When dreams come true... (long)

LDJones

Touchdown! Greaser!
Gone West
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Jonesy
As a little kid (age 3 to be exact) a Northwest Airlines captain gave a presentation about flying to my Sunday School class. I was fascinated. He handed out postcards with a C-150 that I had pinned on my bedroom wall all my growing up years.

My dreams were dashed when I needed glasses in third grade....I knew all pilots were eagle-eyed wonders that didn't need glasses! But I never lost my passion for flight and finally pursued my dream to be a pilot in college.

I pursued other career paths to feed the flying passion and they've all been good to me (photographer, lawyer, law school faculty, technology consultant for law firms, director for large legal publisher, etc.) Along the way I've flown as much as I could and have spent 1,700 of my 4,000 hours sharing my passion with others and signing their logbooks.

But there was always that wistful feeling when those jet airliners flew overhead...

So you can imagine the shock and accompanying emotions when one of the largest regional airlines called me a week ago Friday and invited me to fly out for an interview this past Thursday. Had they not carefully read my resume? While I don't list my age or birthdate, being a lawyer since 1982 pretty well guarantees I'm well over 30-something!

But who am I to say no?! The experience alone was worth the time away. Then I started researching their interview process, which led to five intense days of study and prep. While I knew it was a long shot, I decided I wasn't going to let lack of preparation be the cause of my "Thanks, but no thanks" letter.

The interview itself turned out to be a relaxed, fun experience. My study and prep paid off for the written and there were no surprises in the process, other than how relaxed the two young captains interviewing us made us feel.

I went through it with a young CFI about the age of my son, and a slightly older ex-military guy with an impressive resume. I figured he'd be a no-brainier for them with all his jet time.

So, after five hours with them we did a debrief. They had some nice things to say and said I would get a response either way in a week or so. We shook hands and I headed for the airport feeling spent, but grateful for the experience.

Upon landing at my layover airport I turned my phone on to find a voicemail from a number I didn't recognize. Turns out it was the recruiter....congratulating me and asking if I could be in their jet training class in 11 days.

The thoughts and emotions that spun through my mind are indescribable, but disbelief was one of the leading ones. Then the emails began arriving with the training schedules, living accommodations, uniform information and the emergency procedures checklists they want me to study before reporting for training. So I guess it's real.

So dreams really can come true, no matter how wild or remote they might seem! Never say never.
 
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Congrats. My first dose of 121 training just finished. Things are going to come at you quick and heavy. Drink what you can, try to study with your classmates. They didn't bring you in to fail you, they want to get you flying. Do what your told to do, and you'll be fine.

What airplane?
 
Congrats. My first dose of 121 training just finished. Things are going to come at you quick and heavy. Drink what you can, try to study with your classmates. They didn't bring you in to fail you, they want to get you flying. Do what your told to do, and you'll be fine.

What airplane?

Canadair CRJ-200/700/900. I've heard it's like drinking from a fire hose.
 
How exciting. Congratulations.


Jim R
Collierville, TN

N7155H--1946 Piper J-3 Cub
N3368K--1946 Globe GC-1B Swift
N4WJ--1994 Van's RV-4
 
THAT is the most hopeful story I've heard in YEARS.

Thanks.
 
Pretty damn cool Jonesy. Have fun with the new career. Think kindly of us little people as you fly over. Heh.
 
Canadair CRJ-200/700/900. I've heard it's like drinking from a fire hose.

Never flew the CRJ. Training is not as bad as I thought it would be, but I'm not in the scheduled 121 game. Non-sked cargo is a completely different world.
 
Great story! Reminds me of Dick Karl in Flying magazine. Never give up.
 
Congratulations Jonesy, and good luck.
A friend of mine who had been a CFI down in Florida for the past few years got a similar call late 2013, he got through the selection process and worked hard, but at times thought he had taken on more than he could chew but the airline training guys gave him all the encouragement and support that he needed and he got his ticket and began FO flight duties last spring, and he is absolutely loving his new career. btw he had just turned 50yrs old when he got the call...
 
I just wanted to add my congratulations. They are lucky to have you.

Really nice to read a post like this.
 
That's what I'm talking about!!!

Be safe my friend.
 
What a wonderful story!!! congratulations!!!
 
So dreams really can come true, no matter how wild or remote they might seem! Never say never.

Life has a way of moving you past your hopes and dreams. Glad that hasn't happened to you yet.
 
Man, I'm excited for you. Make us proud and keep us posted on the training. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
 
Never flew the CRJ. Training is not as bad as I thought it would be, but I'm not in the scheduled 121 game. Non-sked cargo is a completely different world.

Well, congrats to you, too! I'm nervously looking forward to diving into the training. They told us in training they are there to help us succeed, not wash us out. It will be interesting.
 
Man, I'm excited for you. Make us proud and keep us posted on the training. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

You're too kind. I look forward to sharing this adventure with my POA friends.
 
Congratulations Jonesy, and good luck.
A friend of mine who had been a CFI down in Florida for the past few years got a similar call late 2013, he got through the selection process and worked hard, but at times thought he had taken on more than he could chew but the airline training guys gave him all the encouragement and support that he needed and he got his ticket and began FO flight duties last spring, and he is absolutely loving his new career. btw he had just turned 50yrs old when he got the call...

That's encouraging. Maybe I won't be the only one old enough to be my classmates' father!! :lol:
 
What an inspirational story. While I am a bit younger, my story is similar without the most recent awesome chapter though! Congratulations!
 
Very cool, Jonesy. Congratulations.

A friend of mine has a similar story. He owned a trucking outfit here in OK, and in his late 40s, decided to apply for some airlines. He got a job flying for Skywest out of Minneapolis about 3 years ago.

Good luck!
 
Very cool, Jonesy. Congratulations.

A friend of mine has a similar story. He owned a trucking outfit here in OK, and in his late 40s, decided to apply for some airlines. He got a job flying for Skywest out of Minneapolis about 3 years ago.

Good luck!

Cool! Your friend just might find me in his right seat in a few months here in Minnie!
 
From a high powered executive law firm to a don't forget to clean the bathroom first officer.....what a career move....:goofy:

Sorry, just had to throw that in..!! :lol:

Never give up the dream..!!!

Congratulations on the promotion..!!
 
Canadair CRJ-200/700/900. I've heard it's like drinking from a fire hose.

That's exactly what it's like.

The -200 I'd the hardest to fly out of the series. Any ideas of a base?
 
From a high powered executive law firm to a don't forget to clean the bathroom first officer.....what a career move....:goofy:

Sorry, just had to throw that in..!! :lol:

Never give up the dream..!!!

Congratulations on the promotion..!!

Hmmmm...they didn't mention the bathroom cleaning... :dunno: :mad:

:rofl:
 
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