Lightspeed Aviation recently launched a Flightpath to Your Dreams series on its website. In the initial trio of stories, three aviators discuss their very different paths to a shared passion for aviation.
Melvin Williams (melthetraveler on Instagram) is an aerobatic pilot, aircraft mechanic, Boeing educator, CFI, aircraft owner, and youth mentor.
“I like to tell people that aviation saved my life, because I like learning but I’m not a big fan of going to school,” says Melvin.
I think a lot of people can relate to that quote.
Read the rest of Melvin’s post at the Lightspeed Aviation website.
Kevin Thornton is a Chicago-based air traffic controller, pilot, Cessna 310 owner, and host of the 310 Pilot YouTube channel.
“Most people get into ATC because they’re passionate about it, and I don’t think the job carries long-term stress. The FAA wants to keep you fresh, so it’s less than two hours between breaks. When you’re on position, you get in a state of flow managing standard operating procedures, letters of agreement with surrounding flight facilities, etc. In many other challenging professional fields, people are always ‘on.’ You’re working all the time, taking calls, answering texts and emails, doing rush jobs. In ATC, you do your job and when you’re off, you’re off. How many other well-paid professional jobs can offer that?” says Kevin.
Personally, I can’t relate to being “off” and am a tad envious, if I’m honest. My mind rarely disconnects, fully, from owning and operating a small business.
Read the rest of Kevin’s post at the Lightspeed Aviation website.
George Ford is an air race pilot, member of the West Coast Ravens formation flying team, and a serial entrepreneur based in Longview, Washington.
The airshow circuit introduced him to a lot of other amazing pilots, such as YouTube pilots who do formation flying and military pilots who’ve flown all kinds of aircraft.
“Once you get in that group, the doors really started opening, and you can just go to the next step,” he says.
“The secret of all this is ‘Don’t say no,” adds George.
Indeed. It is easy to find a reason to say no to an opportunity. Saying yes makes all the difference.
Read the rest of George’s story at the Lightspeed Aviation website.
There is no one correct path to aviation. For those of us on the inside, be sure to keep the path you took in good repair. Someone may be following in your footsteps.
