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Five Years from First Solo Flight to First Officer on the Beechcraft 1900D
It has been quite a journey for Langley Flying School Graduate Tim Sawatzky, but in February of this year his dreams materialized as he qualified as a First Officer on Central Mountain Air (CMA)’s Beechcraft 1900D. “The road I chose to get to a flying career is one of many,” says Tim, “the only common thing about all of them is the requirement for a passion for flying, and a willingness to work hard to get there.”
Tim began his flight training back in September of 2000, completing his First Solo Flight in December of that year. In 2002, Tim won the British Columbia Aviation Council’s Anne and Rudi Bauer Memorial Bursary for top Private Pilot Student (see LFS's Student Award Recipients). After taking a year off for humanitarian work, Tim completed his Commercial Pilot Licence in November of 2004, and his Group 1 (Multi-engine) Instrument Rating in the spring of 2005. While all efforts were made to draft Tim as a Langley Flying School Flight Instructor, he elected instead to take a chance with CMA. Joining CMA in November of 2003 as a ramp agent, Tim qualified in September of 2005 with CMA’s Low Time Pilot Pool—a seniority-based program that provides a pathway for qualified CMA staff members to advance into the flight deck.
“I worked for over five years on the ramp before I wore a pilot uniform to work,” says Tim, “but looking back, I would do it all again.”
Tim’s description of his journey may be read in LFS's Writers’ Corner.
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Posted: May 5, 2007
