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Gear Up: Getting Started in a New Aviation Career

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author, Dick Karl, embarks on an intensive "Indoc" at JetSuite followed by Cessna CJ3 type rating training at CAE, aiming to fulfill his lifelong dream of flying jets professionally.
  • He undergoes this demanding training alongside Phil Smith, a highly experienced former Air Force fighter pilot, whose exceptional skills initially highlight the author's learning curve as he transitions from hobbyist to professional.
  • The training covers JetSuite's operational procedures, emergency drills, and extensive simulator work, pushing the author to master the CJ3 despite initial struggles and anxiety.
  • Despite the challenges, both the author and Phil successfully pass their check rides, earning their type ratings and forging a strong camaraderie during the rigorous process.
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The lobby of the Hilton Hotel across from the John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, is packed with conventioneers. They are making a joyous noise. I am looking for Phil Smith among the throng; we will be joined at the hip for the better part of a month as we progress through “Indoc” at JetSuite headquarters here and Cessna CJ3 training at CAE in Whippany, New Jersey.

At 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning, we find ourselves in the mostly quiet office suite; only mission control, which manages all the airplanes, pilots and maintenance issues, and a few sales personnel are here. Director of Training Sam Stalvey welcomes the two of us — this will be a very personal Indoc. This also means I have nowhere to hide. Good thing Phil seems like a good guy.

Dick Karl

Dick Karl is a cancer surgeon who appreciates the beauty and science involved in both surgery and flying. Dick’s monthly Gear Up celebrates the human side of flying. He writes about his enthusiasm for both the machines and the people who fly and maintain them.

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