“Aviation was a career change for me,” says Scott Foppe. “I traveled a lot as kid and was always fascinated whenever I was able to look at the flight deck. I had always wanted to be a pilot, but never thought it was possible. It wasn’t until later in life that the industry changed and opportunities were presented that I considered flying as a career.” He worked for 20 years as a body piercing artist. Now he’s a first officer with Atlas Air, flying the Boeing 767. “I was in my early 40s when I started training and will still have 20 years of professional flying if I retire at 65.”
A Career Change Makes a Mark
Key Takeaways:
- Scott Foppe successfully transitioned from a body piercing artist to an Atlas Air First Officer flying a Boeing 767 in his early 40s, demonstrating that a mid-life career change into aviation is achievable.
- His journey involved structured training at L3Harris Airline Academy, which he found highly beneficial for airline preparedness, and highlighted the unexpected value of working as a flight instructor for skill development.
- Foppe advises aspiring pilots to treat their training as a career from day one and study diligently, crediting this approach for his rapid progression to flying a heavy 767 within six years.
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