Hold up.
@Mad Dog is coming back to the flight deck??
😎 welcome back to the fold, brother!
I wasn't raised in an aviation family, though my great grandad (gone before I was born) owned a few airplanes and flew them in support of his business; a tool & die outfit in Cleveland. Found out my grandads on both sides used to fly too, but never got their ratings.
I always had the bug. Gave up my senior year of football to work more hours and fund flight training. I had the greatest support from my parents who helped with half the hourly cost of training up through about the first 20 hours. All this despite the fact that dad is not too keen on flying.
Anyway, got the private rating done and headed off to business school for which I had to take loans because I spent all my money flying around. When I graduated with a BS I was looking for work. An old friend from back home sent me a FB message asking if I was around because her parents' charter company was looking for pilots. I explained I wasn't a commercial certificate holder and thanked them for thinking of me. She persisted: they needed mechanics too. I informed her that I wasn't a mechanic either. A couple days later I heard from them again: don't worry about that, we'll make you a mechanic.
So, I spent three years there earning my mechanic certificate with both Airframe and Powerplant ratings (there's technically not an Airframe license or powerplant license. It's a mechanic certificate). I managed the parts department and even got to do some pretty serious flying on part 91 legs, maintenance checks, and even a few 'rescue' missions to go fix an airplane or such.
After that I took a job as the GM of a CRS out east. That was like trying to sew a patch on the Titanic, but did manage to make the place profitable while I was there. Returned to the Great Lakes area to work the jet game at my buddy's AOG shop. I just didn't have it in me so I quit/was fired. That was on a Friday and we had beer the following Tuesday. No hard feelings.
Moved within the state to an avionics shop and did some pretty heavy upgrades and installations there until one owner tried to steal the company from the other one. Dragged us all into it, got subpoenas and everything. It was a mess.
So, I went and sat for my IA (inspection authorization) and passed with a 98% (one wrong answer...and it was a T/F which really pissed me off. I just read it hastily). Since walking (running) away from the shop surrounded by the legal dispute, I've been a free agent.
Noticing that the pilot hiring is really getting too good to ignore, I've decided to get back to flying. Have flown 230 or so hours the last 7 months. I've passed and lapsed written exams for multiple ratings over the years. Just never seemed to have the time, money, and instructor all at the same time.
But by Thanksgiving I'll add the ratings I need to go make some coin in the seat vs under the cowl.
Favorite pilot watch? Can't/won't pick one, but I wear my Fortis the most when I fly. Sometimes the Speedy if I feel like it. Mostly fly around in a 310R or 414 for now. Heck, I haven't been single engine current for months (which I will remedy on Friday). It's just time, man. Gettin' the sleeves up to make it happen!
