Jerry has been in this business for 25 years. At one time, he worked for a charter business with 8 employees. So, he not only has the knowledge and skills to fly, but also can tell you what it’s like to own and manage your own company.
You need a high school diploma and must be a certified pilot. This means that you need ground school and flight instruction and must pass Federal Aviation Administration tests for both. Pilots also need to maintain their certification by periodically demonstrating their skills for instructor pilots. And, they need to pass regular flight physicals.
Jerry notes that we often wonder how much of what we learn in school is related to the “real world.” In flying, it is pretty obvious that things like math, weather knowledge, and analysis and critical thinking skills are important. If you also run your own company, knowledge of basic business skills is a must—and that covers everything from tax laws, business plans, accounting, sales, and marketing, to personnel management!
Long ago, a friend took Jerry up for a twenty-minute airplane ride. As he shares, that was all it took: he was hooked on flying!
erry has always considered it fun to fly. There is something about flying that has always turned him on, and no matter how many years have gone by, he still has those feelings whenever he “slips the surly bonds of earth.” He has enjoyed the people he has met from flying, too. Finally, Jerry points out that flying is about eighty times safer than driving!
Jerry suggests that you find a nearby Experimental Aircraft Association chapter. Go to their meetings. Visit aviation museums (such as the Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run Airport) and go to air shows. Take advantage of opportunities to go job shadowing or on tours with people who work at airports.
Consider joining the Civil Air Patrol, which has programs for adults and youth interested in aviation. Find a unit near you.
Jerry is excited about the role technology is playing—in flight simulators, weather tracking systems, and much improved plane instrumentation devices. There are also more careers and business options opening up as flight becomes more affordable and used by people of all backgrounds for business and pleasure.
Jerry attends courses designed to review and upgrade skills, to learn about new instruments and procedures, and to basically maintain his license. He also subscribes to aviation magazines and maintains membership in professional groups to maintain and increase his knowledge of flying.
Jerry is the first to admit that he has loved his work because he simply loves to fly. This has no doubt made everything in his life “happier” and impacted his moods and relationships with friends and family. If you love your work, you are just going to have a happier life. Flying by its very nature requires ongoing learning and Jerry likes that part of being a pilot. There is always something new or different to learn, which keeps life from getting boring! Being a pilot has also brought flexibility in terms of where Jerry could work. He could be a pilot for someone else, and he also had the chance to run his own chartering company. He has been able to earn a very good living from his work, which certainly has affected the quality of life he and his family could enjoy.
Jerry enjoys collecting ancient Greek coins, loves music and traveling, and he does close-up magic!
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