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A Career Change Makes a Mark

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Scott Foppe successfully transitioned from a 20-year career as a body piercing artist to become a First Officer for Atlas Air, flying the Boeing 767, starting his flight training in his early 40s.
  • He enrolled in L3Harris Airline Academy, valuing its structured, airline-focused curriculum and diverse training environment, which he felt thoroughly prepared him for airline interviews and line flying.
  • Foppe found instructing at L3Harris to be an invaluable experience for developing his skills, and within six years of beginning training, he was flying a heavy aircraft, attributing his rapid success to treating training like a career from day one.
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“Aviation was a career change for me,” says Scott Foppe. “I traveled a lot as kid and was always fascinated whenever I was able to look at the flight deck. I had always wanted to be a pilot, but never thought it was possible. It wasn’t until later in life that the industry changed and opportunities were presented that I considered flying as a career.” He worked for 20 years as a body piercing artist. Now he’s a first officer with Atlas Air, flying the Boeing 767. “I was in my early 40s when I started training and will still have 20 years of professional flying if I retire at 65.”

FLYING Staff

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