I’m living every pilot’s dream, I get paid to fly. I’ve got to say, it beats shelling out my own cold hard cash just to soar the skies. From starting out with the U.S. Air Force and wrangling mighty machines like the KC-135 Stratotanker and RQ-4 Global Hawk, to accidentally rediscovering my love for flying while piloting a Piper Warrior, my journey has been a mix of determination and discovery.

The Path

Picture this: there I was, far from a flight deck, controlling Remotely Piloted Aircraft from the comfort of a ground-based command center. Forgotten in the clouds, I got used to being firmly planted on terra firma until one day, the idea struck me like a rogue gust of wind: “Wouldn’t it be cool if someone paid me to fly?” My wife’s response? A nonchalant “Then go do it!” And just like that, a new flight path was charted.

There are many paths to becoming a pilot. I chose the military and served in the United States Air Force for nearly 23 years.  I had the great opportunity to work in everything from aircraft maintenance and logistics to operations and management. As an operator, I flew the mighty KC-135 Stratotanker and RQ-4 Global Hawk. The one thing I did not do while serving, was complete my FAA Airline Transport Pilot certification, commonly referred to as an ATP.  You see, I never saw myself as an airline guy after retiring.  Although, to be honest, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do after leaving the service.

The Ground Work

Now, let’s talk groundwork. They say luck is when preparation meets opportunity, but in aviation, it’s more like making sure your pre-flight checklist is as meticulously checked as your flight plan. So, I spent my days soaring over the central valley of California, rescuing animals with Pilots N Paws, and inadvertently racking up more airtime than a migratory bird during summer vacation.

But let’s be real, folks, navigating the maze of aviation certifications is about as straightforward as landing in a crosswind. From Private Pilot to Airline Pilot, there’s a laundry list of tests, evaluations, and bureaucratic hoops to jump through. Enter the FAA Airline Transport Pilot certification—the golden ticket to piloting big birds for the big leagues. And guess who didn’t have it? Yours truly.

The Start

Cue the search for the quickest route to ATP glory. I called friends in the industry.  I spent hours online researching blogs, airline websites and reviewing countless industry insider videos. With the aviation industry buzzing like a beehive in the 2020 spring, opportunities were as plentiful as complimentary peanuts on a cross-country flight. The large airlines may have been as elusive as a clear day in Seattle for pilots without an ATP, but the regional carriers? They were practically rolling out the red carpet. Two interviews later, and I was on my way to becoming the newest member of the friendly skies.

Earning an ATP is no simple feat. There are minimum requirements to apply. There are minimum flight hour requirements, age requirements and language requirements.  Today, the FAA requires pilots wishing to operate an aircraft as an ATP to complete an Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program, a written ATP knowledge test and a flight evaluation.  There are several ways to go about getting these tasks completed. On your own, at an aviation training center or through employer paid training.  I chose the latter.

The type of interviews were a telling piece of the workplace culture. One interview was a video conference and the other was an in-person panel discussion at corporate headquarters.  One offered training in six weeks while the other offered it in two.  Remember, preparedness opens opportunity and the company offering the quickest training was also the one I found to have a better culture. In the airline industry, seniority matters. Which means the two-week timeline helped to establish a higher seniority line.

Training

Now, let’s talk training. Picture me, strapped into a simulator, sweat dripping down my brow like I’m in a high-stakes game of Flight Simulator meets Hot Ones. ATP/CTP, ground school, simulator sessions—you name it, I’ve done it. And let me tell you, folks, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of completing an ATP check ride evaluation while simultaneously earning an aircraft type rating. It’s like winning the aviation equivalent of a two-for-one deal at your favorite diner.

But wait, there’s more! Operational Experience flights, or as I like to call them, “the final boss battle” of aviation training. Strap in with an Instructor Pilot and brace yourself for live revenue-generating flights—because why train in a vacuum when you can dive headfirst into the chaos of real-world operations?

Also known as OE, these flights are designed to help ease a new hire into the company processes.  The length of OE depends on the company. My OE was scheduled for a minimum 25 legs with a preferred 50.

The Payoff

And so, after approximately 8 months of navigating the skies and FAA bureaucratic mazes alike, I can confidently say: Was it worth it? Absolutely. Aviation isn’t just a job; it’s a way of life. And every aviator who’s ever strapped themselves into a cockpit will tell you the same. I’m living the dream and I get paid to fly.

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Great items I use during my journey to become a PILOT

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