By Chris Erlanson, President, Tennessee Flight Training
As president of Tennessee Flight Training, one of the most rewarding parts of my job is seeing how far our students come, sometimes in a surprisingly short amount of time.
I’m a pilot myself, and I know firsthand how challenging and rewarding aviation can be. But what I enjoy most is watching someone walk through our doors with little or no flying experience and gradually develop the skills and confidence to become a pilot.
Many students come to us with dreams of flying professionally. Others simply want to experience the freedom of flying their own airplane. Whatever their goals, it’s exciting to see their progress, from those first few lessons to flying solo, earning their Private Pilot Certificate, and, for many, eventually launching careers with airlines or private aviation companies.
Fewer than 1% of people worldwide can call themselves pilots. That’s a pretty remarkable distinction, and I think it says something about what an accomplishment it is to learn to fly. It’s a skill that relatively few people will ever experience, and one that can open doors to opportunities they might never have imagined.
Of course, none of that happens overnight. Learning to fly takes dedication, discipline, and a willingness to keep learning. Students have to understand everything from weather and aircraft systems to navigation and communicating with air traffic control. They also have to learn how to make good decisions, especially when things don’t go exactly as planned.
And that’s one of the things I appreciate most about flight training. The skills students develop go well beyond the cockpit. They learn to prepare, solve problems, stay focused under pressure, and trust their own judgment. It’s rewarding to watch that confidence grow with each new accomplishment.
I’m equally proud of the people who help make those accomplishments possible. Our flight instructors and staff do much more than teach students how to operate an airplane. They share their experience, encourage students through the challenges, and celebrate their successes along the way. That personal connection is an important part of what we do at Tennessee Flight Training.
Not everyone who learns to fly will pursue an aviation career, and that’s perfectly fine. Whether someone wants to become an airline pilot, fly for business, or simply enjoy aviation as a personal passion, earning a pilot certificate is an accomplishment they’ll carry with them for the rest of their lives.
I’ve seen what learning to fly can do for people, and it’s why I believe so strongly in what we do. Helping someone go from wondering whether they can become a pilot to realizing they actually can is something that never gets old.
If you’ve ever thought about learning to fly, I encourage you to explore what’s possible. You might be surprised where it takes you.