Aviation 2000
8 December 2017
Passion Meets Purpose
Throughout my life, aviation has not only been a major interest, but seems to be one of the constants. I was unaware of my interest in aviation, beyond being a passenger in a seat, until I transferred to The Ohio State University. Originally, I planned to pursue a degree in Finance, but extra space in my schedule allowed me to pick up a minor, and take my first aviation course here at The Ohio State University. After taking Private Pilot Fundamentals, I realized I was more interested in flight than anything, and fell in love with the idea of becoming a commercial airline pilot. This is quite far from my initial aspirations to become an investment banker. I realized the major reason I wanted to study finance was not only my love for numbers, but primarily a salary that would allow me a live a life filled with travel. With a career as a commercial pilot, I would have limitless access to travel, while pursuing something I truly love.
Throughout my academic journey, I have experienced adversity, as well as opportunity that has changed my definition of success. Due to a career ending volleyball injury and surgery, I most certainly experienced adversity. However, on a positive note, I was given the opportunity to transfer to The Ohio State University, which opened doors not available at my previous university. Since transferring, I am now in a highly ranked and accredited business school, Fisher College of Business, where I have found my passion in the field of aviation, and become a member of the Ohio State Women’s Rowing Team. Through this winding journey, with obstacles thrown in my path, I believe my True North has pulled me toward my purpose in life and leadership.
I understand discovering my True North is a lifelong commitment to continual development, and I feel I am on that path. Just as Bill George writes, “Self-awareness is the foundation of authenticity, and thus it is at the center of your compass” (George 79). The last two years have allowed me to self-reflect and become more self-aware. Through this, I have been able to achieve a more authentic approach to leadership. The old adage, “Know Thyself” may sound simple, but can be rather difficult as we are constantly evolving (George 82). When we are tested, we have the opportunity to adapt and discover our unique place. Once we find our unique place, we know who we are and can obtain our goals in life, as well as overcome any crucibles.
Framing these crucibles and understanding my life story is critical to obtaining self-awareness. Through much reflection and introspection, I have become more and more aware of my true passions in life. Just as Randy Komisar, CEO of Crystal Dynamics, struggled to find his path, I have struggled to find mine. Randy was a CEO of a very successful company, but did not feel fulfilled and ultimately felt he was failing. Through serious reflection and introspection, he was able to develop self-awareness and acceptance of himself. This ultimately allowed him to understand his crucibles, take action, and make decisions that align with his True North. Personally, reflection and introspection have been critical in finding my path, and will continue to help me in achieving my goals. In a technologically connected society, I also believe it is imperative to take several moments each day to step back and reflect on ourselves, our actions, and delve a bit deeper into ourselves (George 93). This allows us to develop as authentic leaders, understand our vision for the future, and determine if our current actions are leading us in that direction.
While reading and learning from Discover Your True North, I was struck by the concept of “Authentic Leadership” (George 8). Throughout my life, I have heard a plethora of leadership definitions, but I have not considered the importance of authenticity in leadership. When I heard the word leadership, in the past, particular adjectives came to mind and authenticity was not one of them. Prior to reading, Discover Your True North, I had a rather cookie cutter idea of a leader and the qualities they possess. I have since discovered the value of unique leaders and our internal compass, as it pulls us toward the purpose of our inimitable leadership. Staying true to our deeply held beliefs, values, and principles keeps us on track, and allows us to stay true to ourselves. Authenticity will be an integral piece of my leadership in future. I will be able to use my unique qualities to lead both myself and others, while fostering a positive relationships.
Since I have found my passion in aviation, I have been researching potential career paths in the aviation industry, and decided a career as a commercial airline pilot interests me most. Over the Summer, I took a few discovery flights over New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and fell in love with being in the cockpit. Those flights furthered my interest in becoming a commercial airline pilot, and I plan to continue my path to fulfill my aviation dream. During the Summer of 2018, I plan to apply for my FAA First Class Medical Certificate. To become a Private Pilot, I only need a FAA Third Class Medical Certificate, but since I want to further my training and will need the FAA First Class Medical Certificate in future, I plan on applying for my FAA First Class Medical Certificate. I will then apply for my FAA Student Pilot Certificate, and begin taking flight training lessons with an instructor. Near the end of the Summer, I will take my Pilot Private Knowledge Test and my Private Pilot Practical Exam. I started studying for the Pilot Private Knowledge Test through my Private Pilot Fundamentals course last Spring, and plan to study more this Spring and Summer. After I receive my Private Pilot License and graduate from The Ohio State University, I will add Instrument and Multi-Engine Ratings, which will allow me to fly IFR in various weather conditions, while allowing me to fly larger and faster aircraft. I will then earn my Commercial Pilot Certificate and Certified Flight Instructor Certificates, gain experience, and land a job as an airline pilot. Through this lengthy process, I will connect with many people, and hope to create lasting relationships with people all around the world. My dream is to become a Captain for IcelandAir, and I believe this is possible through hard work, commitment, and networking.
Over the past few months, the importance of networking has been highlighted in this class. I now, more than ever, believe the saying, “It’s not what you know. It’s who you know.” All of the guest speakers touched on networking, and many landed their positions through the networks they built in high school and college. This made me realize the importance of networking in the aviation industry, since it is such a tight-knit community. The opportunity to speak with several guest speakers after class and obtain their contact information will most certainly help in the future. Not only will their contact help, but the insights learned from their speeches, regarding their various career paths and overall outlook on jobs will be invaluable.
One guest speaker who really stood out to me was Evan Baach of Delta Air Lines. I thought he gave great insights into the life of a pilot. He spoke about the perks of being an airline pilot, like flying around the world in a few days, taking several international trips per year, and some of the decadent dishes he has been able to try in foreign lands. He also discussed some of the disadvantages of being an airline pilot, which gave our class a more realistic perception of the career. Pilots have quite a lengthy and arduous path to become a Captain at a major airline. This includes spending a considerable amount of time away from home, which can take a toll on existing relationships and the ability to form new relationships.
On the other hand, there are many positives in becoming an airline pilot. The Emirates Airbus A380 Pilot showed us images of the Aurora Borealis from the cockpit, which were absolutely breathtaking. He also talked about one route, where he flew over the North Pole and the heading instantaneously changed from 360 degrees to 180 degrees. These are some of the perks I find intriguing and would love to experience. There are not many careers where you are able to view the world from above, and experience natural phenomena from that elevation. Unparalleled experiences, like his, are one of the many reasons becoming an airline pilot really appeals to me.
I can truthfully say I absolutely love airports. I enjoy the people, food, emotions, and all that airports encompass. In my eyes, airports have always been intersections to the path of adventure. This past Spring Break, I was returning from The Turks and Caicos Islands, and had what was supposed to be a short layover at JFK. I volunteered to get bumped, not once, but twice. Yes, there were perks from the airline, which included several free flights, but I genuinely wanted to spend time in the airport, which is why I volunteered. I had never spent more than twenty-four hours in an airport, and knew there was plenty to see, learn, and explore over a period of forty hours.
Although I did not spend “A Week at the Airport”, I was there long enough to realize it is a city unto itself. There are many moving pieces and parts that go unnoticed within an airport. These people serve the many customers of the airport, such as, the passengers, airlines, freight operators, pilots and other crew members. They provide food, entertainment, retail products, restrooms, janitorial services, maintenance, as well as serve additional needs of airport customers. One vendor who stood out to me in A Week at the Airport is Dudley Masters, who has spent over thirty years cleaning and polishing shoes at the airport. Alain de Botton said, “Though he was being paid to shine shoes, he knew that his mission was psychological” (De Botton 46). Many people, including myself, may overlook the role of Dudley Masters, but when spending time in an airport and engaging in conversation, we can begin to understand their value to the airport and its customers. In my forty hours at JFK, I met many interesting passengers and airport personnel. I truly enjoyed our conversations, and it made me more aware of my love for airports and the people within.
With this being said, I have gained invaluable knowledge from this course, guest speakers, and reading material. I now have a better grasp of my passion, and how to turn my passion into a lifelong career as an airline pilot. Authentic leadership will distinguish me from the crowd, and allow me to thrive in this industry. The basis of networking cultivated during this semester and beyond, will also be a critical component to my future success. Whether I become an airline pilot or choose another position within the aviation industry, I know I will be fulfilled, because I pursued my passion.
Works Cited
De Botton, A. D. (2010). A Week at the Airport. New York: Vintage International.
George, Bill. Discover Your True North. Wiley, 2015.
With this being said
As I stay committed to discovering my True North, I
Intro (general interest since young, fly often), pilot,
Travel a lot due to sports, loved it
Always heard its not what you know its who you know
First experience flying over NSB, positive/negative Gs
Few things I love more than travel
Spent 40+ hours in an airport (tie in the book)
Transient nature of airports
What to do next
Ability to travel for the rest of my life,
Limitless possibilities
Emirates pilot
Wide variety of guest speakers helped me open my eyes to different possibilities in the field
Evan baach
Negatives of travel
Family
Steps to become a commercial pilot
Medcertificate, mentioned to go ahead and get ___ right away
Airforce
Excited for the future of women within the aviation field and the growth, since it is relatively low rn
One of the unique aspects of the aviation industry and what sets it apart from so many others is its unique breadth and opportunity available to future professionals. In the course of our class, you have been given the opportunity to barely scratch the surface of these potential opportunities. The purpose of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to further the develop an understanding of a segment of the aviation system that is of interest to you and develop a personal blueprint for a successful career. To assist in this process, several aviation books have been selected that provide a further overview of several segments in the industry. After reading Discover Your True North and a book from the Industry Reading List, you will use those insights and those from class to write a 4-6 page synthesis paper that details your insights and thoughts about a potential career in aviation or aerospace.
As you begin to develop your ideas for the paper, there are several questions that can help guide your writing:
- What parts of the national aviation system are of particular interest to you?
- Given your current educational background, are there any fields that you might be q5ied for now or upon graduation from OSU?
- What educational or licensure qualifications are required for a career in the field you are interested in?
- What soft skills might be beneficial for someone in the aviation industry?
- Where would it be possible to find a job?
- What are the average salary and benefits of someone in the field?
- How can you incorporate the concepts and ideals of True North into your daily life as a student or as a future professional?
- Were there any particularly insightful stories, anecdotes or facts from the reading that caught your eye?
- Was anything discussed by a guest speaker helpful in delineating more about the national aviation system?
De Botton, Alain (2010). A Week at the Airport. Vintage Publishing. http://amzn.to/ Any2wW