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, based in Chicago O'Hare.
- His career progression was expedited by the ATP/Envoy cadet program, providing early seniority, financial incentives, a single interview for acceptance, and a guaranteed flow-through to American Airlines.
- He finds his current role as a reserve First Officer, despite its unpredictable schedule, to be the "best job" he's ever had.
- Ardaugh advises aspiring pilots to tackle their training "piece by piece," giving 100% attention to each task to reach their career goals.
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