From Corporate Sales to Captain: My Aviation Journey

I never would have guessed I’d be a pilot if you had asked me when I was 18. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, and, like so many, I went to college. I received a degree in Psychology in Business and started a career in Corporate America doing sales for a logistics company. Quickly, I realized I wanted to challenge myself and learn something new. I took a discovery flight in a Piper Cub and, as is the case for so  many others, my life changed. I fell in love with aviation.

Flying was freeing, exciting, and challenging; and the community was inclusive and interesting. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I received my commercial rating with a lot of tailwheel time and decided to spend a few months looking for jobs before pursuing my CFI. I landed a job towing banners in South Florida and picked up everything to move. I lived in a crash pad; eating packets of tuna and pasta for meals and flying as much as I could. 

Tragic accidents at the company caused me to leave and look for jobs elsewhere. Once again, I gave myself a deadline to either find a job or get my CFI. I networked tirelessly and applied to multiple jobs every day for months. My networking finally paid off and I landed a job as a first officer in King Airs. At that company, I upgraded to the Citation V series after 13 months. I was approached by a company I had previously applied for to be a direct entry Captain on their King Airs and I accepted the job. 

I wished I had more insight into what being a pilot was like when I was younger since I possibly would’ve started pursuing the career earlier. I started posting my life on social media in hopes to inspire future aviators and show both the highs and lows of different aspects of aviation. Now, I fly all over North America conducting missions in conjunction with domestic and foreign entities. We fly low level (500’) up to the flight levels. My aviation journey hasn’t been linear or predictable and I’m excited and intrigued to see where it takes me. Everywhere I lived, I’ve joined EAA and IAC chapters and have amassed flying over 40 different types of aircraft. 

I’ve gotten to be part of a project that landed a Huey helicopter on a boat, I’ve flown aerobatics, I’ve been part of aviation operations in major motion pictures and TV shows, I’ve been part of projects that will impact the future of aviation including flying a project that’s data will improve the reliability and coverage of GPS and WAAS. 

I’ve made the best of friends who are always there for each other. Aviation has made me feel lost, confused, heart-broken, and angry. But, it’s also made me feel weightless, free, and jubilant. Every day I am so glad I’ve found this community and life and can’t wait to see what the future holds! I can be found across platforms @raychill.out