Student follows path to rewarding world of airline flying
By Christopher Blair
Emerald Contributor
Mike Black is pursuing (he
ideal career: doing what he en
joys most and getting paid for it
"1 love to fly," the University
senior said recently. "Knowing
that soon I'll be paid to do it is
really incredible." he said
Black has spent the past two
years completing flight training
through the McKenzie Flying
Service Professional Pilot Pro
gram His dream isn't just to fly.
but to do so as a commercial
airline pilot
Black said he plans to gain
certification In the operation of
large jet aircraft
"I have a lot of friends who
are not stire about what they
make a career out of. I'm happy
to say that I have a career at the
end of all of this." Black said
Commercial airlines, from in
ternational operations to
smaller, regional commuter
lines, are growing alarmed at
the decreasing number of pro
fessional pilots in the U.S.
Military aviators, who in the
past provided the bulk of airline
pilot jobs, are more frequently
choosing to re-enlist or retire.
Airlines are responding by
recruiting pilots from training
programs such as the one in
which Black is enrolled.
McKenzie's program, in con
junction with Horizon Air. a
commuter-line based in the
Pacific Northwest, supervises
the flight education for pilot
trainees Horizon Air finishes
the job to fit its specifications
Black is nearing completion
of the first phase of the three
part program In this phase, the
student is certifier! by the
Federal Aviation Administra
tion in areas of flight, naviga
tion, emergency procedures and
flying with the aid of in
struments in poor weather and
visibility
Black began his aviation
education by learning to fly a
single-engine Ossna 152 After
50 hours in the air and 15 on the
ground with pre- and post-flight
instruction, he became
qualified to fly up to six
passengers in clear weather
After obtaining this basic
pilot's license, however. Black
decided to turn his interest into
a career pursuit
"At first I thought it was a
neat thing to do. hut after I got
my private pilot rating. I
thought it would be neat to con
tinue on to get my instrument
rating, and after that I got ideas
about making it a livelihood."
Black said.
According to McKenzie
general manager Harvey Bird
seye, students who complete
the first phase are ready to set
their sights on commercial avia
tion by entering Phase II
"Phase II is where l groom
these people specifically to
become airline pilots." Bird
seye said.
Students in this phase are in
volved with the freight flights to
Portland that McKenzie makes
for Purolator Courier.
"They are responsible for a
pre set schedule. They get to fly
in spite of the crummy weather
They have to meet a schedule
on the other end." Birdseye
Photo by Ttd Sheplrr
University student Mike Black stands next to a twin-engine Cessna 340. which he learned to fly in
the McKenzie Flying Service Professional Pilot Program.
said. "Thai's just simply airline
flying, that's what you have to
go and do."
The Phase 11 curriculum also
includes applied physics and
math, radar and weather inter
pretation. and what Black calls
"charm school for pilots" — an
education in how airline pilots
should present themselves.
"The way an individual uses
the microphone when he talks
to people in an airplane can
either invoke a vision among
the passengers that they've got a
bunch of jerks up there ( Oh my
god, what am I doing in this
airplane?') or, if he's skilled at
using his words to generate con
fidence. it can change the way
people view the carrier." Bird
seye said.
Phase II also teaches the pilot
to fly Horizon Air's twin
turboprop 16-passenger SA-227
Metro! iner
Those who finish the second
phase of training are referred to
Horizon Air, where they polish
what they've learned at McKen
zie. Following this, the airline's
chief pilot will evaluate the stu
dent. If all goes well, the stu
dent may be ready to be con
sidered an airline pilot with 750
hours of flight time logged.
McKenzie will accept anyone
into its program who is willing
to devote the time and money to
becoming a pilot. The cost can
run as high as $25,000, paid in
incremental blocks of $500.
Celebrate...
WELLNESS WEEK FALL ’87
On Campus at U of O
Wednesday, October 21st SAFER SEX DAY
12:00-2:00ph> PRESENTATION ON AIDS
A theatre group will present a play on AIDS. There will be a question/ answer session in which
Shanti and the Willamette AIDS Council will answer questions.
4:00-6;00pim PRESENTATION BY RICHARD P. KEELING
Dr. Richard P. Keeling, who is a nationally recognized authority on AIDS, is currently the Direc
tor of the University of Virginia Student Health Center and is also Chair of the American College
Health Association’s Task Force on AIDS. Dr. Jim Jackson, Director of the University of
Oregon’s Health Center, has highly recommended Dr. Keeling. Dr. Keeling is the author of an
educational video tape, “AIDS Reducing the Risks,” which has been shown on this campus and
other campuses nationwide. Dr. Keeling is the editor of a report, “AIDS on the College Cam
pus.” Dr. Keeling will discuss the AIDS concern on college campuses.
8:00
PRESENTAT1QN BY
Stephen Beck, Director of the National Association of People With AIDS, will speak about his
experiences in his role as Director.
LOCATIONS OF EVENTS
All events take place in the Gumwood Room from 11:30am-10:00pm
THIS WEEKLONG CELEBRATION
OF WELLNESS IS
BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOUR ASUO