Profile
Occupation: Pilot
Airline: SkyWest
Aircraft: CRJ 200/700/900
Certificates: Airline Transport Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor, Ground Instructor
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Education: Associate in Technical Arts degree - Working on Bachelor of Science
Interests: Photography, gardening, thinking of new ways to become a millionaire
Signature: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life” - Confucius.
What made you want to be an airline pilot?
Hello all!
Here is my aviation life story in a nutshell. I was born and raised in a city just south of Vancouver, Canada called North Delta. My passion for aviation came from my family: my father currently has 27 plus years and counting with Air Canada, his cousin is a captain with Air Canada, and my uncle (from my mother’s side of the family) is a captain with American Airlines. My younger sister has even married a pilot.
My flight experience began at the age of 15 flying a Rans S-12 in and out of a local grass strip. After moving to the United States, I began taking lessons out of Lynden Airport in Washington state. At the age of 16, working after school at Dairy Queen, I found my whole paycheck going to an hour or two of flight lessons. I stopped flying and started saving my money for a car.
Out of high school I found myself in a totally different career. I was a firefighter and EMT for six years before getting behind the controls of an aircraft. This time it was for good. I quickly obtained my private pilot certificate, quit my job and enrolled in ATP’s Airline Career Pilot Program in 2001.
My decision to choose ATP came after months of researching other schools and talking with family and friends in the industry. Every pilot I talked to said the same thing, “I should have started younger”. They stressed how important your seniority number plays throughout your career. I had started young but made the mistake of stopping. Not only did I find ATP’s Airline Career Pilot Program the best bang for my buck (190 multi-engine hours, housing, and their goal of getting me to an airline) but the 90 day fast track was the quickest ticket for me to getting that seniority number.
After graduating, I worked for ATP as an instructor in Riverside, California, and later in Sacramento where I was building multi-engine time at an astonishing rate. I also donated my time and gave back to the community by flying for the local Sheriff Department. After ATP, I worked for a company called IASCO in Napa, California, flight instructing for Japan Airlines before landing my first airline job at Skywest Airlines.
Skywest Airlines is the best regional airline for me. I was hired right into the CRJ and based in Denver, CO. The quality of life is great, because I average 17 days off each month. My wife and six-month-old son appreciate that. I’m also one of only twenty seven crews trained and certified in Denver to fly into Aspen, CO, which of course keeps the job interesting. My office at 39,000 feet is the best one out there.
I look forward to meeting you on the Pilot Career Coach forums and answering any questions you may have about what it's like to be an airline pilot.
Clint
SkyWest Airlines
CRJ First Officer
Bob
Bob is based in Ontario (ONT) for ExpressJet. They also have bases in Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), Cleveland (CLE), San Antonio (SAT), and Los Angeles (LAX).
Josie
Josie is Based in Dayton (DAY) with PSA. They also have bases in Knoxville (TYS) and Charlotte (CLT).
Clint
Clint is based in Milwaukee, WI. SkyWest also has bases and domiciles in COS, DEN, FAT, MRY, PDX, PSP, SAN, SBA, SBP, SMF, SLC, LAX, SFO, TUS, and ATL.
Michael
Michael is based in Chicago (ORD), with Eagle. They also have bases in Dallas (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (LGA) and Boston (BOS), Miami (MIA), and San Juan (SJD).
Bobby
Bobby is based in Memphis (MEM) with Pinnacle. They also have bases in Atlanta (ATL), Detroit (DTW) and Minneapolis (MSP).
John
John is Based in Charlotte, NC (CLT) with PSA. They also have bases in Knoxville (TYS) and Dayton (DAY).
Adam
Adam is based in Newark (EWR) for ExpressJet. They also have bases in Houston (IAH), Cleveland (CLE), Ontario (ONT), San Antonio (SAT), and Los Angeles (LAX)
Kevin
Kevin is based in Chicago (ORD), with Eagle. They also have bases in Dallas (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (LGA) and Boston (BOS), Miami (MIA), and San Juan (SJD).
Jeremy
Jeremy is based in Ontario (ONT) for ExpressJet. They also have bases in Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), Cleveland (CLE), San Antonio (SAT), and Los Angeles (LAX).
Chris
Chris is based in Newark (EWR) for Continental. They also have bases in Houston (IAH) and Cleveland (CLE)
JJ
JJ is based in ORD with SkyWest. They also have bases and domiciles in COS, DEN, FAT, MRY, PDX, PSP, SAN, SBA, SBP, SMF, SLC, LAX, SFO, TUS, ATL, and MKE
Ken
Ken is based in Denver (DEN) with Republic. They also have bases in Columbus (CMH), Indianapolis (IND), Pittsburgh (PIT), and Washington DC.
Corporate Dan
Roger
Roger is based in Houston (IAH) for ExpressJet. They also have bases in Newark (EWR), Cleveland (CLE), Ontario (ONT), San Antonio (SAT), and Los Angeles (LAX).
Dan
Comair has bases in New York (JFK) and Cincinatti (CVG).
Mitch
Mitch is based in Newark (EWR) for ExpressJet. They also have bases in Houston (IAH), Cleveland (CLE), Ontario (ONT), San Antonio (SAT), and Los Angeles (LAX)
Jerry
Jerry is based in New York (JFK) with Comair. They also have a base in Cincinatti (CVG).
Melvin
Melvin is based in Los Angeles (LAX) with Eagle. They also have bases in Dallas (DFW), Chicago (ORD), New York (LGA) and Boston (BOS), Miami (MIA), and San Juan (SJD).
Todd
Todd is based in Denver (DEN) with SkyWest. They also have bases and domiciles in COS, FAT, MRY, PDX, PSP, SAN, SBA, SBP, SMF, SLC, LAX, SFO, TUS, MKE, and ATL
Matt
Matt is based in Altanta (ATL) with ASA.
