Mrs. Alaska United America

As my new title of Mrs. Alaska United America continues to take shape, I’m proud to announce some very exciting things happening with my platform – a project to encourage and educate women of all ages to be involved in aviation.  Educating the next generation of women to keep the aviation community strong, not only for general aviation but in our country’s military as well.  The aviation career field is so diverse with pilots, air traffic controllers, maintainers, to safety inspectors – the opportunities are endless for women.  I am proud to announce as of September that we are a non-profit organization in the state of Alaska and a scholarship fund geared to help sponsor future female Alaskan aviators!  Our non-profit organization continues to reach Alaskans throughout the state and beyond.  Read More >>

Posted in Careers, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Expanding the Envelope: What GA Pilots Can Learn from USAF Proficiency Flying

I know what it takes to stay current and proficient in the aircraft that I fly.  And I work hard at it.  I fly two similar kinds of aircraft for the Civil Air Patrol.  I fly them frequently, both looking out the window and with a view-limiting device to hone and maintain my instrument skills.  And I fly tail-dragging aerobatic aircraft upside down.  It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it. But I wondered what it was like maintaining currency when your flying has a little bit more riding on it than mine usually does. Read More >>

Posted in Careers, Training | 3 Comments »

Learning to Fly: Turning Your Hobby Into a Business

Let’s face it. Pilots learn to fly because they want to fly. That’s all there is to it. The desire to learn flying stems from a dream to touch the skies and live amongst them even for just a short time. However, as time passes, some of these aspiring aviators do realize that their hobby has a potential to earn them some cash. Quite a bit of cash actually.

That’s the reason why some people who initially just dreamed of flying are now leading fruitful lives that are giving them serious earnings from something that they just initially took into as a hobby. You, too, can earn money from your passion for aviation and can turn your hobby into a business. What are the options an aviator can have on a career in aviation?

Commercial Pilot

One road that private pilots opt to take after flying as a private pilot for awhile is to become a commercial pilot. Specifically, you won't be flying for the big names like just yet. You can get other small jobs to build hours. My first job flying was "traffic watch" we simply flew a 172 and spotted traffic accidents. This is a common path pilots take while working up the time to fly for a major carrier. Read More >>

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Flying the Boom – A Ride with the 72nd Air Refueling Squadron

If you ask SSgt Jason Bireley what he does for a living, he might say that he lies on his belly and passes gas.  SSgt Bireley doesn’t give me the impression of a guy who’d actually put it that way, but it’s true in a sense.  Read More >>

Posted in Airplanes, Careers | 4 Comments »

How to improve pilot salaries: Try tipping

A lot has been written about low pilot salaries recently.  Especially the salaries paid to regional pilots.  How can anyone live on $20,000 a year, especially when they have $80,000 in pilot-related school costs to pay off?

We, the passengers on commercial airlines, are partially responsible.  We demand the right to fly coast to coast for $99.  Airlines have little wiggle room in managing fixed costs, such as fuel and maintenance.  Where they have room to drive down costs is with labor.  So they do.  The FAA may require minimum hours to pilot a plane, but it doesn't require minimium pay. Read More >>

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Flying the Pilotmaker: A ride in the USAF T-6A Texan II

For many of us, the initial thrill of aviation came from military aviation as it was portrayed in the movies and on television.   Read More >>

Posted in Aerobatics, Airplanes, Careers, Training | 12 Comments »

How I learned to fly.

One of the things I enjoy most about being a corporate pilot is the relationship and conversations I get to enjoy with my passengers.  If there is a long enough pause in the discussion, inevitably the question comes up, "So, how did you learn to fly?"  Here is my full, non-abbreviated answer: Read More >>

Posted in Careers, Certification, Private, Training | 3 Comments »

When our heroes die…..

I was afraid this would happen when I reported of the missing aircraft (Cessna 180) of Sparky Imeson yesterday. Search crews found the wreckage of it and Sparky died in the crash. So really really sad.First of all my condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Sparky. It is always sad when someone dies, even more when it is one of our pilot friends, even when he's doing what he loves best: flying!

Read More >>

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Pilot Path: Flight Instructor

I've been highlighting various professional pilot paths and the profession tonight is a favorite of mine, flight instructor.

Flight instruction, by many pilots, is unfortunately seen as only a means to an end.  Just a way to build flight experience before moving on to the next rung on the professional pilot ladder.  But for some instructors, they realize that becoming a certified flight instructor (CFI) is much more than just another line on a resume, it is the key to sustaining general aviation as we know it today. Read More >>

Posted in Careers | 12 Comments »

The Voices in Your Head: Aviation Podcasts

Those who know me will not be surprised to hear that I’m a huge fan of aviation podcasts.

For those not familiar with the medium, a podcast is an audio or video show delivered over a computer network on a periodic or occasional basis.  Read More >>

Posted in Aviation Lifestyle, Careers | 2 Comments »