11 years ago, my life changed. Just coming up on that Anniversary May 22, 2009. The last economic disaster, and my Aeronautical Engineering jobs, flight training and media training system sales all dried up. Desperate times. I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE TO GET A REAL JOB.
Phone rings. Gerry Charlebois calls me up and asks me to come over to Kauai, Hawaii and help him fly people around the island in his trikes. Great money, place to stay, Hawaii. I said “let me think about it”.
Not much thought was involved. Off on the next flight to Hawaii for a two week stay, which ended up being five months flying 24,000 miles around Kauai.
Paradise! Hawaii was booming since people didn’t want to travel out of the USA.
The photo on the right is a day at Waimea Canyon on Kauai Hawaii. Note the Pacific Ocean in the top left corner.
People ask how I got started flying professionally. Hawaii was the turning point in my career to start teaching full time.
You never know what might happen in life!
Sport Aviation Center
PAUL HAMILTON,
CFI, DPE, LSR-M
Paul is one of the first people to receive Sport Pilot Certified Instructor (CFI) and Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) for Sport Pilots. He is owner of Sport Aviation Center, a FBO located at the Carson City Airport in Carson City, Nevada, USA.