The Journey Begins

It's amazing the excitement one can feel knowing you are about to start what you have dreamed about for your entire life. Last night I had my first simulator ride at the University of North Dakota John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. It was incredible and supposedly did an excellent job controlling the aircraft for my first time. Yes it's just a simulator but it's realistic enough to count for real hours. At least I surprised my instructor. This morning was to be my first "real" flight in the actual aircraft to do exactly what I did in the sim, but I have been autoweathered, meaning the weather is not good enough for VFR (Visual Flight Rules). Currently only Instrument rated pilots are able to fly. So this gives me time to start my blog and tell you the story of how my passion for aviation began.

I've been hooked on flying since I was 8 years old. My family took a vacation to Hawaii and I enjoyed riding in the passenger cabin of the airplanes. But while waiting at Kahului Airport for a flight from Maui to Honolulu, a pilot for Hawaiian Airlines walked by and caught me staring in awe outside the window at the beautiful Boeing 737 parked at our gate; I longed to board the aircraft and get it in the air, but I was patient. As the pilot descended the ramp between me and the window to the jetway, he stopped and looked up at me. He asked me if I liked flying. Me being the shy guy that I am, I barely managed to stutter a yes. This pilot proceeded to tell me to stop by the cockpit when I boarded. Once again I stuttered out an "OK." He smiled and continued on his way down the jetway.

As I was walking down the jetway to board the Boeing 737, I was feeling nervous. I wasn't sure if the pilot was serious when he told me to stop by the cockpit. I had already been on numerous flights, but not once had I heard of a passenger being allowed into the cockpit. Even at 8 years old, I thought I knew my stuff about flying; as a passenger you board the aircraft and immediately take a right turn to start walking down the aisle of the passenger cabin. Sure you can glance towards the cockpit if the door is open, but you never actually turn left to walk into it. As I arrived at the aircraft door, I swear the butterflies in my stomach had mutated into violent birds. I didn't know what to do so I decided to just keep walking and turn right. Luckily, the pilot was looking back waiting for me to board and once again he caught me glancing as I was turning the other way to go down the aisle.

"Wait a minute! Where are you going? Come back here."

"...what?"

"Come on in! Are those your brothers? Bring them in too!"

Oh my God! He remembered me! Those mutated birds in my stomach had disappeared and I was instead jumping for joy...on the inside of course. I mean, I did have to keep a cool composure on the outside. Isn't that what pilots are? Cool?

I entered the cockpit and stood in the small space right behind the copilot's seat so my brothers could squeeze into the cockpit as they were unfortunately invited as well. This pilot had already pre-flighted most of the aircraft so the buttons, gizmos, and gadgets were all lit up and running. I was dazzled by it all. Did each and every button really work or were some just for show? He went through a few, showing me the throttle, main instruments such as the altimeter and attitude indicator, and the radios. The copilot put his headset on me and I even got to listen to the radio chatter of other pilots talking to ground control. The only words that came out of my mouth while in the cockpit were "cool," "awesome," and the occasional "uh-huh."

That's all I needed to see. I walked out of that cockpit knowing exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Fly.

This one pilot changed my life. It's a shame I never asked his name. I don't think I even said "Thank You." I can remember his face and his crisp uniform, but I have no way to identify him. I wish I did; I wish I could write him a letter thanking him for giving me a dream and changing my life. Because here I am, 10 years later, at one of the foremost Flight Schools in the world, learning under one of the most recognized names in the aviation industry: UND Aerospace. I don't know if he realized how much of an impact he had on me. But then I wonder how did he get his passion for flight? I can only assume it was an act of kindness by another pilot when he was a kid. Now I know how much you can change some one's life with something so simple as inviting them into the cockpit. Maybe one day I too can change a kid's life. I'll have to keep an eye out for that kid staring out the window at the plane.

Many people dream of flying; I was one of them.

I'm living my dream.