Training Info

Private Pilot

From my first flight in April of 2012, I knew that I wanted to become a pilot. After doing extensive research on where to start my training, I found High Flight Academy, a premier flight school that works with students from private pilot to CFI. On December 2nd, 2018 I scheduled a discovery flight in a Cessna 172 with Chris, the head of operations at  High Flight Academy. Although they were a relatively new flight school, I knew this would be ideal place to train. Their staff is highly qualified and exceptional with connecting with their students. I started the very next day on my initial flight training

Through the month of December, Chris guided me through maneuvers and the basics of becoming a pilot. On December 26th after completing three landings, we taxied back to the school where Chris hopped out of the airplane and it was time for my first solo! During the next five months, I completed the part 61 requirements to be eligible to take my checkride.

The checkride was scheduled in the early morning of May 17th, a week before I departed for Dallas, TX for an internship with a major airline. The next few hours would consist of an oral exam and a flight practical. After we landed and taxied back to the hangar, we had to rush and put the plane inside as a thunderstorm was fast approaching. After a debrief, paperwork, and a handshake I was officially a private pilot!

To schedule your discovery flight with High Flight Academy, please call: 724-481-1359.

Further Training

After a successful private pilot checkride and a summer in Texas full of work, fun and building hours, it was time to start my instrument training. With an extensive schedule this semester, my goal was to have my instrument rating in early 2020 followed by the commercial license once I hit 250 hours per Part 61. I completed my instrument rating on February 14th, 2020.

After completing the prerequisites for the commercial certificate throughout the summer of 2020. I received my commercial single engine certificate in the end of September 2020 and finished my multi engine add-on shortly thereafter in early October.

At the time of writing this post, I have received both sign-offs for the CFI-A and CFI-I awaiting a checkride so I can begin teaching and mentoring other student pilots to reach their goals in aviation.