It's Official: I'm An Airline Pilot! (With a Personal Update)

It's official: as of February 3, 2017--I have become a certified Airline Transport Pilot! After weeks of training in a full-motion simulator, I passed the final check ride that granted me my ATP certificate.

My sim partner, Tony, and I after passing our check rides.

What's that mean?

The ATP is the highest pilot's certificate one can achieve.  It gives you the ability to fly transport category aircraft (think: the plane you take to go visit your brother).

What's next?

The great thing is that my ATP training was paid for by my company, who hired me this fall, so I'm ready to get started.  As a First Officer (aka: Second in Command/Co-Pilot), I will begin my airline career flying the CRJ.  The CRJ is a passenger aircraft that carries anywhere from 50 to 76 passengers. Our company is contracted to operate flights for some of the major airlines like Delta, United, American, and Alaska.  So the paint job on plane I fly will say something like: "Delta Connection" or "United Express."

When is your first flight?

After my sim training and final check ride, I am now  waiting to start flying regularly as I need to complete my Initial Operating Experience (IOE).  Due to the large number of new hires and limited number of check airman, I will probably wait another 6 weeks before my first flight.  After IOE, I will be on reserve in my base until I gain enough seniority to hold a line.

Flight sim where I spent most of January

How long did it take you to become an Airline pilot?

Just a few days ago, Facebook kindly reminded me of a memory from three years ago when I passed my Private Pilot check ride.  It's humbling to reflect on all that has happened since and see how God provided for all our needs to make this possible, including the big decision we made to move to Phoenix to gain the experience I needed to qualify for this new job.  If you are interested in flying, go take a demo flight somewhere! A friend recently told me, 7,000 United Airline Pilots are retiring in the next 5 years... it's a great time to enter the industry... and nothing more beautiful than an office in the sky!

Me & a CRJ200

One final update...

We are planning to move back to the Twin Cities this Spring.  We've loved our time in Phoenix and the friendships we've made during this season of life.  We're looking forward to getting back to the Midwest to be near family, closer to my base, and back to the land of 10,000 Lakes! We're in the hunt for at least a two bedroom rental along the Light Rail for an easy airport commute.  If you have any leads, please let us know!