Here is the second interview in my series, Off the Beaten Path. It’s a series of interviews with people who have jumped off the hamster wheel of life and have chose to follow their dreams. Hopefully, some of you will be inspired to follow your bliss: )

My interview this week is with Michael, I’ve known Michael since the sixth grade and naturally we lost touch as adults. I ran into Michael working one of my flights out of Boston, he was a passenger on a business trip, we were about 28 at the time. We caught up a little and he shared with me that he loved aviation and actually planned on working in his current field of computers until the age of 30, at which time he would pursue his dream of being a pilot. Now, not to be negative but Michael was married (to his HS sweat heart, Liza: ) with 2 kids! I wished him well, but truthfully figured he would stay “stuck” where he was. Well, here we are over 10 years later and Michael not only pursued his passion but is now an employed pilot for Fed Ex! Here is his story:

FP: When did you know you wanted to become a pilot? Have you always had an interest in aviation?

Michael:I had always had an interest in flying, but knew relatively nothing about it growing up. I didn’t have any relatives or friends that were pilots, in either general aviation, airlines or military. Growing up near the local airport, I had always seen planes fly over the house and had always thought about how cool it would be to fly. As a kid, I use to ride my bike over to the airport just to watch the planes come and go. My real interest in flying came when I was a Jr. in high school. It sounds stupid, and I’m not alone, but after seeing “Top Gun”, I had finally answered a that question of, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” I was 16.

FP: I never knew anything about aviation either! Amazing that my 2 year old has already flown more than a dozen times! Why didn’t you pursue being a pilot right out of High School?

Michael: The military thing didn’t work out for me, so I opted to put flying on the back burner and pursue my other interest, baseball. I played at the U of Arizona for a couple of years, but flying never really left my mind. After graduation from Arizona, Liza and I moved back to Plymouth and I started my first job as a Systems Analyst for T.J. Maxx (my college major was MIS).

FP: So, when did you start pursuing aviation? Did you take your flying lessons at Plymouth Airport? Is ground school still free? I thought that was pretty cool that they have that.

Michael: It wasn’t long after, that I finally bit the bullet and started my private pilot flying lessons at Alpha One (yes, they still had the free ground school). Every Saturday, Liza and my parents would all go down to the airport and have breakfast while I did my lessons, it really was almost tradition. It took me roughly 6 months, mostly due to weather, to get my private pilot’s license. It’s funny, but I realized early in my training that I had a certain “feel” for flying. It was the same “feel” I had with computers and software, so I knew it would come relatively easy for me. This was in 1993, so I was 23 when I got my license.

Over the course of the next few years, I picked up an Instrument and Commercial rating, but my flying took a back seat due to the birth of my two sons, Jack and Derek, and a new job. I’m pretty sure this is when I saw you on the flight, so I was 28.

Before Fedex, as previously mentioned, I was an analyst for T.J. Maxx. In 1996, I left and went to work for a software company, which turned out to be the greatest move of my life. This went so well, that I was afforded the opportunity to start another career. This happened in 2003. I had been flying alot for various people around Plymouth, Marshfield and Bedford. I had 3 jet type ratings and was doing well as a “contract pilot.” In 2003, my software company was bought by another company and fallout was something I really didn’t want to deal with. So Liza and I made the decision to try my hand at another career as a pilot. We had 2 kids, 8 and 6 at the time, so things were pretty stable. Financially we were doing well, so it was the perfect opportunity. After some serious networking and “contract” flying, I landed a dream job at EMC Corporation flying Hawkers and a Gulfstream IV. Absolutely fantastic job. I seriously loved every minute of it.

FP: So, what was your first “real” flying job?

Michael: My first real flying job was at Plymouth Airport, flying Beechjets and Hawkers. I liked it. Mostly Part 91 and some Part 135. It exposed me to some incredible opportunities.

FP: How did the career change affect your family?

Michael: I’m sure my career change had some affect on my boys, but not as much as I expected. They had no idea what I did before flying, except for “computers”. As soon as the FDX thing happened, at least they understood that I was “pilot” now. Did it they benefit solely from this move? Maybe a little, but I’ve always been a good father to the boys and have taught them the correct core values to be successful in life. They understand that “they” are responsible for themselves and if they want to do something in life, they will always have that opportunity.

FP: Keep going, you have such a great story! How did you land your current position at Fed Ex? How many flight hours did you have when they hired you as a pilot?

Michael: Then the inevitable happened. As strange as it sounds, most pilots I know dream of landing a job at a “major” airline. I had put my apps in at Southwest (yes, I did get a 737 rating) and Fedex and UPS. I had friends at Southwest, so I tried to work that angle, but was never offered an interview. Then one day in 2004, I was flying at EMC with a temp contractor pilot, who was a retired 35 yr 747 captain at TWA. He said to me, “Would you ever think about an airline job?” I said, “Sure, but my choices are pretty limited.” He then says to me, “Well goddamn, I have a good friend of mine at Fedex. Would you like me to call him for you?” I was flabbergasted. I said, “Sure”. Well, things happened so fast it was unbelievable. I had done my homework, so I knew what the procedures were for getting an interview at Fedex. Next thing you know, in Oct 2004, there I am sitting in front of the FDX System Chief Pilot telling him my story. I didn’t really think much of it, I was just trying to do my best. So there I am, happy as a clam with a great job, and wham, as I’m sitting in training in Dallas, I get the phone call. “This is FDX, we’d like to interview you.” I couldn’t believe it, this never happens to guys like me, especially civilians. I went to interview very well prepared, and sure enough, I get the phone call in Feb 2005, “your hired, can you be in class in March?” I had about 5000 hours at the time.

FP: Wow, obviously you took the job. How big of a decision was that for you?

Michael: It was probably the hardest decision I have ever had to make. I was looking at leaving a great job for an unknown. I was taking a huge paycut as well, and to top it all off, the same day I got the “you’re hired” phone call, Liza tells me that she’s pregnant. Imagine the stress. After alot of soul searching, I finally decided to resign from EMC and go to class at FDX. March 21, 2005 I started class. On March 26, after the 1st week of indoc, I jumpseated home because Liza was scheduled for her first ultrasound. Picture this, Liza lying on the table with the technician doing her thing, and me standing there with my two boys by my side. I see Liza and the technician whisper something and then look at me with an expression I will never forget. Liza then holds up 2 fingers and says, they’re twins. As my knees buckled, I had to walk out of the room. I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. New job and 2 new members of the family all at once, my god, how was this going to work.

Liza and the boys were great during our transition. I was an engineer on the 727, and thankfully, I had instant seniority due to the timing of my new hire class. I was flying to PVD every night and running home in the morning, which I hope made it easier on Liza. The twins were newly born and our life was constant chaos. God bless my wife. It taught me alot about my marriage and my family. Everybody sacrificing for the will of the family.

FP: I love that! You do have a great wife! You need to have a lot of support and a strong, secure relationship when one of you works for an airline and travels a lot. It is harder being the one left at home…especially with 4 kids!! So, what has been your favorite destination?

Michael: My favorite destination is a tough one. I’ve been all over the world, but I really look forward to “warm” places. Hawaii is fantastic, Singapore, Australia, and Brazil to name a few. If I had to pick one, it would probably be Hawaii or New Zealand.

FP: I saw the photo of you and your son on John Travolta’s airplane. Did you get to meet him? (see post pic)

Michael: I did get to meet John and his wife Kelly. His chief pilot was my sim partner during my 737 type rating course in Dallas.

FP: Very cool! Thank You Michael, you are an inspiration for anyone wanting to pursue a career in aviation! I’ll see you and Liza at the next reunion…we won’t mention which one; – )

After my interview with Michael I came across a Darren’s blog, Byrdinthesky. I thought it was an amazing coincidence because just like Michael, Darrens background is in computers. He changed careers with the support of his wife. He is now a pilot, living his dream! He has a great blog and is enthusiastic about his career choice and will answer any questions you have about becoming a pilot, so go check him out!