In the first installment I thought I would give a little background on myself, how I got to be where I am currently and where I hope to end up. Jetcareers.com has been part of my 'internet scan' of what is going on in the industry since I started flying. I have found the discussion boards to be filled with great advice (and not so great advice), encouragement (and bashing), but overall it is a place where I feel like I am part of the aviation community at whatever level in my career I happen to be. I am sure there are many fellow pilots who feel the same. That is the great part about the site. Thanks Doug. Anyway, I wanted to give back to the place that helped me to get where I am and where I am going.

I started my flying career in January 2000, I had put it off long enough and at age 27 felt I needed to get going or I would end up forty having never flown and still dreaming of the sky.

I started flying Piper Cherokee 140s and 160s, I loved those planes and managed to solo after a few months at Montgomery Field in San Diego. At that point I knew 100%, no doubts that I had to fly. Period. It cemented what I had known since I was old enough to walk, that it was my destiny. I didn't know how, why or where but I had to keep flying. Only I was out of money.

I was transferred to San Francisco and unfortunately ended up taking a break from training, mostly for financial reasons, but also that it seemed like such a big task ahead, and thought maybe (although I knew it wasn't true) the solo would tide me over for a while. I was recruited by a friend to start working at an Internet start-up and was caught up in the dot-com boom.

I quickly learned I was only kidding myself, actually on the first day to work, a feeling came over me that if I could be doing anything in the world at that moment, anything at all, it would be to FLY. Despite the fact I hadn't been behind the stick for over 6 months that thought was the one absolute truth that I knew at that moment. I was tired of trying to be logical, to figure it out the "right" way, it was time for action. I passed on the job that day, and told them I was sorry but I was going to be a commercial pilot.

I resumed my training at San Carlos airport south of SFO, moved into a living room with 4 roommates to save money and started my quest. It was amazing. I was flying the Diamond Katana, a plane that gets a lot of gruff from hard-core Cessna fans, but an amazing plane to fly and learn in. It was and still is my favorite trainer. It has a constant speed prop, great handling characteristics and the view from the cockpit is like IMAX. Anyway, it was a great place to develop radio skills, and experience in different airspace because of the overlying Class B not to mention the parallel approaches into SFO by every type of narrow and wide body imaginable, right above your head!

It was the summer of 2001 and I was ready for my private. I got it in July and it was an amazing feeling, to have put in all the hard work and to have the dream start to become a reality. I finally knew what I was meant to do in life. I had to go all the way.

Up until that point I had planned on going to ATP for the 90-day training program after looking there and at Westwind in Arizona. I was just getting ready to commit when I ran into a pilot career counselor in Denver, and luckily she asked me about my plans for the future. After speaking with her and a number of pilots for UAL it became very clear that for me, the best choice was Flight Safety Academy. Every pilot I spoke to had great things to say about Flight Safety in general and I would say over 90% had some kind of training through one of their centers.

I went to check out the school and it was exactly what I was looking for. Professional friendly people, amazing facilities and a large fleet of well maintained airplanes. Through the whole tour they never talked about money, only everything that I would be taught and how it was going to make me the best I could be. It was expensive, but you truly get what you pay for as I came to learn.

I started in November 2000 and by May I had my commercial, Multi and instrument rating with almost 60 hours of Seminole time. More importantly I had upset recovery training in a Zlin and GAT II trainer, CRM and the amazing opportunity of being surrounded by students and staff that loved flying as much as I did.

I had hoped to try to enter the Direct-track program with ASA, and then the Execujet program, neither of which came online when I was in Vero Beach. I learned quickly that you have to be flexible in this industry and although I was hesitant at first decided that my best option to keep flying was to become a CFI. With much of the same determination when I was researching flight schools, I began to look for schools where I wanted to instruct. I am from Oregon, and ultimately want to work for SkyWest so I started from there. I began to realize that although Flight Safety has amazing training to prepare to work for a regional, major, etc. the one thing it is missing is actual instrument, cold weather and mountain flying, something that SkyWest looks for in its pilots. I also learned that companies tend to hire pilots who have experience flying into the areas that they have routes. My goal has always been to be the best pilot possible and I knew that to be a CFI in Oregon would expose me to the types of flying that I was missing from my pilot skills. Plus I would get to change planes, environments and build confidence in actual IFR conditions.... what more could I want?

I chose to attend Hillsboro Aviation at HIO near Portland and have loved every minute at my new home. The staff and students are professional and caring, the planes and facilities well maintained and I feel extremely lucky to be part of the staff. It is one the larger schools on the west coast and can't help but smile everyday I take off and am greeted by lush green and amazing views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainer and Mt. St. Helens. The winter has brought some cold and rain, but that just means great chances to develop instrument skills in actual!

I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to work for a particular school to do at least some of their training there. It lets you check out the school, them to do the same and gives you a chance to let the school know what kind of pilot and person you are. I was lucky enough to have a language skill, which helped me get my foot in the door, but looking around at the people who have been hired, one of the biggest factors is attitude. No one wants an angry, bitter instructor! Find the place you want to work, show them how much you love to fly and how professional you are and hope for the best.

Getting my CFI and putting in the many hours going back over everything that I had learned up to that point and then preparing to teach it to someone cemented my knowledge. It was like everything I had learned up until that point was built on a house of cards, easily knocked down, not too sure of what I knew. I now feel like I have a foundation of brick, strong and sturdy and everyday I go up with a student I get to build on my knowledge and understanding. It has given me a newfound confidence, both in my flying ability and my ability to understand what it means to be a professional pilot. It has allowed me to sit back and gain a whole new perspective, make connections with what I have learned, and realize things I never would have been able to see if I was not teaching someone. I have just begun to scratch the surface of all there is to know, but I feel like I am twice the pilot I was two months ago. Not a bad reward for a little hard work and dedication!

It has been a hard road at times to get to where I am, but each time you reach the next level you are stronger, smarter and because you are doing what you love, happier. I can't wait to start working on my CFII and MEI and the experiences that I will gain over the next few years. Although a year ago I never expected to end up here, I would not trade it for anything. The feeling of satisfaction in knowing that your hard work and dedication have gotten you to where you are is incredible. And on top of that. the reward: you get paid to fly! I cannot imagine anything better.

Well, enough about me, sorry that dragged on so long, but now that we have some background, we can move into the good stuff. I was able to get a job at Hillsboro Aviation in part because of an excellent CFI named Jeff Peterson (I helped fill his position). SkyWest recently hired him and he is the topic of my next article. I interviewed Jeff and he has a great perspective on moving to the next level in his flying career. Stay tuned for his advice on how he made his dream of flying for SkyWest come true and what helped him along the way.

Remember, if you can dream it, you can do it.

Fly Safe.