The last time we spoke with Kevin Ardaugh in October 2018, he was about to begin initial first officer training with Envoy Air, American Airlines largest regional carrier. Before his arrival in Dallas to begin two months of intensive classroom and simulator training, Ardaugh completed the required ATP-CTP certification program that prepared him for the ATP knowledge exam. A few months later he passed his ATP checkride and earned his type rating on the Embraer 170/190 aircraft. He’s now an Embraer 175 first officer (FO) based at Chicago O’Hare, quite a culture jump for the Manteno, Illinois pilot who, until he began training with ATP, had never even flown near a Class Bravo airport, let alone into and out of one.
Kevin Ardaugh – EMB 175 First Officer for Envoy
Key Takeaways:
- Kevin Ardaugh successfully transitioned from an ATP flight instructor to an Embraer 175 First Officer with Envoy Air, leveraging the ATP Envoy Cadet program for early seniority and a guaranteed "flow-through" to American Airlines.
- He describes his current role as a reserve First Officer, which involves being on call with unpredictable schedules, but expresses great satisfaction with his job and looks forward to career progression.
- Ardaugh advises aspiring pilots to tackle the challenging career path incrementally, focusing intensely on mastering each step individually rather than being overwhelmed by the entire journey.
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