What advice would you give someone pursuing your path? Training is so expensive and probably the biggest barrier to entering this industry. Look for scholarships. Apply to every scholarship you may be even remotely qualified for; $500 here, $2,000 there, $5,000 over there all adds up. Scholarship funds, including those I received as an HAI Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating Scholarship win- ner in 2018, helped me immensely in my training, and even though you’ll get plenty of nos, you may just get a yes here and there. Also, take your training one rating at a time and never
take your eye off the ball, even if “life happens.” It takes years to get there. If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way. I started my private-pilot certificate when I was 18 and finished my CFII when I was 24. I wouldn’t recommend instructing part-time if your goal is to build flight time quickly, nor if you’re unwilling to study hard to stay sharp. If you’re not instructing every day like the full-timers, you’ll always feel a little rusty on the maneuvers and material you’re entrusted to teach.
Who inspires or has inspired you? My parents. My mother is my biggest fan and has always supported me in chasing my dreams. My father and I are incredibly similar. Although we have dif- ferent interests, we
component that holds this chaotic symphony of moving parts right on the razor’s edge between order and chaos. Right there you balance it, sometimes for hours on end. There’s something truly captivating about it. It’s the bug that bites you on your first flight. And once it finally “clicks,” you unlock a level of freedom you’ve never known before.
What challenges you about helicopter aviation? Staying sharp. Whether it’s knowledge of regulations, aircraft systems, emergency procedures, or a flight maneuver you haven’t done in a while, there’s always something you can be studying. Skills and knowledge can fade if not exercised. The battle against complacency never ends.
“Once it finally ‘clicks,’ you unlock a level of freedom you’ve never known before.”
pursue them with the same tenacity. Seeing his work ethic reminds me I’m cut from the same cloth and inspires me to never give up on my goals.
Tell us about your first helicopter ride. My first helicopter ride was in an MD 520N. I was 16 years old and was visiting a local helicopter com pany to learn more about how to become a helicopter pilot. After an hour of Q and A with one of the pilots, he asked if I’d like to go for a quick spin in the helicopter. That turned into a short hover lesson and traffic pattern and, like every other helicopter pilot after their first ride, I was totally obsessed. I had no frame of reference at the time, so little did I know how nice that helicopter was.
What still excites you about helicopter aviation? I just love flying helicopters. As a pilot, you’re the critical
What do you think is the biggest threat to the helicopter industry? Competing with the fixed-wing industry for pilots, both new and experienced. Experienced helicopter pilots are enticed by substantially higher pay to convert to fixed wing, and they often have their training paid for as well. Aspiring helicopter pilots face much higher training costs than fixed-wing pilots—some never complete their training. Many choose fixed wing from the start, due to the lower training costs and greater opportunity. It’s true—there are more airplanes than helicopters out there,
and you’ll generally be paid more to fly them. I’ve met a few experienced helicopter pilots who made the switch, saying, “I was tired of being paid less to incur more risk.”
Complete this sentence: I know I picked the right career when …
… passengers tell me through the headset, “You seri- ously have the best job in the world. I can’t believe you get paid to do this.” Then, I show them whales, dolphins, rainbows, and waterfalls.
Complete this sentence: I love my job, but I’d rather be back at my desk job when … … life happens and priorities change. If a good work/life balance as a pilot can’t be struck and one thing abso- lutely has to give, you’ll find me in a cubicle with a bunch of cool flying photos tacked to the walls around me.
DECEMBER 2022 ROTOR 49
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