
1995,"
1996,"
1997," Got divorced!!
1998,"
1999,"
2000,"
2001,"
2002,"
2003," Got married:) Matter of fact, our anniversary is tommorow.:)

2004, Got my instrument rating this spring. Sold the business. I am tired. So I Retired.

2005, Getting pretty lazy and starting to miss the flying a little. Just really enjoying being married to this woman.

2006, Went on a flight with a friend in his Baron. It's Back! Went and got current again and put out a few loads at my old business. Really felt GOOD!

2007, Continued flying with my bud in the Baron and also bought the Apache.

2008, Put out a few more loads and also went through King Air initial training. This s$^* is eating me up again.

2009, Going back to work this season. Going to fly part time for two ag operators(friends), and fly some mosquito stuff in a Aztec. Flew a trip in the 200 today and am looking forward to more of that.

Future, If the flying all goes away, I have had a good run at it and feel very fortunate,and did I say that I am in love with my wife. :)

The End.
 
2003- Took my first flight at KSFF, then flew off and on for a few months

2004 - Started college and AFROTC at Washington State University (Joined JC at this time I believe too). I also started flying and trying to finish my PPL at KPUW.

2005- Finally got my PPL and earned a Pilot Slot in the Air Force. I wanted to fly C-5's or C-17's.

Late 2005/2006- Injured my back and was medically DQ'd from pilot training. I still commisioned as a Public Affairs Officer. Stopped flying for awhile.

2008- Got out of the Air Force early (Didn't want to be a PAO). Then around July I attended ATP Phoenix to get my stuff done fast to catch the hiring wave. Well we all know I missed that wave but now I'm instructing at a flight school in Santa Teresa with a nice steady stream of students. I also was offered a position to fly empty legs for a 135 operation on a 310, but I have only flown with them once because they have no flights right now. Oh, and I got married too.

2009- Still instructing and trying to network.
 
This is a cool ice breaker for new people to the forum like me.

Feb. 2006 - Took my first flight in a PA-28.

June 2006 - Got my PPL in a C-172

Sept. 2006 - Started working part-time on the line at the FBO in GNV while in my last year at the University of Florida.

January 2007 - Decided I wasn't going to law school and wanted to fly for a living instead.

May 5th, 2007 - Got my instrument rating.

May 6th, 2007 - Graduated from UF.

July-August 2007 - Got my CSEL, had back surgery :mad: and after recuperating, got my CMEL

September 2007 - Got my CFI and began instructing. A lot.

November-December 2007 - Added my MEI and my CFII. Continued instructing, a lot.

March 2008 - After flying right seat on a C-310 and a Caravan for a year and a half, I got my first freight job flying blood and plasma for LifeSouth Community Blood Centers in a Caravan.

June 2008-Present - Went to Simcom for SIC training in Citations and began flying right seat for a 135 operator in Gainesville.

I've been super lucky to say the least. A lot of my progress was dictated by timing and meeting the right people at the right time.
 
1999- Decided I wanted to fly, got my PPL during summer vacation

2000- Graduated from College

2001- Got my Instrument, Commercial, CFI, and began instructing

2002- Got my Multi, CFII, and MEI

2003- Moved to Alaska and continued instructing until getting a job flying a B1900

2004- Got hired at the begining of the hiring at American Eagle

2005- Went to SkyWest as an CRJ FO

2006- Became an EMB-120 Capt.

2007- Became a CRJ Capt.

2008- Went to NWA, sitting in the back seat of the whale.

2009- Waiting to get displaced from the whale to the DC-9

I am approaching 10 years of flying, just passed the 4,000 hour mark and still love flying, just don't care for commuting too much.
 
Wow, you all have some pretty interesting paths and good perspectives on things. I guess this is a way to introduce myself, too.

February 1994 - First flight in a C-172 at KRYY in Kennesaw, GA. Flew 10 hours and took a road trip to Sun-N-Fun the next two years.

December 1995 - July 2002 - Lived in Rhode Island, which has two and a half pages devoted to it in the A/FD. No airplanes to be seen.

July 2002 - Moved to Dallas, where my dwelling sits right below the approach to 31R at DFW. I could watch Southwest 737s come and go out my window.

November 2006 - Hired at Southwest Airlines in Flight Operations. The fire is re-lit and I'm surrounded by guys (and a few great gals) who know a thing or two about flying.

October 2007 - Married my beautiful wife, Kristin.

January 2008 - Passed Private Pilot checkride.

May 2008 - Passed Multi add-on.

September 2008 - Kristin grows tired of hearing my flying stories, so little Tommy joins our family :)

Currently - With a solid nudge from Kristin (and Tommy, who seems to enjoy his dad's tales), working on finishing up the Instrument, CSEL, CMEL, and CFI by the end of the summer.

. . . It's not a "flying" career yet, but getting on with Southwest has been an incredible push in the right direction, and a great way to meet some awesome people in aviation.
 
1997- Graduated HS. Got my PPL.
1998- Left UCSD to go to ERAU
October 2000- Left ERAU to go to PNCL.
April 2004- Upgrade to captain on CRJ
Summer 2006- Got hired at JALWAYs and then SWA, decided to go with SWA.
Currently- Enjoying my job, hoping it will stay as good as it has been.
 
First intro ride at 13 or so....

1992 - Started flight training Sophomore year in H.S. Like many, I could fly by myself before I could drive.

1994 - Got the Private, Graduated H.S.

1994-98 - Drank beer, chased women and engaged in general debauchery. Also got a college degree in Aviation from a Big Ten School. Worked at an FBO (desk job, with a bit of CFI, and right seat filler on C340s and 90/100/200 King Airs). Worked at the university as a part time CFI and airplane washer dude. Learned a little bit about life and networking. Learned about failing, picking yourself up and dusting yourself off, and getting on with it...

1998 also taught me a lot about networking, as a connection got me an extremely short gig on a YS-11. Self-studied for the type at ~550 hours (not very much flying outside of what was in the school). Passed type with 6.5 hours on the airplane. Took the plane 1/2 way around the world, found out the promises were way more than what was there (life experience?)

Returning from the trip, I learned more about networking. Was pointed to a job at a crap box airline flying T-props at outstation basing. They needed a person to pretty much be a flunky in the training department and teach ground school.

1998 to late 2007 - Started out teaching groundschool (wet-behind the ears 22 year old teaching well-established commuter pilots ground school...can anyone say "Learning your role"?). Came in after a contract had just gotten voted in.

June 5th, 1999. Met my wife. I knew it the first time I met her.

Duties kept being added, and I was lucky enough to be involved in the formulation of the SOPs for all the fleets. Worked on the manuals and route analysis and occasionally was the de-facto expert on the new plane when the CP was out doing checkrides on it. Did a lot of other mundane, but experience building office work. Got burned out on training stuff and office work, as I wasn't able to get into what I really enjoyed to do.

Went to the line in '01, Captain at the end of '02. Saw a complete contract cycle. Transitioned into the new fleet in '04.

'05 I was involved in the spool up of a certificate. Did some manual reviews and proving runs. I had the opportunity to be the initial ASAP represenative for the union. Was a line check pilot, and was working towards the PC/APD designation until March 24, 2006. On that day my first son was born. I took a month of FMLA (had never used a single vacation day to that point).

Started caring less about chasing a career and more about QoL. Started sent out 2 resumes. I got called by both, and neither liked me.

Flew with someone who worked at my present company. He never said a bad word about the job, just the company. I sent in a resume, got called 2 weeks later and in class 2 weeks after that.

2008. Sitting reserve by myself for 2 weeks in Korea, I found JC and joined. Now I spend way too much time on this website.
 
First intro ride at 13 or so.

Mid 1980s - started taking flying lessons in earnest at a 2100' grass strip outside of Knoxville, TN.

1989 - Soloed on my 16th birthday -- then went for my drivers test
1990 - Private checkride on 17th birthday
1991 - Commercial, multi-engine checkride shortly after 18th birthday
1992 - Graduated high-school, started at FIT in MLB, earned CFI
1993 - CFII, MEI, AGI, IGI

Primary Flight Instructor
1994 - Instructed for FIT
1995 - Graduated with BS in Aviation Mgt / Flight Tech

Primary, Instrument, Multi-Engine Flight Instructor
1995 - Started instructing at Spirit Aviation in Flagler County, FL

Part 135 Night Freight (Checks)
1995 - Went to work for Part 135 night freight operator in a Piper Lance, then later C402. Scared all the time. Do not like this job. 402 made it a little better, at least when the WX was good.

Commuter First Officer
1996 - Hired by Chautauqua Airlines as F/O in J31
1997 - Transitioned to Saab 340a

LCC First Officer
1998 - Hired by AirTran Airways as DC9 F/O -- Furloughed 3 months later
1998 - Was living in my car in a parking garage near PIT. Showers at the YMCA.
1998 - Met future wife. Obviously did NOT take her back to "my place"

Commuter First Officer (again)
1998 - Went back to Chautauqua, bottom of list, Saab 340a F/O (met Polar742!)

Polar742 said:
Was pointed to a job at a crap box airline flying T-props at outstation basing. They needed a person to pretty much be a flunky in the training department and teach ground school.
Click to expand...

Major Airline Pilot! Woo Hoo!
Jan 1999 - Hired by US Airways. The brass ring! Moved out of my car.
Mar 1999 - Finished DC9 initial
Oct 2000 - Transitioned to Boeing 737-300/400 - first type-rating
Nov 2000 - Got engaged at Portofino Resort in Universal Studios, FL
Mar 2002 - Furloughed Again <sigh>

Quitter
Mar 2002 - Hired by Boston Maine Airways as a J31 Captain
Mar 2002 - Showed up at Boston Maine for first day of indoc. Felt bad juju. Quit and drove home at the beginning of day #2.

Commuter Airline First Officer... again
Mar 2002 - Hired by PSA as Dornier 328 F/O
Oct 2002 - Get furlough letter. Furlough never happens, but geez. Come on guys!
Nov 2002 - I hate PSA. Comair doesn't look bad. I guess if the industry takes a turn for the worse and i'm never recalled I could spend my career at Comair.

Commuter Airline First Offic... (sigh) You get the idea.
Nov 2002 - Get hired at Comair, buy house in Florence, Kentucky and decide that i'm going to be a Comair lifer.
October 2004 - During XNA overnight I meet a poster from another Aviation message board who worked for a large corporate operation. He gives me a tour of the operation. Went back to my hotel room that night, called the wife and she said, "Do what you want. But no more aviation jobs... find a career."

Corporate Pilot
Nov 2004 - Started as Learjet 31a first officer for Fortune 500 flight dept. Passed type rating at FSI in mid-December

Daddy
June 2006 - My son was born! Never would have had a child were the QOL not 100 times better here than it was at the airlines. SJS? What's that. I have smelly diaper syndrome! (SDS)

July 2006 - Had opportunity to work on new SOP, SMS, standard callouts, procedures, general safety related functions. Love it!

Nov 2006 - Upgrade to Captain
Nov 2007 - Type in Learjet 45
Jan 2008 - Still love it. Hope it lasts.

:drool::panic::drool:</sigh>
 
Wow Zap,

I've read many of your post's here. It sort of "come's to life" when you read it in black and white. Congratulations to you for sticking it out and hanging on.

Wow!
 
Thanks for the kind words... but I never had the guts to move to Russia. Heck, I wouldn't move to Canada! You've got a lot more guts than I do.
 
Started training a bit here and there in Redlands, Ca. while in college. Flew about 4 hours... and stopped.... It was college and beer and girls was alot more fun... That was in 1990.

1994: Started again, training for my Private at the old Westwind Aviation at Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix. Solo'd, started getting ready for my cross countries, and bought a new truck.... so I stopped flying. Wish I would have continued though, as getting a Private cost something like 4K back then.

2002: Joined Jet Careers and started flying again... (reinventing the wheel).... Passed my check ride in November 02 at Glendale Aviation.

2003: Got the Instrument and Commercial Single finishing up in November of 03. I then started a restuarant with my now Ex-wife and mother in law. Continued my career at the time as a Police Sergeant, restaurant owner (in the western desert of Az) and husband... So slowed down in the flying.....

2006: Split with the ex..... but in a major twist to my life, my soon to be ex convinced me to do what I loved and to follow a dream, that I had as a child.... to fly...... So after going to the aviation musuem at Falcoln Field, Mesa and talking to Francois, I ended up at Chandler Air Service in Chandler, Az., oh yeah, and I left Law Enforcement...ran it's course for me...

2007: Passed my CFI checkride in January of 07 and started teaching in Feb 07. Started teaching tailwheel in August of 07 and fell in love with aviation all over again.... I love all things tailwheel... But the SuperCub is my favorite.....

2008: Passed my Multiengine checkride and had a blast in a 1956 Apache..... Tested with AirNet express and bungled the living hell out of the testing..... Mostly the Sim. However, all things work for a reason and I was able to finish my CFII (finally....) in August of 08. Started flying in a way that cannot be matched.....aerobatics...... In November of 08, finally checked out to teach aerobatics and have been loving it.

2009: Still teach at Chandler Air Service and love it..... I really do. Though, I have dreams of piloting Biz jets in the future, I am getting to fly in numerous aircraft and in numerous ways. I wouldn't trade it for the world.... Now the pay... Well that is for a different forum.....
 
ZapBrannigan said:
Thanks for the kind words... but I never had the guts to move to Russia. Heck, I wouldn't move to Canada! You've got a lot more guts than I do.
Click to expand...

Hey Zap - do you still have recall rights at USAir? I know your gig now is way better, but just in case - you still have a number at USAir, correct?
 
No. My last letter from US Airways came in October 2007. I declined recall and resigned at that point. Hardest decision i've ever not regretted (much). ;)
 
juskl said:
Started training a bit here and there in Redlands, Ca. while in college. Flew about 4 hours... and stopped.... It was college and beer and girls was alot more fun... That was in 1990.

1994: Started again, training for my Private at the old Westwind Aviation at Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix. Solo'd, started getting ready for my cross countries, and bought a new truck.... so I stopped flying. Wish I would have continued though, as getting a Private cost something like 4K back then.

2002: Joined Jet Careers and started flying again... (reinventing the wheel).... Passed my check ride in November 02 at Glendale Aviation.

2003: Got the Instrument and Commercial Single finishing up in November of 03. I then started a restuarant with my now Ex-wife and mother in law. Continued my career at the time as a Police Sergeant, restaurant owner (in the western desert of Az) and husband... So slowed down in the flying.....

2006: Split with the ex..... but in a major twist to my life, my soon to be ex convinced me to do what I loved and to follow a dream, that I had as a child.... to fly...... So after going to the aviation musuem at Falcoln Field, Mesa and talking to Francois, I ended up at Chandler Air Service in Chandler, Az., oh yeah, and I left Law Enforcement...ran it's course for me...

2007: Passed my CFI checkride in January of 07 and started teaching in Feb 07. Started teaching tailwheel in August of 07 and fell in love with aviation all over again.... I love all things tailwheel... But the SuperCub is my favorite.....

2008: Passed my Multiengine checkride and had a blast in a 1956 Apache..... Tested with AirNet express and bungled the living hell out of the testing..... Mostly the Sim. However, all things work for a reason and I was able to finish my CFII (finally....) in August of 08. Started flying in a way that cannot be matched.....aerobatics...... In November of 08, finally checked out to teach aerobatics and have been loving it.

2009: Still teach at Chandler Air Service and love it..... I really do. Though, I have dreams of piloting Biz jets in the future, I am getting to fly in numerous aircraft and in numerous ways. I wouldn't trade it for the world.... Now the pay... Well that is for a different forum.....
Click to expand...

Wow. Your progression is similar to mine. Was at old Westwind around 1999-2000 where I soloed. I went to Glendale Aviation in late 2000-2005 where i got my private(2001) and instrument(2002). Later went to FFZ in 2005 and got commercial ticket in 2007. We were at GEU at the same time.
 
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