The first day at most any new job can be a little stressful. But when you find yourself sitting in the right seat of a 65,000-pound airplane like Bombardier’s Q400 with a training captain in the left seat and a load of real passengers in back, a person’s blood can really start pumping. That was how the first line flight shaped up for Horizon Air First Officer Kelsey Yoder. Just to keep things interesting, “We had an Atlas Airlines 747 captain headed back to Seattle sitting in our jumpseat,” she also remembers.
Horizon First Officer Kelsey Yoder Learns the Practical Side of Airline Flying
Key Takeaways:
- Kelsey Yoder's initial operating experience (IOE) as a Horizon Air First Officer on a Q400 was eventful, featuring low-IFR weather and a diversion, yet she found it a validating experience that confirmed her passion for flying.
- Her path to becoming an airline pilot involved transitioning from a pre-law program, training and instructing at ATP Flight School, and benefiting from Horizon Air's Tuition Reimbursement Program for financial support and a guaranteed job.
- Yoder learned crucial real-world flying skills beyond simulators and expresses profound satisfaction with her career, preferring the pilot's "office view" to her previous aspirations and actively inspiring prospective pilots.
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