InFlight Interviews with Wayman Aviation Academy

The InSight Podcast is now InFlight! We're off of Zoom and zooming around with pilots as we discuss How they got into Aviation, What they're doing now, and What YOU should be doing to start flying. In Season 3 Episode 1 we fly with Katie Koch. She is Procurement, Pilot Shop and Maintenance manager for Wayman Aviation Academy. She started flying young with a unique program. She was the most recent chairwoman for the Treasure Coast 99s, female pilots organization. And Katie is the proud owner of a Piper Warrior that she restored herself

In this episode we talk with Wayman Academy’s own Base Manager Graylin Stitt who is also a commercial pilot and engineer. He gives insight on the importance of sticking to your goals and not letting anyone talk you out of your goals, even if it is yourself. He is well known around the academy for his calm demeanor, helpful attitude and commitment to providing sound guidance to any student that needs it.

In this episode we welcome Wayman alumni Chris Mullins who is currently a First Officer at JetBlue. Chris was once a flight instructor at Wayman and offers some insightful advice on the importance of mentorship and the incredible transition to a major airline such as JetBlue.

In this episode we talk to Teressa Mastrosimone, a Wayman Alumni and the Senior Director of Training Center Operations at Atlas Air's Miami facility. She oversees their training center, training records, scheduling and hiring of new pilots and flight attendants.

In this episode we have the pleasure with speaking with Corporate Pilot & Aviation YouTuber Stevo1kinevo about his career as a TBM 850 pilot. He tells us about his unique path to becoming a pilot, flying for a part 121 carrier, eventually going into corporate flying and becoming a Flying Ambassador to The Bahamas. Also we speak about the importance of quality of life in an aviation career and a few interesting experiences he has had whilst flying the TMB 850.

You can follow Stevo1kinevo here:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/steveo1kinevo

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/steveokineevo/

Website - https://www.steveo1kinevo.com/

In this episode American Airlines Captain, Chief Pilot & Director of Flight Domingo Alfaro tells us about the responsibilities of a Chief Pilot & Director of Flight. We also learn how he got this position and about the massive demand for qualified pilots.

Captain Kimber Turner who now works in admissions at Wayman Academy talks about tips to get hired at your first pilot job, creative ways to build flight time and the lifestyle as a corporate pilot compared to that of a cargo pilot. 

Brian Hough Senior Vice President at King Schools brings his wealth of knowledge on developing aviation curriculums, insights into training efficiency, how best to serve a student, the pilot shortage and making collegiate education flexible for flight students.

How to get hired as a Flight Instructor w/ Assistant Chief Mario Culpepper at Wayman Aviation Academy. We speak about becoming a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), ways to make learning effective and efficient, resume tips and suggestions on how to interview for your first CFI job.

In this episode we talk with Neshomar, a Medevac pilot from Bonaire flying Learjets around the Caribbean and South America. We talk about how he got involved in aviation and his flight training experience. He also tells us about his professional career path from flying the Twin Otter into challenging airports with short runways and the steep learning curve and fast paced environment of flying Learjets on Medevac flights.

In this episode we speak with Dr. Jorge Guerra, Director of Aviation & Safety Department at Florida Memorial University (FMU) in North Miami, Florida. He shares with us the different aviation programs they offer and the advantages of learning to fly in a college environment in regards to airline transport pilot minimum hour requirements.

In this episode we speak with Robert Arkin, a prolific fixed and rotary wing pilot from South Florida. We’ll talk about his aviation journey and the ins-and-outs flying to The Bahamas.

In this episode we talk with Carlos Rivera, SOC Duty Manager at National Airlines. National Airlines is a Part 121 cargo and charter airline based out of Orlando, Florida. We speak about how it is working in the operations center of an international airline and the complexity of managing the logistics of it all.

We are pleased to have Nina MacPherson Airport Manager at North Perry on our podcast! She has the important job of managing all affairs at North Perry Airport and has a wealth of knowledge and experience. Learn what it is like to be in charge of one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country.

Interview with Captain Wayne from jetBlue where we discuss hireing, the pandemic and his aviation journey!

Cayman Airways pilot Giselah Ebanks also known on social media as @Flaps40_

How did this Caribbean student learn to fly and join her country's flagship airline. 

Interview with Miami Dade College, Eig Watson School of Aviation  chairman Orlando Villaverde Phd. Learn about the MDC program, Orlando's background as a Firefighter helicopter pilot and flight instructor

Tropic Ocean CEO Interview with Rob Ceravolo. Amphibious Caravan 121 charter flights from Miami and Ft Lauderdale to the Bahamas and Keys. Rob was a military pilot that went through F-14 Top Gun training. How did he come to aviation? What was his path to becoming a pilot. How did that prepare him for business and starting an airline? Rob has a lot of good advise for young pilots and what he likes to see on a resume

Cargo pilot and gold seal instructor Sheik joined Aviation InSight. We discussed his transition to the right seat of a 737 with 1500 hours to now flying the 777 as an First Officer. Here is the general breakdown of the questions we asked Sheik: 

1.50: How did you get started in Aviation? 

5.11: Was there a big difference between training in Guyana and in the USA? 

10.35: How was it to balance flight training with college? 

12.10: Day in the life of a Cargo Pilot 

14.06: How was the transition from piston the heavy jets? 

19.06: How was it to study for the transition to jets? 

30.10: Why Miami Air? 

39.40: What was the training process like at Southern? 

45.49: How did your experience at Wayman help you in your career? 

53.10: Scholarships in Aviation