My name is Dmitry Kudryn. I am currently a First Officer at Era Aviation, Inc flying the DHC-6 Twin Otter based in ANC (Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport) in Anchorage, Alaska.

I have always wanted to become a professional pilot. My father and mother tell me that when I was a child I would say that “I will grow as tall as a piano and be smart as an airplane”. Yes, I look back at a childish comment but both did come to be a reality. I play the piano and am a professional pilot. I had the dream and pursued it diligently.

I was once given a plane ride in a Piper Cherokee which was enough to set my goals to one day become a pilot. At the age of 15 I took my first demo flight with a flight instructor (Dave Campau, now a Captain at Island Air in Hawaii) at Merill Field in Anchorage, Alaska in a Cessna 152. I felt like a 747 Captain once we landed after the 30 minute flight! I started working different PT jobs to save money for flight training and in the summer of 2001 I started taking flight lessons FT. I soloed on July 30th, 2001 in N78787 with 16 hours TT, what a day! After my first solo I slowed down a bit and flew 2-3 times a month to stay current. When I turned 17 I received my Private Pilot’s License in the same plane I first soloed in N78787.

I continued with High School (was home schooled for high school) throughout the year and got a job working for Era Aviation in April of 2003 on the ramp fueling airplanes, yes, it was fun! In June of 2003 I started on my Instrument Rating and on September 1st I passed my checkride in Cessna N63022! Was I thrilled!

I continued working the ramp and was taking classes FT at UAA (University of Alaska, Anchorage). I was given the option of taking a different job at Era managing the cargo operations which I was really happy to take in-order to stay somewhat warm through the long cold winter on the ramp.

My plan was to finish my Commercial Certificate and Multi-Engine Rating in the summer of 2004 and then look into my options. Well, I didn’t quite anticipate things to happen as they did……I’m still grateful and thank God how everything turned out!

In the end of April 2004 the Chief Pilot of Era Aviation came up to me and gave me a posting stating that a new class of First Officers was expected to start in one month and asked if I had all my ratings finished, I said unfortunately no. I felt so depressed!! I had 65 hours to go to my 250 TT for the Commercial License. The dead line was the 3rd of May, 2004 at 1700. I quickly started forming a plan of action and told myself I can not miss this class under any circumstances!

Fortunately, I had just gotten 10 days of paid vacation of which I immediately used 8. In 9 days I had flown 65 hours and had my checkride scheduled for May 3rd, 2004 at 1000. I arrived bright and early convinced I was going to pass the 2 ½ hour oral and both checkrides! I went and flew the Piper Aztec for 1.7 hours and then immediately went up in a Cessna 150 for .7, guess what!? I was a Commercial pilot with Single/Multi-Engine Instrument Ratings and it was 1430! I jumped into my car and drove the 15 minute drive to the Era headquarters, at 1600 I walked into the Chief Pilots office and handed my letter of interest for the job. He looked at me like I was not of thins earth and asked me if I was available to interview 2 days later.

I showed up early in interview attire. The interview went very well and I felt relaxed. Well all is history, I got hired with 253 hours TT and 14 ME hours at a 121 carrier! I was in GS on June 1st and finished IOE in early July.

I am very grateful for my job and thank God for my current position, and oh, did I state that I was only 18 years old when hired, turned 19 in GS.

I wish all the aspiring aviators out there the best! This truly is a great career, but does require dedication, honesty and perseverance!

All the Best,
Dmitry Kudryn