I’ve always dreamed of becoming a pilot.
My journey started as an aircraft mechanic at Zurich Airport in Switzerland from 2007 to 2010. In 2011, I became a flight attendant for a Swiss airline. Through contact with pilots, my dream of becoming a pilot myself was further strengthened. Parallel to my work, I completed several peace-promoting missions for the Swiss military.
Start of pilot training in Oregon
In 2017, I started my pilot training at the Hillsboro Aero Academy at the Hillsboro Campus in beautiful Oregon, where I still live today.
I got along very well with my flight instructor, who is now an airline captain himself, right from the start, as we both shared a passion for flying and worked hard for our dream job in the cockpit of an airline. I am still very good friends with him and many other colleagues and classmates from my Hillsboro time.
Shortly before the end of my training, I became a theory teacher and taught mostly classes from China but also other international students. After completing training, I was immediately hired as a flight instructor at Hillsboro Aero Academy – my first pilot job.
From flight instructor to first job in the cockpit
The job of flight instructor is a great way to start because you learn a lot yourself, build up your flying lessons and at the same time share your passion for flying with other people. When the flight school purchased a new model, the Diamond DA-42, I was asked to take over the aviation training and further education of our flight instructors and to design a training plan with which students were trained on this aircraft. After almost two years as a flight instructor, it was time for me to start a new adventure.
So I applied as a MEDEVAC co-pilot for Mercy Flights in southern Oregon, where I flew the King Air C-90, a small, twin-engine turboprop aircraft. Our mission at Mercy Flights was to transport patients to higher level hospitals or specialty clinics. This was conducted in the northwestern United States and I flew to all major airports from San Francisco to Seattle. I landed and taxied next to large planes from airlines like United Airlines, a company I had long admired.
At the same time, I continued to work at Hillsboro Aero Academy to train students in the crew and turbine environment on the King Air C90. In 2021 I started working for the regional airline SkyWest and flew the Embraer E-175. However, in 2022 I returned to Mercy Flights to become a captain.
The dream job at United Airlines
In May 2023, the opportunity to accept a job as a first officer on the A320 at Jet Blue Airways opened up. This job was very close to my dream job and the Airbus A320 is a great aircraft.
Surprisingly, shortly afterwards I was given the opportunity to introduce myself to United Airlines. Since I really admire this airline, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity and quickly decided to leave my job at Jet Blue and start my training for the Boeing 757 and 767 at United Airlines. I will fly primarily on international flights with United Airlines. My first transatlantic flight from New York to Madrid took place on the day this text was written.
I’m excited to be able to share the fruits of my hard work with my family and take them on flights, something I never wanted to do on the MEDEVAC aircraft.
