Quarter 3 Highlight: From Flight Attendant to Future Pilot, Martin Paley
Phoenix East Aviation wants to congratulate all its pilots who completed their licenses or ratings in Quarter 3 of 2022. A lot of hard work and dedication is behind these achievements!
Among these achievements, is an Aviate Candidate, Martin Paley. Now, a Certified Flight Instructor and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument, he has been an amazing addition to the PEA family. Take a look at his story and how he gained his wings.
It is May 2016, I am sitting on my jumpseat waiting to take off. My first flight as an operating cabin crew in the Airbus A380. Today is a full flight, around 550 passengers spread around two decks in the biggest airline aircraft ever built. Although I’ve never before been inside a real A380, I know it from top to bottom, I have to. Lives depend on it. While I mentally review the emergency procedures in my head, I can hear the four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines start roaring, we will be in the air in a few seconds. The crew from business class who is sitting next to me on the other jumpseat keeps talking about all the places I will travel to, all the food I will try, but I can only think about one thing, “How…this… 500 tons aircraft… and its 550 persons on board… are just… heading to the skies… What is this sorcery ?!”
I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where a career in aviation is something only a few lucky ones can relate to. The possibilities are very limited, so we, the other ones, end up opting for something else. After high school I decided to study what by then was bringing me the most joy, music. I studied music production at a technical school and then composition in university. Meanwhile, I did each and every kind of job a producer could do. I did composing, producing, mixing and mastering. I did music for commercials, for clubs and for short films. I worked at professional studios, home studios, teaching, you name it! I would call it survival.
I changed careers for the first time in 2012, when I decided to move to Maryland to study Computer Science. Yes, I also love computers and tech stuff. However, let me tell you something, between loving a thing and working with that thing for over 10 hours a day, 5 times a week, there’s quite a gap. Thankfully that doesn’t happen with planes, right? We all love planes, don’t we? 24 hours a day. Anyways, my point is that after graduating and working as a software tester for around 10 months, I realized it wasn’t for me, it was again, time for a change.
If you did read the first paragraph you already know what my next adventure was. And what an adventure indeed! In 3 years I was able to visit more than 80 countries and about a hundred cities or more. I worked with people from more than 150 countries and today I treasure lifelong friendships I am utterly thankful for. I was lucky enough to walk in over 5 continents in the same month. Undoubtedly, one of the most privileged and luxurious lifestyles one could ever imagine, and a hard one to give up.
From Flight Attendant to Pilot
But that wasn’t enough for me, I wanted to be the one behind the controls, I wanted to be the one landing the plane, not the one asking questions. I started looking for flight schools in the United States. Where else to study aviation if not in the country in which it all started? I also knew I was going to need an F1 Visa so I could work and get some hours in my logbooks and be “airline ready” as soon as possible. After doing some research, there was a school that was way ahead of the game. The decision was pretty easy.
After breaking open my piggybank and with some family help, I finally landed at PEA in Daytona Beach to start my training. My first impression? Not that different from my previous job: Amazing people from all over the world working and studying, pursuing their goals and always willing to help. In other words, living in Daytona and attending Phoenix East Aviation wasn’t a big culture shock for me, I enjoyed it from the very first day. Also, I don’t really go to the beach. I prefer to fly over it 🙂
The training at PEA wasn’t easy, but the school had all the resources I needed to succeed and get all my licenses. I would say that the school’s biggest asset is their instructors. Mine went from instructors to role models, to finally becoming good friends. They have now moved to other places, you know, the ‘airline pilot life’, but I keep in touch with all of them. Another great thing about the school is the maintenance of the planes. I did hundreds of flights already and I have never had a problem. Safety comes first and at PEA we know the school’s mechanics go above and beyond to keep all the planes in excellent conditions.
Talking about resources, do you know the school has a mentorship program for students at all levels? Yes, and it’s completely free. You can get tutoring from mentor CFIs like me or from CFI applicants who are working on brushing up their teaching skills, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, what a deal!
“Amazing people from all over the world working and studying, pursuing their goals and always willing to help. In other words, living in Daytona and attending Phoenix East Aviation wasn’t a big culture shock for me, I enjoyed it from the very first day.” – Martin
In regards to mentors, I just had a phone call with Sean. He is my pilot mentor from the United Aviate program. That would make him the mentor of a mentor, or a mentor squared. Thanks to PEA’s partnership with United Aviate, I was able to apply and now I am part of it. Some of the other perks of the program, besides not needing to interview again with United, is also getting advice from experienced senior pilots, travel benefits, and invitations to exclusive events. A few months ago I traveled to Denver for a 2-day event at their training center. They even let me land in one of their 767 simulators. It was super fun, I bounced twice, and that is when I realized that a 767 doesn’t flare like a Cessna.
Overall, I had a great experience being a student at PEA and can’t wait to start working with them. I’d love to have the people I mentored as my future students. I am very happy I started my aviation career at this school and I would recommend it to anyone who is reading this and still thinking about where to study.
It is September 2022, I am sitting in an aircraft, but not on a jumpseat, I am the pilot now.
We want to thank Martin for sharing his story. If you are interested in learning more about PEA and how we can get you started, email or give us a call, we are here to help!
