Ty Powers
Aerial Survey Pilot
Where do you live?
Nashville, TN.
How long have you been flying?
2 years.
What makes Sol a special place to work?
The people I get to work with. Sol is like a family, every person I work with is very genuine and easy to work with.
Which of our company values resonates the most with you?
I am a firm believer in hard work. If you can show up every day and put your best foot forward and ready to grind, you will be prepared to deal with anything. Hard work is the lifeblood of a company and our staff not only expects us to work hard, but will also work hard for us to ensure we are set up for success.
What duties do you have at work?
We are expected to fly of course, but we are also expected to make safety focused decisions, work hard, show integrity, and ensure we do the little things right. I am a firm believer we have the best core values for a survey company.
What inspired you to choose this career path?
I had always wanted to be a pilot growing up but did not think it was realistic for someone like me. After college and work in corporate America, I quickly realized I was not meant to work a 9 to 5. I finally picked up flying as a hobby and quickly realized I wanted this for a career. My parents and family fully supported me through my journey of becoming a pilot and the inspiration came as I wanted to be the best pilot I could be.
What new skills or knowledge have you gained from working at Sol?
I have learned so much about communication. Not only with people I work with, but FBO’s, maintenance staff, and ATC coordination. This has been vital to my work and ensures I am set up to be as successful as possible when we are able to fly. I believe this stems from having integrity and that the little things matter.
What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
I love getting to try new restaurants and spending time with my Fiancé Rachel and our dog Archer. Yes, he was named after the plane lol.
What makes Sol stand out from the competition?
In general, our core values. We really do practice what we preach, and I believe that makes us very genuine. More specifically, we want to be the best! We show up every day to be our best and outwork anyone around us. Also, the support we receive from everyone. We truly are a family and want to see everyone succeed.
What are the first three things on your bucket list?
I want to go to Bora Bora in French Polynesia. I want to teach someone in my family how to fly (I am also a CFI/CFII). I want to learn to do a handstand.
Is there something you can’t live without?
I can’t live without my Crocs, they are so comfy and even work better in sport mode.
Do you have any role models?
My older brother. We are pretty close in age, and he was one grade ahead of me. We were always so competitive with each other in everything, and he pushed me to be the best I can. I am forever thankful for him and giving me my own personal core value of hard work, it really does pay off.
What or who is your inspiration? Why so?
My inspiration is that I want to be better than I was yesterday. I never want to walk through life without challenging myself and pushing myself to be better in all aspects of life.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?
Pizza. You can make pizza so many different ways, it never gets old.
