I'm a professional (kinda)

That's right, and I have the ratings to prove it. This past Thursday, I took and passed my commercial helicopter pilot check ride.The FAA says that I am now well enough equipped to place other peoples lives into my care, take them aloft, and be paid for it.  It is hard for me to believe that I have done this. In just over a year, I have learned an enormous amount of information and have slowly developed into a professional pilot.

Something you may not know is that this is my 3rd professional career. I spent 6 years in the U.S. Air force, then spent some time as a police officer in bay area of Northern California. While the military was always a stepping stone, I thought law enforcement would be my last career. Well fate usually has a different idea then the one you intended.  The winds shifted and I left law enforcement and spent the better part of three years trying to figure out what my "forever" plan was going to be. The thought of flying professionally had crossed my mind several times over those three years but for whatever reason, was not yet ready to commit to it. It made sense, most of the men in my family were and are pilots and I did have a desire to fly. I think a part of me was holding on to my last career in hopes of returning to it.

Well, the months went on and the economy continued to diminish. After hearing the same story from different departments who could not afford to hire due to the economic downturn, I decided I needed to re-train and sight my sights on a new trade. I met a guy who is now somewhat of my aviation mentor. My friend was a corporate pilot who flew helicopter and fixed wing planes for an operator out of Chino airport in Southern California. I was able to fly along on several helicopter and airplane flights and was hooked. One of the flights that really set the hook in me for the helicopter was a photo flight he did for a large electronics corporation. We did several flights over this corporations headquarters, flying sideways, at low speeds, with a camera sticking out of the side of the helicopter. It scared the pants of me and excited me beyond words all at the same time. From then on, I knew I had to fly and that I was going to do it in a helicopter.

Fast forward a couple years and here I am. Moved a state away, uprooted my family and put my hopes and determination in making this thing work. And as far as I can see, it is indeed working. I am moving along on track and am looking at my last semester of flight school with focus on learning how to teach the things that I have learned over the past year. At the end of the summer, if things progress accordingly I should be a certified flight instructor. I really cannot think of a more demanding and encompassing responsibility. This has been the most challenging and rewarding thing that I have ever undertaken in my professional life and I do not regret one second of it. I honestly can say, I would not have been able to do this without the never ending support of my wife, and the support that I have received from my school including my fellow students. It has been such a positive experience and everyone wants you to do well. There is nothing like walking in off the ramp after a check ride and giving a high five or pound to your instructors and friends because you passed the check ride. And likewise, it is just as exciting to see your friends succeed and pass their rides as well. It's just been a fantastic experience.