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!

"Two Week Notice" Podcast with Jerrid Sebesta

This past weekend I had the opportunity to do an interview with TV Personality, Jerrid Sebesta, for his podcast called Two Week Notice.  I got to share my story about leaving my job as a teacher in order to pursue a career in aviation with the former meteorologist.  We found a lot of common ground in how we view finances and our love for Minnesota winters. (Kidding about the last one). I had a great time speaking with Jerrid and hope to take him up on a flight if he's ever back in the Phoenix area.  Check it out!

How to Survive Aircraft Systems Training: 6 Tips

For the past month I was in Salt Lake City, studying CRJ 200 Aircraft Systems.  For four weeks, my class of twenty-two CRJ pilot trainees, spent a majority of our time with our noses in the books--including Christmas and New Years--in order to pass our System Validations test.  Here's six tips for how to survive.

6. Wash Your Hands

This has a lot to do with time of year, I get that, but I think nearly everyone in our class was sick at some point--with either terrible head colds or a stomach bug.  And you cannot miss a day of training.  The week I was sick, I saw my formative assessments scores drop below 80%--which was not a confidence booster when needing to pass the final test with greater than 80% proficiency.  So although in many cases, sickness cannot be avoided, my first suggestion is to wash your hands a lot...don't get sick! And if you do, grab whatever over the counter meds you need to make it through the week.  Read on to find out whether or not I passed and what my score was.

5. Go to Costco

We had a full kitchen in our living arrangement, so instead of spending what little money you do make in training on meals out, I opted to buy the basics in bulk.  My friend Adam and I even split some items up to make it more affordable.  We grilled chicken and brats on the weekend and stored it in the fridge for weekday meals. I bought a bag of rice and some microwavable vegetables from Target and that is pretty much what I ate for four weeks.  Oh, and if I did eat out, we'd just run over to the Costco Food court and grab some hot pizza slices for $1.99.  Go to Costco.

SLC Costco Largest in the World...freezer so big they provide jackets!

4. Know Thyself

Couple things about me: I'm a talker and I like tangents.  Maybe that's a common denominator among pilots...seems to be the stereotype at least.  But what I mean by this is that often times, you're encouraged to study with others and form study groups.  The thought here is: study alone, fail alone... study together, fail together.  However, I know that 90% of the time, group study is not where I learn; it's where I get distracted.  So even though it was encouraged, I often times found myself in the fitness center, reading chapters aloud to myself while walking on the lowest setting the treadmill would allow. I stayed awake, I comprehended what I read, and I didn't get distracted.  I'm NOT saying to avoid study groups... just know how you learn and do what's best for you.

Study session with two breakfasts on the weekends

3. Go Hard and Then Sleep

In order to pass the exam, it does require a rigorous level of study outside of class and alertness in class.  The exam is hard.  As it should be! Even though I had hoped to spend the Christmas holiday with my family, it just wasn't possible due to the volume of content and depth of which you need to understand.  But my advice is this... put in hard work, take notes during class, do as much of your reading as possible, even work on the weekends, but then go to bed.  You will be worthless without your sleep.  Set a boundary for yourself to stop studying at a certain hour so you can get the rest you need for a new day.

2. Expect the Emotional Rollercoaster

Training feels a lot like drinking from the firehose.  At the end of every day you are left feeling overwhelmed and maybe even discouraged.  The helpful thing is to expect it.  Expect fatigue and discouragement. Expect being overwhelmed.  And then go to sleep.  In Lamentations 3:22-23 it says: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  I found this reality to be very true.  Each morning I woke up rested, ate a good breakfast, got some caffeine in me, and trusted God for this promise that his mercy is new every morning.  I left for class with a new sense of hope and possibility, eager to grow and learn. I also found it very helpful to call my wife, unload some of my anxieties, and hear some truth in reply.  Have a support system to walk through it with.

Photo Courtesy: SkyWest Airlines

1. Enjoy the Reward

At the end of your systems training, you will be faced with the exam.  I approached this the same way I did a track meet as a collegiate athlete.  I trusted my training and hard work put in during the "season" and then tapered.  The two nights before the exam I reviewed a few areas I needed to brush up on, but other than that I was intentional to rest and not cram.  I took a hot tub, had a good dinner, made myself a cup of Sleepy Time tea and went to bed. The next morning came, along with the exam and I passed with 95% proficiency.  It was fun to receive my uniform and wings...and stop home for a weekend to celebrate with my family before flying out to Atlanta for sim training.

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Got my Wings!

Isaac and Sara surprised me with a cake