By Gates L. Scott

Aviation has an allure unlike any other discipline. It is adventurous, exciting. It is sophisticated and important. The pilots, flight instructors and members of the industry carry a certain confidence and experience that you don’t find anywhere else. When you first experience the possibility of joining this illustrious group, with their fascinating lives and exciting aerial, adventure stories, and you dream, someday, of being part of something this incredible, you may be a kid in high school or even a late bloomer in your retirement. Either way, the thrill of flight and all of the education that comes with it embraces your senses with a tantalizing hold. Many articles have been published of how to get started. How do you learn how to fly? How do you choose a flight school? Gobs of online forums and obscure, open source pages on the internet provide advice for the new pilot to realize their dream of flight. Organizations like AOPA and EAA spend millions on educational programs and events to stimulate the non-aviation community to take a chance, encouraging them to visit their local airport and take a flight. You won’t regret it! It will be the most amazing thing you have ever done. And, it certainly is. With every discovery flight, expanding smiles abound on the faces of those that had contemplated yet never committed to a day of flight. WOW, what an experience!

The discovery flight is over and you are hooked, now what? Ah, flight lessons. The Private Pilot Certificate. A goal that you have set for yourself! There is nothing more fulfilling in life than achieving your goals; no matter what you age. You embark on your quest with a trusted, educated and motivated flight instructor that will map out a lesson plan over a period of 40 to 60 hours of real-life, cockpit time experiencing what every pilot on the planet has had to endure. What a ride.

These are the initial feelings that all of us have felt when we first started our aviation career. There is no other feeling like it. However, many pilots are asked by friends and family after they earn their private pilot certificate, or even their commercial ticket, ‘what will you do with it?’. The question stumps the pilot. What do you mean, ‘what will I do with it’. Well, of course, I will keep flying. However, the reality of the question hits home. If a new pilot wants to enter this industry they have to put some serious consideration to what they want to do with their certificate. Some may choose to purchase an aircraft and fly on the weekends. Some may choose to join a flying club, rent an aircraft and join an active group of pilots, again flying on the weekends. Others see an opportunity. They see a chance to expand their education and find a professional position within the aviation community. Well, it makes perfect sense. ‘I love to fly and everything that comes with it, so why don’t I find a job in the industry. I can challenge myself even more through more training, which was so fulfilling in the first place, and make a career out of it.’ What does that mean? There is an old saying, “do what you love and the money will come later.” I think this concept has crossed every professional pilot’s mind when considering a life in aviation. We love to fly, so lets go for it. The money and experience will come later.

For more information about Jamail Larkins and his Dream Launch Tour visit erau.edu/dreamlaunch