Hello

[ChristopherO-AK-609]

Hello Matt,
My name is Chris O'Brien and I am from Anchorage, Alaska. Ever since I was a little boy my parents have worked for or around aircraft and since that point I have wanted to be a pilot. I graduated from A.J Dimond High School in 2008 and have a brother who recently graduated this year. Currently I have just come home from a community college in Washington state that offered flying but ran out of money. Now with a way to finance it and almost complete with my Privite Pilot Cert. I am looking in to going to ATP to finish my flight training in the Fast Track Program. Afterwords I was looking into going to Northern Arizona to finish up my accounting degree. My career goals are to work for a company such as ASA or American Eagle after completing my flight training. During such a time I hope to finish a degree in accounting and hopefully be able to one day fly for Alaska Airlines and be back here in Alaska living.

[ASA Matt]

Hey Chris,

Thanks for the hello! I've heard from several guys from up in Alaska and Canada. Isn't it too cold to fly up there?

Sounds like you're on the right track. Now that you're done with school (for the time being) and are close to finishing your private, the best thing to do if you're serious about becoming an airline pilot (which it sounds like you are) is to knock out the rest of your training. ATP's ACPP is a great way to do that, as it sounds like you've noticed. The 90-day program will give you everything you need to get to the regionals. Depending on who's hiring, you could flight instruct somewhere on the west coast which would be fun too!

The accounting degree sound pretty ambitious! If you do find the time to finish it up, do it--I've always wished I had a better grasp on financial matters and an accounting degree would allow you great opportunities on the side or a good fall back if you ever need a time out from flying.

Let me know if you have any questions about the ACPP or any other matter along the way. I'm here to help!

>Matt