Nearly as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a pilot — nothing more, nothing less. I said as much in a second-grade project that my mother saved for posterity. Over time I developed additional interests and even dabbled with the idea of becoming an architect or practicing law, but I never seriously pursued either option. Against the conventional advice that a professional pilot should obtain a nonaviation fallback degree, I went to the aviation-centric University of North Dakota and majored in air transport. I didn’t even bother with a minor, much less a second major. Young and eager to take on the world, it was aviation or bust. I never gave “What if you can’t?” much thought. I always assumed that I could. My parents never actually spoke the modern trope that my siblings and I could do anything we set our minds to, but their actions clearly reflected that belief, and we all ran with it. Failure, even due to circumstances beyond one’s control, wasn’t much considered. “God will provide,” my parents pronounced with a confidence borne of personal experience.
Taking Wing: Grounded
Key Takeaways:
- A lifelong pilot aspirant's career was jeopardized by a sudden Crohn's disease diagnosis, threatening his ability to fly professionally despite his singular focus on aviation.
- Undergoing successful Remicade treatment, the author was grounded while awaiting FAA special medical certification, maintaining his passion and sanity by flying a Light Sport aircraft.
- Following a relatively swift FAA approval, he returned to flying, now valuing each flight as a gift and committed to remaining in the aviation industry regardless of future health challenges.
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