04/09 - Making Aviation a Career

04/09 - Making Aviation a Career

By Steve Krog

The aviation “bug” can bite with the vengeance of a bumblebee. When bitten it requires immediate attention. But the aviation “bug” can also bite like a gnat. The bite is there but hardly noticed until scratched. However, the more scratched, the more attention required.

Alaine Olthafer’s aviation “bug” began like the latter. As a little girl, about 4 or 5, she was first bitten by the opportunity to take an airplane ride as a result of a Sunday school trip.

“My cousin and I went for a ride. The pilot did some mild positive and negative g-maneuvers.” Alaine recalled. “I remember looking at my cousin and she was really scared! But I loved it and was so excited to get the ride. I was having the time of my life. All I could do was laugh and gasp with excitement.”

Her aviation “bug bite” was scratched a bit more several years later when told stories about her grandfather and the B-24 Liberator on which he served as Flight Engineer in World War II. Before war’s end he received the Medal of Valor for saving the plane and entire flight crew.

While growing up on a southwestern Wisconsin farm, there was very little flying activity, so exposure to flight was minimal. However, her father, Jow, would occasionally take Alaine to the EAA AirVenture fly-in at Oshkosh whenever a B-24 would be on public display, advancing the scratch a bit further.

Joe learned to fly before she was born, but gave it up while raising a family and making a living on the farm. But whenever the family took a trip and noticed an airport advertising rides for sale, they would often stop and take a short flight, again scratching that aviation “bug bite.”

“I was teased by the aviation ‘bug’ through my grandfather’s stories and the rare airplane rides, but I was definitely bitten,” Alaine commented while relating how she became interested in flying.

In the fall of 2003, Alaine enrolled at Minnesota State University-Mankato, originally attending on a track & field scholarship and going for a degree in design. While attending freshman orientation Alaine learned that Minnesota State offered a Bachelor of Science in aviation.

“When the orientation speaker mentioned aviation it really piqued my interest,” she said. “ I turned to my mother and said, ‘I always wanted to be a pilot,’ so my mother, who is very supportive, suggested we visit the flight school and check it out.”They soon headed to the Mankato airport where they met some of the staff and a flight instructor who provided them with information and answered their questions. He then followed up with an offer for an orientation flight, which both Alaine and her mom took. That clinched the deal. When they landed, she decided to change her major: Aviation was now her chosen career path. Alaine was truly bitten!

“My attitude was that I loved flying and I wanted to get my private pilot license,” she said. “I figured I’d at least do that. Regardless if I had an aviation career or not, I would at least be able to fly.”

She aimed to eventually become an airline pilot, ignorant at the time of the wide variety of aviation careers available, especially in general aviation.

“I got my private pilot’s license on my 19th birthday and then quit flying for two-and-a-half years because I didn’t think the lifestyle of an airline pilot was going to be right for me,” Alaine said. “But I didn’t know then about all of the other aviation career opportunities. It seemed that everyone I knew that pursued aviation at Minnesota State either became a corporate pilot or went to the airlines after a stint as an instructor. There were no other examples of other career options.”For those two-plus years she worked towards an art and design major, then took advantage of an opportunity to study in New Zealand for one semester. “While abroad, away from family and friends, you really begin thinking about what’s important to you,” Alaine said. “What makes you happy? What do you enjoy in life?” Thinking back she recognized that of all the times in her life where she was really happy, so many of those memories were related to aviation in some way.

It was then that I realized that I needed to start flying again.”

Alaine immediately went to the airport when she returned from overseas, found a good flight instructor, and a year-and-a-half later had earned her instrument, commercial, multi-engine, and CFI ratings.

Paying for all of that instruction was expensive, but thanks to her forward-thinking father, money was not an issue. From the time she

was 8 years old through high school, he would purchase a handful of Holstein calves every spring and Alaine, along with her sisters and brother, would help raise them. Proceeds from their sale went into a savings account for the kids.

“When I approached my parents about my wish to get the additional flight ratings and would need to take out a loan to do so, my dad chuckled and said, ‘You don’t have to get a loan. Why not use the money in your savings account?’ So I didn’t have to borrow a dime!”

Aliane received her B.S. in aviation with an emphasis in professional flight and a minor in art in 2003, then pursued a career in aviation.

Her first “real” aviation job was as flight instructor for her father who wanted to fly again after 30 years away from it. He bought an airplane and his daughter/instructor soon pronounced him ready after a Biennial Flight Review (BFR). Her father is again actively flying.

Alaine relocated to the Denver, Colorado, area, earned her CFI rating, and began submitting resumes to every flight operation on the eastern slopes of the Rockies. Finding that first “paying” job can be quite a struggle and for Alaine it was no different. She often wound up one of two finalists for a position only to lose out to a 10,000-hour pilot.

“I was really getting frustrated being rejected by virtually every flight school, but I persisted,” she said. “Experiences like this give you strength and build your character. And they make you appreciate what you have when you do get a good job in aviation.”A door finally opened when Vector Air, a Cessna-oriented service center in the Denver area, offered her a position to work the front desk and handle customer service, promising that when flight training picked up, she would move over to work as a flight instructor. Finally, she had her foot in the door.

Alaine soon became acquainted with the owner and sales manager for Propel Aircraft Sales. Impressed with her abilities, they invited her to interview for an aircraft sales position. She got the job. Alaine is now one of three people selling Cessna aircraft throughout the northwestern United States.

“I feel so very fortunate to be doing what I am doing. I work with great people and it’s such a fun, unique, but challenging job. It’s great,” she stated.

Alaine provided some sage advice to those who those considering flight training and possibly a career in aviation.

“First, whether young or older, if you sincerely have the interest, go for it! Flying is something that once it gets into you it’s meant to be a part of your life no matter what you decide to do with it. It will never leave you; you will always have that passion and love for it.

“Second, don’t get discouraged. Flight training is not always the easiest thing. Some days can be very frustrating. But keep at it with a positive attitude.

“Third, if you truly want to pursue an aviation career, network with people in aviation. I didn’t know my aviation options. Had I done so, I probably wouldn’t have quit flying while in college and then resumed two and a half years later. Go to small airports, hang out and talk to people. There is always something to learn and interesting people to meet, which lead to making good contacts.”

“Fourth, there are many career aviation opportunities other than flying for an airline. It’s just a matter of looking, listening, and learning. - basically, talking to a lot of people. Remember though, aviation is a small community. Treat everyone with respect and don’t burn any bridges. Today’s student could be your boss someday, or someone who will write the letter of recommendation you need for a job that you want. That’s how small the aviation world is today.” she stated.

“I loved every minute of my flight training and I love the flying I get to do in my job. To me, flying is about adventure, the new places that it allows you to go, and the new people you get to meet. That’s what makes it so much fun.”

Comments: