All posts by CarlValeri

Host of Aviation Careers Podcast. For more about me go to AviationCareersPodcast/About.
Aerospace Engineer, Air Traffic Controller, Airline Pilot, Career Change, Engineer, Financial Aid, Part 121, Part 135, Part 141 Flight School, Podcast, Questions Answered

ACP032 – Listener Mail with Tom Wachowski

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FlightDeck737Welcome to Episode 32. I hope you enjoyed the last two episodes full of interviews from  the 2013 Sun N Fun Fly-In and Expo in Lakeland, Florida. I enjoyed interviewing these passionate people as they talked about aviation careers.  If you really want to hear some motivating interviews of some truly inspirational aviators make sure you listen to episodes 30 and 31.

In today’s episode we are going to catch up on some of the past questions.  Included in this episode is a short interview with Alan Lawless a flight test engineer who I interviewed in episode 22. He will help us answer one of our engineering questions.

 Today I have with me a frequent co-host on the show Tom Wachowski. Tom is a corporate pilot and former airline pilot who brings a unique perspective to this podcast. Before we begin lets catch up with Tom and some of the interesting flying he has done in the past few months.

Listener Mail:

From Todd:

 I am 37 and can retire from law enforcement in 5 years. I am looking at starting a career in aviation. I will be 42 when I can retire. Would it be possible for me to start now and make a career in aviation at least flying regional or cargo?

From Jesus:

 Jesus is a air traffic controller with questions about jobs in the United States compared to Europe.  Jesus also wants to know if we can recommend large flight schools and online training.

From Brian:

 Brian started flying while he passed the bar and wants to discuss options on how he can meld the two careers of flying and law.

From John:

 Would a flight school look askance at someone who took such a long time to learn how to fly? How about “real flying” jobs? Are they looking for pilots who completed their primary training as close to FAA minimums as possible? 

From Tim:

What would you recommend in terms of getting my pilot training and a college degree. Should I do one or the other first or both at the same time?

Tim also would like us to compare and contrast the training experience from a big flight academy to the training received from an individual instructor at a smaller school.

Question From Junior:

 In Episode 27 we had a question from Junior concerning changing careers from a Designer to Engineering .

 From Jonathan:

Am I too old to become a professional pilot?

What pilot ratings would I need to become a UAV pilot?

How would you suggest I go about my career?

From Carlos:

I am currently a student pilot, but I am within days of taking my check ride.

Would it be possible to do some charters part time?

If so what are some things that I should start looking into?

Thanks for listening to Aviation Careers Podcast. Your questions are important to us and if you have any questions comments or suggestions there are many ways to contact us. You can simply click on the Contact page on our website – AviationCareersPodcast.com or submit a questions via facebook or twitter.  You can also leave us a voicemail at 347-MY-WINGS, 347-699-4647.

 If you found this information useful please rate us on iTunes so others can find us.  Remember to always keep focused on your career goal but be ready for many challenges because those challenges will define who you are in the future. The challenges are the process through which our resolve is hardened like steel.  Keep focused on your goal because I have faith you will achieve it.

Talk to you next episode and Safe Flying!

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Airplane Geeks Podcast

Taking Advantage Of The Pending Pilot Shortages

Sun N Fun 2012 Interviews Look for the interview Restored Champ to hear the interview with an aviation attorney.

Your Money House


Aerospace Engineer, Airline Pilot, Business Aviation, Engineer, Part 141 Flight School, Pilot Shortage, Podcast, SunN Fun

ACP031 – Inspiring The Future Of Aviation – Interviews From Sun N Fun 2013 – Part 2

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Welcome to Episode 31. Today’s episode is the second part of the inspirational aviation career interviews from Sun N Fun 2013.  Sun ’n Fun’s mission is to preserve and enhance  the future of flight through world-class events while inspiring and educating people of all ages. To learn more about Sun N Fun please listen to episode 30 and read the show notes. I think you will find that there is something for everyone who is interested in aviation at Sun N Fun year round.

Before we begin the interviews I want to encourage you to sign up for our e-mail updates. Many of you have asked if I could be available for career counseling. Of course if you have questions please feel free to go to Aviation Careers Podcast and click on the contact page to submit your questions, but I do understand you would like a more comprehensive conversation. I have spent many years consulting and would love to do one on one with each and every listener but I have limited time and my consulting rates may be a bit high especially for those who are just starting out in their career. Therefore,I came up with an idea that will help all of you and be of a high value.

I am still working on a few solutions along with some books and videos that will help you move towards your career goal. To keep up to date on the progress of these ideas and to receive other career updates please go to AviationCareersPodcast.com and sign up for e-mail updates in the right column.  I also will send announcements on occasion to include who is hiring, new programs available at flight schools, and new financing options to name a few. I encourage you to sign up for these e-mail updates because I am excited to be bringing you this valuable information in the future.

This episode contains inspiring interviews which all who are interested in a career in aviation will enjoy. In these interviews we discuss many aviation career fields including : commercial airline pilot, flight instructor, mechanic, engineer, and management.

Most of the volunteers at Sun N Fun Radio represent many podcasts. In my case I was representing The Stuck Mic AvCast:  an aviation podcast about learning to fly, living to fly, and loving to fly. I encourage you to  listen to at StuckMicAvCast.com.

Now with that said, lets get started listening to some of these informative and inspirational discussions.

 

  • Al Thompson – Central Florida Aviation Academy – Al discusses the purpose of the academy and how students can apply to the school. CFA is a wonderful opportunity for those young people interested in aviation.
  • Elaine Larsen The Embry Riddle University Jet Dragster. Elaine speaks about opportunities for engineering students to work on the jet engine and the dragster through the Eagle Hire Program
  • Jamil Larkin and The Embry Riddle Dream Launch Tour. Jamil discusses all of the career fields you can pursue at Embry Riddle.
  • Jessica MacClinchy, Admissions Representative, National Aviation Academy – Jessica speaks about the aircraft mechanic school, flight school, financial aid, and job opportunities for graduates.
  • Marisha Faulk – Driver of Embry-Riddle Jet Dragster – Marisha talks about driving the Jet Dragster, her degree experience at Embry-Riddle, flight instructing, and her future plans for flying. Marisha is truly an inspiration and is an example of someone who has overcome many challenges and succeeded in defining her career in aviation.
  • Julius with Aeronautical Systems Engineering at the National Aviation Academy Booth discusses the advantage of using simulators for your training.
  • Wayne with Elite Flight Simulation Solutions discusses the various flight simulators and the advantages of simulator training.
  • Paul Cassell – Fedex – Donates a 727 to Sun N Fun as a training device from the Central Florida Aviation Academy. Paul speaks about the outreach programs at Fedex and the importance of the many different careers in aviation. In addition Paul talks about the great need in all aviation career fields.
  • Tailwheels Etc. opened a new campus at Lakeland Linder Airport – John discusses their new flight school and what they have to offer for the student looking into a career in aviation. You can also learn how to fly a Stearman!  Kevin Chambers talks about the new program at Lakeland and the pending pilot shortage, and their new financing program. John discusses how Sallie Mae is back in the aviation educational financing business. John also talks about basic and advanced Aero Camp.
  • Jim Sherman talks about Plane Sense and the career opportunities.

As you can tell there are numerous passionate aviators at Sun N Fun who love to share their knowledge about aviation careers. If you are interested in a career in aviation, Sun N Fun is a great place to start. They have yearlong events and activities including summer camps, museum tours, an aviation high school, and so much more. For more information about Sun N Fun go to Sun-N-Fun.org.

Also if  you want to hear some amazing interviews and prerecorded shows you can listen to Sun N Fun radio at LiveAtc.net/snf or click on the link from my website.  Sun ’n Fun’s mission is to preserve and enhance  the future of flight through world-class events while inspiring and educating people of all ages and they truly achieve this goal. Click here to read How To Listen To Sun N Fun Radio 2013.

Thanks for listening to Aviation Careers Podcast. If you found this information useful please help support this website by visiting our sponsors listed on the website.  Also if you have any questions please click on the contact page where you can send an e-mail or leave a voicemail.

I hope you have enjoyed this podcast and gleaned valuable information from these interviews. To be successful in your career goal it takes persistence and perseverance. I have faith that you will achieve your career goal!

Talk to you next episode and Safe Flying!


Airline Pilot, Embraer 190, Flight Attendant, Flight Instructing, Part 121, Pilot, Podcast, SunN Fun

ACP030 – Inspiring The Future Of Aviation – JetBlue and Sun N Fun 2013.

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Welcome to Episode 30. This is the podcast where we give you an inside look at aviation careers. I am excited to be speaking with you today for two reasons. First, I have completed my training on the Airbus A320 and am able to focus on bringing you inspirational and educational content on a more frequent basis.

Second, I just returned from Sun N Fun 2013 and was able to visit with numerous people inside the aviation industry who are truly passionate about their careers.  In the next two episodes I will be sharing many inspirational and informative interviews which describe various aviation careers. I think you will enjoy them. One of my favorite interviews is at the end of this show with a surprise guest. I hope you will enjoy these interviews as much as I enjoyed speaking with these truly wonderful aviation enthusiasts.

Before we begin, I  appreciate all the feedback I have received from you the listener and I appreciate how this podcast has become a part of your weekly routine. Your feedback and questions are very important to me and I will include the answers in an upcoming episode. With that said if you do have a question please feel free to contact me and I will answer them on an individual basis before putting them on air. It is important to me that you have your aviation careers questions answered in a timely manner.

Remember to go to AviationCareersPodcast.com and click on the contact page.  You can also call in your questions at 347-MY-WINGS or 347-699-4647.

If you want to hear about my experience in obtaining my A320 type rating at the airlines I would encourage you to listen to The Stuck Mic AvCast Episode 43. I relate both my experience in obtaining the type rating and explain the process of obtaining a type rating.

Sun N Fun:

SUN ’n FUN’s mission is to preserve and enhance  the future of flight through world-class events while inspiring and educating people of all ages.

The many year round educational opportunities include:

  • Summer camps to interest students in aerospace science while including much of the history and art of aviation.

  • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math programs including summer, weekend, holiday, and online programs. Their program is named STEMtastic and include programs for ages 7 through 14.

  • Future Eagles Aviation Club which allows students to meet on a regular basis and explore the many fields in aviation.

  • Lakeland Aeroclub which actually teaches high school students how to fly. This program is made possible through the partnership of local businesses in Polk County and through dedicated flight instructors.

  • School tours of the Museum Of Flight tailored to your group’s specific goals and needs.

  • On a per request basis provide docents and teachers to visit schools and discuss development of STEM programs in your school.

Intro To Interviews:

Again, this episode contains inspiring interviews which all who are interested in a career in aviation will enjoy. In these interviews we discuss many aviation career fields including : commercial airline pilot, flight instructor, mechanic, engineer, and management.

Most of the volunteers at Sun N Fun Radio represent many podcasts. In my case I was representing The Stuck Mic AvCast:  an aviation podcast about learning to fly, living to fly, and loving to fly. I encourage you to  listen to at StuckMicAvCast.com.

One quick disclaimer before we begin listening to these amazing aviation advocates. In some of these interviews I speak with my fellow crew members from my job as an airline pilot. I am very proud of my employers contribution to Sun N Fun and aviation careers but would like to clarify that I am not a representative of my employer and the comments and opinions during this show are my own and do not reflect those of my employer.

Now with that said, lets get started listening to some of these wonderful discussions. Since there are many interviews and much information related during this episode I highly recommend you refer to the extensive show notes at AviatoinCareersPodcast.com Episode 30.

In this episode I discuss:

  • Sun N Fun Fly In At Lakeland, FL

  • Year Round Educational Opportunities at the Sun N Fun Campus

  • Inspirational interviews including many aviation career paths  On Sun N Fun Radio.

  • Listening to Sun N Fun Radio Year Round.

  • Should you transition from a regional to a major airline?

  • Stuck Mic AvCast Episode 43 – My experience obtaining the A320 type rating.

  • Listener Mail.

  • The voicemail line at 347-MY-WINGS or 347-699-4647


Interviews From Sun N Fun Include:

  • Mike Stromer – Vice President, Customer Connections, JetBlue – Mike discusses how JetBlue is a leading contributor in assisting and inspiring young people to foster and interest and achieve their educational and aviation career goals.

  • Sergio – Tech Ops, JetBlue – Sergio discusses Aviation High School and the various internships with JetBlue. Sergio describes various educational programs supported by JetBlue including engineering , mechanic, and pilot internships.

  • Eric Poole- Captain and Manager University Programs, JetBlue – Eric discusses how to become involved in the University Gateway Program.

  • Andy Kozak – Manager Maintenance Training JetBlue – Andy discusses becoming an aircraft mechanic. He also describes the maintenance training program at JetBlue and how JetBlue inspires high schools students through assisting high school students build an airplane!

  • Cape Air Gateway Program – Crisa explains the benefits of the program, requirement, and how to apply. This is a very quick path to the airlines. We also speak with Sean who is a first Officer on the E190 for JetBlue. He is one of the first to complete the gateway program with Cape Air.

  • Craig Hildebrandt – Fleet Manager and A320 Captain JetBlue – Craig shares his passion for aviation and gives advice to those interested in a career as an airline captain.

  • Bonny Simi – JetBlue E190 Captain and VP Talent – Bonnie discusses the varied careers at an airline. She has words of encouragement for those looking at a career in aviation. She discusses the mentor program and hiring at JetBlue. Bonnie also talks about other  areas JetBlue reaches out to the community.

  • Jake and Julie two college students in the Gateway Program are truly inspriational and have some great advice for those looking to become a pilot and get involved with the Gateway program.

  • Al Spain – I had a chance meeting and some inspiring words from one of the founders of JetBlue.

For questions, comments, or suggestions please leave a voicemail:

347-MY-WINGS or

(347) 699-4647.

You can also reach us at Twitter, Facebook, by E-mail, or the contact form below.

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Air Show, SunN Fun

How To Listen To Sun N Fun Radio 2013!

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Click Here To Listen from the Sun N Fun Radio Website.

I am excited to once again share my passion for flight and bring you some interesting interviews as a field reporter for Sun N Fun Radio. If you are unable to make it to the event or want to listen to interviews and keep up to date on the daily events and breaking news, tune into Sun N Fun Radio.

I will be walking around in My Stuck Mic AvCast or Aviation Careers Podcast T-Shirt so Please stop by and say hello if you see me. If you have something interesting to tell us and would like to be on Sun N Fun Radio I would love to interview you. There are many ways you can get in touch with me while at Sun N Fun. Of course you can stop by Sun N Fun Radio at the show but if you want an immediate response send me a tweet or e-mail me:

You can reach me on twitter @ExpertAviator or @FlyingCareers

Send me an email at CarlValeri@Gmail.com

Stuck MicAvCast Live Wednesday, April 10th at 6:00 pm.

I will be broadcasting a live show of the Stuck Mic Avcast Wednesday, April 10th at 6:00pm from the deck at Sun N Fun Radio. Our cohosts Sean Moody, Len Costa ,and Rick Felty will be joining us virtually on the internet thanks to the folks at LiveATC.net.

You can listen to Sun N Fun Radio right now at the Sun N Fun Radio page:

Stream it live from your mobile device Courtousy of Live ATC.net

Of course you can always visit the Sun N Fun Website for more information:

082286d9-3931-4e0a-ab07-108a8c49bd30

Sun N Fun Website

You an even get your free mobile app from Sporty’s below:

Sun N Fun 2013 App for Iphone and Ipad

Sun N Fun 2013 App for Android

Sun N Fun 2013 App for Kindle Fire.

Hope to see you at Sun N Fun or virtually on the Internet!

To Listen To Interviews From 2012 Sun N Fun By The Stuck Mic Avcast Click Here.

Enjoy the Show!


Air Force, Airline Captain, Airline Pilot, MD88, MD90, Part 121, Pilot, Podcast

ACP029 – Flying As A Captain For A Major Airline With Jeff Nielsen Of The Airline Pilot Guy Podcast

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If you walked up to a stranger and said you were a pilot they would probably imagine flying a large airline across the world to exotic locations. If you listen to this podcast on a regular basis you realize there are many pilot jobs other than that of a major airline pilot. But what is it like flying as a captain for a major airline? Today I have with me someone who can answer this question.

Jeff Nielsen is a Captain with a major airline. Jeff has over 23 years flying experience and is a senior Captain on the MD88/90. He also is no stranger to sharing his story of being a pilot as he is the host of the Airline PIlot Guy Podcast. Jeff has agreed to join me today to help us understand the job of being a Captain with a major airline.

Jeff and I Discuss:

  • How he developed his passion for aviation.
  • His path towards becoming a Captain with a Legacy Airline.
  • Why Jeff likes being an Airline Captain.
  • The Benefits to being a Captain with a Major Airline.
  • What it is like to fly the MD88/90 and a few fun facts.
  • How being a military pilot helped his career.
  • Advice for those looking towards a career as an airline pilot.

Listener Mail:

Question from Steve:

Steve is planning on starting his instrument rating and commercial pilot certificate. Steve will be purchasing Rod Machado’s books and wants to know if there are any books or other materials we recommend.

From Todd:

Are unions really good for aviation?

From Jason:

Jason is a C-130 Instructor Pilot/Evaluator for the USAF with over 2300 hours flight time with 1,000 hours in combat. He is trying to decide if he should fly for the Airlines or stay in the Air Force and wants to know if his current military experience will make him competitive when applying to the airlines.

Recommendation:

Are you interested in getting the inside look at the daily life of an airline pilot? Want to hear some insightful commentary concerning airlines and travel? Would you like to hear an airline pilot’s perspective on the latest industry news? Well there is a show you should listen to, Airline Pilot Guy.

Airline Pilot Guy is a view of the airline industry from a Captain’s perspective. Our guest today, Captain Jeff, is host of this interesting and entertaining show. Jeff introduces us to his podcast Airline Pilot Guy.

Links Mentioned:

Gold Seal described in AC 16-65E

Master Instructor

Auburn University – Professional Flight Management

Recommended Reading:

Flying the Line: The First Half Century of the Air Line Pilots Association

Jeppesen Instrument Commercial

Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3A) (Second Edition)

Instrument Procedures Handbook

Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

Instrument Flying Handbook

Rod Machado’s books


Accident Investigator, Air Traffic Controller, Commercial aviation, National Transportation Safety Board, Podcast

ACP028 – Federal Government Careers With NTSB Accident Investigator Bill English.

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Most of our discussion is of careers in commercial aviation but there are numerous jobs with the Federal Government. One of the more fascinating jobs is investigating accidents. Today I have with me someone from the National Transportation Safety Board to discuss the job of accident investigator and the various federal jobs relating to aviation.

Bill English is a National Transportation Safety Board Investigator in Charge in the Major Aviation Investigations Division. Bill has a varied background and extensive knowledge in the area of instrument procedures and design which he has shared through various articles in IFR Magazine. Bill also has been an air traffic controller, corporate pilot, and flight instructor.  Bill has agreed to join us today to share with us his exciting career as an accident investigator at the NTSB.

Bill and I discuss:

  • How he developed his passion for aviation.
  • His current job as Investigator In Charge at the NTSB.
  • The various jobs at the NTSB that relate to aviation.
  • The experience and education necessary to become an investigator with the NTSB.
  • His career as an air traffic controller.
  • The many federal jobs relating to aviation.
  • Accident investigation careers outside the NTSB.
  • His advice for those interested in an aviation career with the Federal Government.


For More Information:

NTSB Careers

Air Traffic Controller Careers from Bureau Of Labor Statistics

Accident Investigator Jobs from AvJobs.com

Association For Unmanned Vehicles International

The Aviation Herald

Recommendation:

Safety Management Systems in Aviation (Ashgate Studies in Human Factors for Flight Operations)


Aerospace Engineer, Engineer, Pilot, Podcast, Private Pilot, Repair Design Engineer, Structural Engineer

Designing Repairs On Damaged Jets with Aerospace Engineer Walter Chan – ACP027

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One of the best aspects of a career in aviation is that you are surrounded by people who are passionate about their vocation.  Today I have with me a person who is passionate about his career of designing repairs to airliners which have been damaged as an Aerospace Engineer.

Did you know fixing a damaged airliner includes engineering the repair. From nicks, scratches, dents, and corrosion, to bird strikes, skin patches, and other major repairs to aircraft primary structure an engineer is involved in providing a solution. I have with me someone who is designs structural repairs to damaged jets and who is passionate about flying planes as a private pilot.

Today we are going to be speaking with Walter Chan a Designer of Structural repairs and truly passionate aviation enthusiast. Walter was referred to me from the host of Stuck Mic Avcast, Len Costa. Len said you really need to speak with Walter about aviation careers and his passion for all things aviation.

Walter and I Discuss:

  • His job as a structural engineer.
  • How he developed his passion for aviation and flying.
  • The type of engineers who work for his company.
  • Working conditions and some exciting places he visits while performing his job.
  • The educational requirements to become an engineer working on airliners.
  • Advice for those interested in becoming a repair design engineer.
  • His passion for flying and his journey as a private pilot.
  • His interest in flying airplanes for fun and someday to get paid as a pilot.
  • The challenges he has faced in completing his ratings.
  • Why he likes his current job and career.

Listener Questions:

Should I begin with a an undergraduate degree in engineering before pursuing a masters?

Is it important to have a pilot license to be a test flight engineer?

Links Mentioned In This Show:

Flight Training Magazine

ACP024 – Preparing For A Midlife Career Change; The Successful Part Time Flight Instructor.

ACP022 Designing Tomorrow’s Airplanes With Flight Test Engineer Alan Lawless

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Airline Pilot, Podcast

ACP026 – Ten Reasons You SHOULD Become An Airline Pilot With Len Costa From The Stuck Mic AvCast.

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In Episode 23 we discussed the 10 reasons why you Should NOT become an airline pilot. If these ten reasons are not negative and in some cases positive then you are a prime candidate to become an airline pilot. In this episode we take a more positive stance and discuss the ten reasons you SHOULD become an airline pilot.

Today we will discuss 10 reasons you SHOULD become an airline pilot. To help me with this list I have an airline Captain, previous guest from Episode 10, and host of The Stuck Mic AvCast Len Costa.

Top Ten List of Reasons You SHOULD become an airline pilot:

  1. Visit interesting destinations while being paid.
  2. Your office has one of the best views in the world.
  3. You have many days off.
  4. You can live anywhere in the world.
  5. You can travel for free.
  6. Meet people from diverse and interesting backgrounds.
  7. Good pay and benefits.
  8. No office politics since you don’t work in an office.
  9. On your days off no phoning into the office.
  10. You get to fly in some challenging weather and terrain.

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Links Mentioned In This Podcast:

Stuck Mic AvCast An Aviation Podcast About Learning to Fly, Living to Fly, and Loving to Fly

ACP023 – Ten Reasons You Should NOT Become An Airline Pilot. Career Questions Answered with Tom Wachowski.


Air Force, Airline Pilot, Fighter Pilot, Flight Instructing, General Aviation, Military, Pilot, Podcast

ACP025 – Don’t Let Anyone Steal Your Dream – From Air Force Thunderbird Pilot To General Aviation Pilot With Dave Coffman

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Many Air Force pilots transition to a career as an airline pilot.  Some have successful careers as a general aviation pilot. Dave Coffman is an accomplished pilot who has taken his experience as an Air Force fighter pilot flying for the Thunderbirds and has built a successful general aviation business.

Dave describes how he made the transition from flying fighters for the military to his current general aviation business. Dave is a contract pilot, flight instructor, and mentor pilot. Dave specializes in assisting pilots fly solo in complex aircraft by using his many years as a single seat fighter pilot.

Dave and I Discuss:

  • How he developed a passion for aviation.
  • His Air Force career.
  • Flying For The U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds.
  • Why he chose general aviation over the airlines.
  • How he built a successful business as a contract pilot.
  • How being an F-16 and T-37 Instructor helped him with his current career.
  • Preparing for a job as a civilian after a military career.
  • Advice on seeking a job flying with the military.
  • How a military career prepares you for a job in the civilian world.
  • The challenges of transitioning from the military to the civilian career.

Daves Awards and Achievements Include:

  • Top Graduate, USAF Pilot Instructor Training
  • USAF Distinguished Flying Cross, Aerial Achievement
  • USAF Pilot of Distinction Award for safe recovery of an F-16 during an airshow after a catastrophic afterburner explosion.


Listener Mail:

Questions From Todd:

Todd has a few questions for Tom Wachowski but since both of us are on the road Tom recorded his responses to your questions Todd and I will play his response after reading your questions.

Questions For Tom:

  • What is the the most important quality that a corporate flight department looks for in a prospective pilot candidate?
  • How does he feel about paying for your first type rating when that becomes a limiting factor in getting hired?
  • I hear a lot of people frowning upon that but we all have to pay for our flight training to that point anyway, so why not a type rating?
  • Is it best to fly regionals before getting a corporate job?


Questions for Carl:

  • You mentioned you knew a pilot who also was a practicing dentist.How in the world did he have the time to do both?
  • Any way to have him on your show?
  • Could I potentially have the time to be a practicing veterinarian and be a regional airline pilot?


Questions From Swayne:

Swayne is a high school student considering aviation as a career

  • What should I think when I get responses from online forums or people who tell me to “run?”
  • After years of flying, do you still look forward to it like you did when you first began?
  • How did you get to where you are?
  • What do you think the future of the industry is looking like?
  • Do you see a brighter future compared to the last 11 years?

Links Mentioned In This Show:

Dave’s Interview on The Stuck Mic Avcast Episode 30

Higher Calling Aviation – Pilot, Instructor, Mentor

ACP023 – Ten Reasons You Should NOT Become An Airline Pilot. Career Questions Answered with Tom Wachowski.

ACP014 – What Is Business And Private Aviation?, Interview with Corporate Pilot Tom Wachowski

Cockpit Chronicles

Recommendation:

Wisdom Meets Passion: When Generations Collide and Collaborate


Career Change, Flight Instructing, Flight Instructor, General Aviation, Part Time Aviation Career, Podcast

ACP024 – Preparing For A Midlife Career Change; The Successful Part Time Flight Instructor

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It has been said that the passion for aviation is an incurable disease which is treated by hours of flying. Well one person who you can tell has been bitten by the aviation “bug” is Paul D’Auria. When I first met Paul his childlike smile as he talked about aviation made me realize this person is hooked.

Although full of youthful exuberance and hope normally associated with a teenager heading to college, Paul has not seen his teens for decades. With that said Paul personifies a passion for flight no matter the age of the pilot.

Recently Paul decided to transition from his desk job at a large corporation to flight instructor full time. Years before that transition he worked getting his ratings and building a client base for his flight instructor business.

Today we are going to speak with Paul about working part time as a flight instructor and how to prepare for a transition from a desk job to a full time flying job. His story is one we will watch unfold and hope to have him on again when he is working full time in the field.

Paul and I Discuss:

  • How Paul developed his passion for aviation.
  • Keys to being a successful part time flight instructor.
  • How to prepare for the transition from desk job to a full time flying position.
  • Methods of building your client base as an independent flight instructor.
  • Working with flight schools as an independent instructor.
  • Why it is never too late to start looking towards a career in aviation.
  • Defining your unique aviation career goals.
  • Challenges for the middle age career transition.

Recommendation:

I receive e-mails from listeners wanting to change careers but they can’t because as their income has increased so has their lifestyle. If this has happened to you don’t feel bad because this commonly happens.  If you feel you are attached to a lifestyle as if chained to a heavy anchor no need to worry because there is hope.

The first step is to stop your high consumption lifestyle, begin living within your means, and start saving money. We all think we want to be rich because we want to buy the things rich people have. But to feel rich we begin buying those things that might make us feel happy at the moment but straddle us with debt or transfer our savings to an inanimate object.

If your dream is to have a career in aviation you will need to be very conservative in your spending and your lifestyle. This is due to the high cost of training, low starting wages, and the years it might require to gain experience to make you marketable throughout the industry.

You will need to start living within your means but this is difficult without some guidance and examples. As pilots we try to emulate the skills and safety practices of those pilots and instructors we admire. You also should try and emulate those who are financially successful such as millionaires.

I think you will find the information in the book Stop Acting Rich valuable and discover that many of the millionaires in this country became wealthy by leading a frugal lifestyle and not becoming caught in a high consumption lifestyle that we often associate with wealth. The greatest lesson I learned from this book is that if you look at the things you purchase from a practical standpoint as opposed to how it makes you feel you will be well on your way to the financial security you will need while navigating your way through your aviation career. I think by reading this book you will learn something that will help you move towards financial security and allow you to concentrate on obtaining your aviation career goal.

Career Questions Answered:

  • Can an individual can be successful as a ground instructor?
  • Is there a market for ground instructors?

I hope you have enjoyed listening to Paul D’Auria’s  story and come back in the future to hear how he is progressing with his flight instructing.  If you have any questions for Paul please feel free to contact us and we will pass along the question to Paul. Simply click on the contact page on our website AviationCareersPodcast.com/contact and send us a message.

Remember to like AviationCareersPodcast on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get up to date information.  You can of course ask us questions on facebook and twitter or you can e-mail me directly at carl@aviationcareerspodcast.com or leave a voicemail at 347-MY-WINGS (347) 699-4647.

Before every flight a pilot takes time to plan for a normal flight. A good pilot places just as much thought into contingency plans.  It is a good idea to follow the lead of a good pilot in command and spend adequate time both planning your career and making contingency plans.

By having financial stability it makes your plan go much smoother. Financial stability is like having extra fuel in the tanks because you can make many diversions but still make it to your destination without stopping along the way. This is the reason I recommended Stop Acting Rich.  By avoiding a high consumption lifestyle you will be able to use the money to progress towards your career goal.

Remember extra fuel is like extra money in the bank.  By being a good steward of your money you will make it to your career destination with greater financial safety and speed.  I Hope you have enjoyed today’s show and I look forward to seeing you next episode. Safe Flying!

Related Links:

Episode 003 – How to be a Successful Part Time Flight Instructor

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