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New Beginnings

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author reconnected with Jason Van Camp, their first and impactful flight instructor, at an annual Christmas party after many years.
  • Jason's patient teaching transformed the author's life, leading to a rewarding career in aviation and personal growth.
  • The author celebrated landing a dream job as Senior Editor for *Flying* magazine, sharing this significant news with their formative mentor.
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The flight school where I completed most of my flight training and where I instructed for nearly two years is called Justice Aviation. Every year, Justice and a few other businesses at Santa Monica Airport host a Christmas party – an event I always attend to catch up with friends and former coworkers.

This year, having just arrived in Los Angeles from a trip to Orlando, I arrived at the end of the event. As I walked in, Joe and Sharon Justice were moving plates, food and drinks, and sweeping the large hangar floor. Most people had, unfortunately, already gone home for the night. But there was one person still there who made my visit particularly special and worthwhile, despite the exhaustion of my journey. His name is Jason Van Camp and I hadn’t seen him for years.

Pia Bergqvist

Pia Bergqvist joined FLYING in December 2010. A passionate aviator, Pia started flying in 1999 and quickly obtained her single- and multi-engine commercial, instrument and instructor ratings. After a decade of working in general aviation, Pia has accumulated almost 3,000 hours of flight time in nearly 40 different types of aircraft.

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