ABSTRACT: Life long enthusiast whose passion in aviation extends beyond just the job.
ASSOCIATED SKILLS: Situational awareness, critical decision making, crew resource management, flexibility, adaptability, safety oriented, procedural based mindset.
MY STORY:
My affinity to aviation has been a life long endeavor. From an early age, I’ve always looked up to my Uncle, who is a legacy Continental (now United) pilot. His stories and lifestyle were so intriguing, that it inspired me to start my own journey into aviation at a young age, especially things like hanging around the local gliderport at 12 years old. I’d spend weekends washing and staging gliders in hopes of a ride at the end of the day, and even reading books like “the Joy of Soaring” in middle school. These things kept me daydreaming of flying until I started flight training at 15 on a more consistent and serious basis. Once I started, It wasn’t long until my first solo at 16, followed by graduating High School early to earn my Private Pilots License at 18 just before college.
My drive and commitment remained strong throughout University, having finished all my flight ratings within the first two years; all while obtaining my Bachelor of Science degree Magna Cum Laude from Western Michigan University. Once gradutation was over, it was only a couple weeks before obtaining my first job in aviation doing aerial mapping, and the rest is history. One aerial mapping job, a regional airline, a job flying bush planes in Alaska, another regional airline, and finally my most recent experience flying the Airbus at an Ultra low cost carrier. In 2022 I made the decision to leave the airlines in order to take some time for myself and reassess if the airline lifestyle is truly best for me. Fast forward over 4 years and although I’m no longer looking to return to the airline industry, I’m still finding ways to pursue my love of flight.
While my trajectory in aviation has been everything BUT standard, my love for flight has been the one consistent aspect this entire time. To me, it’s never been about the job; it’s the magic, freedom, adventure, and beauty that has always meant the most. While I may not be flying the Airbus in a tailored uniform any longer, these days you can find me, floating around, paragliding the skies of Boise, Idaho. The mode of flight may not be as complex, but bringing back flight to its most basic form has given me that sense of joy and magic that I’ve missed.
