Archive for month: August, 2024

Aerial Survey Pilot

Where do you live?
Richland, Washington

How long have you been flying?
I’ve been flying since April 8th, 2019. 5 years.

What makes Sol a special place to work?
I love my coworkers, everyone I’ve met and interacted with is so cool and friendly. Makes for a great place to work!

Which of our company values resonates the most with you?
Obviously safety is most important to me and always has been, but integrity is what most resonates with me. If a boss or coworker tells/says something to you and they feel unsure about trusting you with that task or information then that’s just going to lead to a bad work relationship. So honesty is the only option in my mind to keep myself and others happy. Once trust is lost, it’s almost impossible to bring that back.

Where is your favorite place that you have traveled to for work?
El Paso, Texas has been my favorite so far! But we’ll see how Nashville, Tennessee is on this next rotation!

What do you like most of your job?
I love having the opportunity to earn quality hours with such cool coworkers and travel the country to unique destinations in an awesome plane!

How did you find this position?
I was working as a Fueler at my home airport and ran into Sol Aerial Survey pilot and struck up a conversation with him and kept that in my mind until I got all my ratings and the required hours to apply!

What inspired you to choose this career path?
My mom was a flight attendant for NorthWest airlines for 18 years and when I was little towards the tail end of her career I got to travel all over the place and fell in love with flying. As I got older I knew I wanted to be a pilot.

What have been some challenging moments for you at work?
I’ve always been very good at time management but that’s something I think has been a challenge for me since I’m still new at the company. Things are definitely getting easier and will continue to do so but it will just take time. Figuring out bases and doing Maintenance events have also been new challenges for me but those too are also getting easier.

What makes Sol stand out from the competition?
The quality of life assurance is great. I love the 16 on 12 off schedule and the compensation is very nice too.

Favorite hobbies?
Hunting, fishing, camping, shooting, and video games!

What are the first three things in your bucke tlist?
Marry my Fiancé and have 4 kids, become a 747 Captain at some point, and run my grandparents ranch down the road.

Is there something you can’t live without?
Dots original pretzels.

Do you have any role models?
My dad and my grandpas are my role models. Just how they worked so hard to get to where they all are in their lives inspires me.

What are your future ambitions?
I hope to be a cargo pilot in my future. I want to fly the 747 before she’s gone from the industry completely.

What or who is your inspiration? Why so?
Other than my dad or both grandpas, I’d say David Goggins, Joko, Theo Von and Joe Rogan. They taught me to be mentally tough and to quit making excuses for things that are in my own control. They helped me lose 40 pounds when I lost sight of who I was becoming.

Do you have any nicknames?
No “nicknames” really but at work and when I played football in high school I’m addressed as “Fick” my last name.

Aerial Survey Pilot

Where do you live?
Colorado Springs, CO

How long have you been flying?
2 Years

What makes Sol a special place to work?
The people, everyone is so great to work with.

Which of our company values resonates the most with you?
“The Little Things Matter”. We live in such a quick paced society and especially in our line of work it’s important to slow down and make sure the little things are correct.

Where is your favorite place that you have traveled to for work?
Northern California, flying along the coast and landing near the ocean were amazing experiences.

What do you like most of your job?
The planes, people and places we get to see.

How did you find this position?
A friend and fellow pilot who previously worked for Sol

What inspired you to choose this career path?
Doing a discovery flight, afterwards I was hooked and knew it was what I wanted to do.

What new skills or knowledge have you gained from working at Sol?
I continuously gain more knowledge working at Sol. Whether it is from our great flight ops department, excellent maintenance department or fellow pilots there is always knowledge and skills to be shared and learned.

What makes Sol stand out from the competition?

Everyone at Sol is what makes them stand out but to highlight one area, our maintenance department. They are so great at keeping us flying and making sure everything is getting done correctly and efficiently.

Do you have any siblings?
Yes, one older brother who I’ve always looked up to and has taught me so much

Favorite hobbies?
Off-roading, Kayaking and obviously flying

What are the first three things on your bucket list?
See the pyramids and see the northern lights and scuba dive to a shipwreck

Do you have any role models?
My parents, I cherish all of the family trips we’ve taken and the knowledge and work ethic I gained from them

What was your first job, did you like it?
Brewers assistant. Absolutely loved it and gained invaluable lessons and life experience.

What are your future ambitions?
Continue to progress my aviation career and support my wife in her career while we start a family

If you have to describe yourself in 5 words, what would they be?
Patient, self driven, adventurous, reliable and friendly

Aerial Survey Pilot

Where do you live?
Fort Myers, FL

How long have you been flying?
6 Years

What makes Sol a special place to work?
The people for sure. Every pilot that I have had the pleasure of meeting on the road has been awesome. Everyone on the management team are great to work with and are true leaders in their profession.

Which of our company values resonates the most with you?
Integrity. Our word is one of the most valuable things that we carry with us on a day by day basis.

What duties do you have at work?
Aircraft management, flying aerial survey missions anywhere in the country, and handling any other duties necessary for the smooth operation of the airplane and survey missions.

What have been some challenging moments for you at work?
First time flying Canada maps early in my career here.

What new skills or knowledge have you gained from working at Sol?
Aircraft management single pilot and further increasing confidence in PIC decision making.

What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
Playing guitar in my band back home

What makes Sol stand out from the competition?
The maintenance and standardization of procedures

Favorite hobbies?

Playing and recording music, weightlifting, surfing, golf

What are the first three things on your bucket list?
Thankfully my childhood came with a lot of great opportunities and experiences so most of my bucket list items have been checked off. Now I am happy just living a content and boring life.

Do you have any role models?
Probably cliché but both of my parents have been my role models my whole life and is responsible for the man that I am today. They have showed me what hard work, integrity, and excellence means.

What are your future ambitions?
Flying a jet for whoever allows me to stay in Florida and keep a good quality of life.

Where would it be and why if you could live anywhere in the world?
I don’t mind staying put in Florida BUT I also wouldn’t mind living in Japan again. Safe country, great food, nice people, and great healthcare and schooling.

What or who is your inspiration? Why so?
My dad. Back in the early 2000s he wanted to get out of the military to pursue an airline pilot career but due to having to take care of the family he decided to stay in had a great career in the military. I have always wanted to be a pilot since I was younger and seeing the sacrifice my dad made, I made sure I stayed the course to ensure his sacrifice was not in vain.

Are you an immediate waker in the morning or do you keep snoozing the alarm?
Snooze at least twice

Do you have any nicknames?
Just “AJ”