COURTESY JESSICA MEIRIS


she briefly worked at a flight school but quickly realized the environment wasn’t the best fit for her. So she decided to start her own helicopter company, V3 Initiative LLC. Based in Colorado Springs, V3 offers inde- pendent flight instruction, helicopter ferry services, and scenic tours. By choosing a nontraditional path early in her career, Jessica says she depended on and collaborated with other pilots who were on a similar trajectory; namely, Gary Cleveland with Cleveland Helicopter Services and Matt Goodrich, an entrepre- neur with whom she launched a scenic tour company during the COVID-19 pan- demic. This type of collaboration, she says, “is critical to success in the industry.” Jessica is committed to inspiring her fel-


low aviators as well as those interested in entering the industry like she did three years ago. The V3 in the company’s moni- ker, which stands for Vision, Vulnerability, and Voice, reflects its proprietor’s values of community, hard work, and following one’s dreams, she says.


“Vision encourages people to make big


goals,” says Jessica. “Vulnerability means staying true to yourself, being real with other people, and being willing to try—even in the face of doubt and failure. Voice refers to openly sharing your dreams, as well as your challenges and fears, with people. Your voice is powerful; use it to create your world and incorporate others in your vision.” In 2021, Jessica received


HAI’s Michelle North Scholarship for Safety, which is awarded to a commercially rated pilot who demonstrates an outstanding aptitude for safe flying and aviation best prac- tices. Jessica says she appreci- ates HAI’s scholarship opportunities because they’re available to everyone. “They aren’t biased toward a specific sex,” says Jessica.


“Yes, we need more female pilots, but we also need more safe pilots of both sexes. The more opportunities that are open to more people, the better the results.”


Overcoming Obstacles Jessica’s success a year after starting V3 shows her determination to make her wild- est dreams come true. It wasn’t easy, however, she says. One of the biggest challenges she faced in becoming a pilot was one that’s commonly cited in the industry: finances. Another obstacle she encountered while starting out in aviation isn’t frequently reported by aspiring heli- copter pilots: obtaining her second-class FAA medical certificate. “If you’re healthy, [the medical exam] should be straightforward,” says Jessica, who suffers from osteoarthritis. “I thought it would be an easy box to check, but boy, was I wrong. “I would suggest to other aviators who


haven’t been through the process to talk to people who’ve done it before, especially if you have a medical condition,“ Jessica


adds. “Talk to someone with a similar con- dition, or a physician, so you can get a feel for what will be required of you [to pass].” The medical exam notwithstanding,


Jessica doesn’t let roadblocks keep her down, and her optimistic personality allows her to see the positives throughout hard times, she says. “Have you ever seen a kid go bowling with bumpers on? I think life is a similar process: I’m the ball, and the bumpers are my community nudging me in the right direction,” says Jessica. “The ball won’t go in a straight line, and I’ll crash into the sides every now and then, but I’ll get the strike if I start with enough momentum, keep it rolling, and accept help from my community.” Jessica cites the help she’s received from other professionals in the field, includ- ing her mentors, as a source of her inspira- tion. She mentions Dave Johnson, her designated pilot examiner for most of her ratings. The longtime pilot has flown fixed- wing aircraft, helicopters, hot-air balloons, gliders—you name it. His extensive career, passion for aviation, and humility have left their mark on Jessica. Another mentor, Darryl James, a Vietnam veteran pilot, taught her to be tenacious and confident, Jessica says. “[Darryl] told me, ‘You’re not flying a


helicopter, you’re managing energy. Someday, the helicopter will simply become an extension of yourself. If you shift your thinking from all the controls and details and boil it down to where your energy is stored in the system (airspeed, altitude, how fast your rotors are turning), then you can manage a helicopter in a completely different way.’ Nine hundred hours later, I notice that same mentality within myself.”


In addition to passing on to others the lessons she’s learned from her mentors, Jessica offers a piece of her own advice for new aviators. “Be resourceful,” she says. “Fiercely


network, and volunteer your time. And never give up or let someone tell you you shouldn’t or can’t!”


DECEMBER 2021 ROTOR 57


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