Episode One... My Childhood Sweetheart

I was around three years old when I fell in love with aviation. While I was growing up, my dad worked for an airline, which led to me falling in love with aviation at an early age.

When I was around three I lived in a little town in Mississippi called Columbus. There my grandfather was Sheriff and everyone knew everyone else. My dad worked at the Golden Triangle Airport which served the tri-cities. On one particular day my mom took my sister (which was around two) and I to the airport. My dad mentioned to my mom that a DC-9 was about to take off and we could go out and watch it.

My mom took us out onto the ramp as the aircraft taxied to the runway. I remember thinking that it was a large, and rather loud, airplane. It taxied onto the runway and stopped.

The next thing I know, the already loud engines became suddenly louder! I could feel the engines resonating through my whole body. The plane started rolling down the runway and getting faster. I was in awe. I remember vaguely of my mom pointing while holding my sister. Suddenly the "huge" airplane did something even more amazing! It suddenly leapt from the ground and into the sky. It was airborne. It was at the moment that I became addicted to aviation.

Everything after that moment was a blur. When I was four we moved to Memphis, Tennessee where my dad worked at the Memphis International Airport! While growing up there I took any chance I could get to go to the airport. Usually it would be to go and pick my dad up when he got a ride to work. This was extra special since it meant I got to stay up past my bedtime!

Anytime I flew, I would press my head up against the window in the terminal and just watch the airplanes. On board the airplane I would want a window seat for the amazing view it offered (Both of which I still do to this day)!

In Memphis, our house sat near the approach path for Runway 27 at the airport. I remember quizzing my dad, asking what type of aircraft they were. I would also look up to the sky anytime I heard jet engines (again, which I still do today). I also played the original Flight Simulator as a kid. I attempted one flight from the default airport Chicago Meigs to Midway. I didn't know how to land the plane so I just pulled the power to idle and gave full flaps. One day I actually made it to the runway!

In high school, I stepped away from aviation. I still loved flying on an airline, and I still loved going to the airport, but I never thought about doing it as a career. I honestly thought it was just too fun to do. I was planning on going to college and becoming a doctor.

Until one little decision changed my life. I bought a game my senior year call Microsoft Flight Simulator 98. I enjoyed just "messing around" and landing the planes just as I did when I was a kid. But this time I wanted to get better at it, and see what it was like. I ended up buying a strategy book to help me try flying better. In the very back of the book was a coupon for a free flight lesson in a REAL airplane!

I took the bait. I went to the website and found the closest airport, which was Olive Branch Airport, that would honor the coupon. Unfortunately the coupon had expired, but it peaked my interest. I thought it would be cool to try flying a real plane. I found a flying club at the airport and went down and talked to them. An intro flight would only cost me $50 and I would be able to log it in a logbook if I wanted to!

I signed up for the flight. The day when showed up, the instructor introduced me to a headset, and then showed me around the airplane. It was oddly familiar! I recognized the instrument panel setup. It looked almost like Flight Simulator. When we cranked the engine up, he showed me that taxing a Cessna is not like driving a car. Instead of using a steering wheel, you use the rudder pedals.

When we got to the runway he prepped me for the takeoff. We taxied onto the runway and he told me to give it full throttle. When I did something strange happened. My door opened! I looked out the door and I could see the runway rushing by me, just a few feet away! I grabbed for the door but it wouldn't close. I kept pulling it in but it would just bounce back. He then reached across me and slammed the door just as we were leaving the ground.

Once we were in the air he said there was no problem with having the doors open while flying and we could even take the doors off if we wanted. We came in and did one touch and go and then back into the air. He also demonstrated the "roller coaster" bit of going up and down like a roller coaster. We landed and taxied back to the ramp. When I got out of the plane I knew I was addicted. I was now an aviation junky!

Back inside, instead of buying the little logbook which so many students start out in, I jumped straight to the "Professional Logbook" which was thicker and held many more log entries! I knew this was something I was going to do for the rest of my life!!! I also began to consider a career in aviation from that point.

Instead of going to the University of Tennessee to become a doctor, I suddenly stayed behind and went to the University of Memphis so I could finish my flight training. I looked into aviation schools and found there was a great aviation college practically in my backyard. I knew after I got my license, I would transfer up to Middle Tennessee State University to major in Professional Pilot.

On August 4, 2001 I hit my low point in aviation. I failed my first checkride. It wasn't because I didn't know what I was doing, it was because I let my nerves get to me. I knew the information, but I was just too nervous. I failed it because of one stupid mistake that I made. I tried to take off with full flaps. After that day I was devastated. I had a trip planned to Washington D.C. with my aunt and mom so I wouldn't be able to fly for atleast a few weeks.

While in D.C. I visited the White House, Capitol Building, and the Supreme Court. I also enjoyed seeing the sites of the city. It was a good chance for me to take my mind off of my busted checkride and regroup.

When I got back to Memphis, classes at college were starting and money was tight. I finally rescheduled my checkride for September 14th and flew on the 8th the ensure I was ready for the exam.

When I heard about the attacks on September 11th, I was angry just like every other American. However I felt violated in a different way. The terrorists used something I love to attack something I love. Something about that day lit a fire in me. I now wanted this license not just for me anymore.

On September 30th I went for my checkride and passed. Now that I had gotten my license, I transferred to MTSU and enrolled in the aviation program. After some clashes with the flight school and realizing that I loved flying for myself too much, I switched majors to Aviation Administration. This way I could fly anytime I wanted to without being told when to fly, where to fly, and who was or was not allowed to fly with me. However I feared if I would love it as much as flying.

Switching majors was probably one of the best things that happened to me. I got an internship back at Memphis International Airport with Airport Operations. There I learned a new aspect of aviation. I learned that they have an AWESOME job being out on the runways and taxiways ensuring they are safe for pilots. But not only was it fun, but it was an important job.

After graduating from MTSU I began my search for a job in Airport Operations. Fortunately for me, I got hired by the Midland International Airport working in Airport Operations. So here I am, 25 years old and still doing what I love to do; aviation! My experiences from my flying haven�t been for nothing either. Everyday I go to work, I am able to think like a pilot and also like an Operations Agent identifying problems and potential problems on the airfield. I guess I still am in love with my childhood sweetheart.