By Chris King, Winnipeg, Manitoba

My interest in all things aviation first started when I was around 3 or 4 years old, watching and being obsessed with the sky and stars. I used to think airplanes were shooting stars. When I was very young, around 9 years old, I started skateboarding at the skate park at Ness Ave. in Winnipeg. It was near the fighter jet on a stand near the airport, of which only the stand still remains. I used to watch the airplanes flying over me while skateboarding, and then my mom would took to watch the airplanes at the old Winnipeg airport when they had a viewing area. It was at this time that I knew I wanted to fly airplanes one day. Today, my obsession for the sky has remained the same.

When I was 20 years old, I went on a discovery flight, and this really sparked my interest, and I looked into how to become a pilot. When I saw the price of becoming a pilot, it wasn’t something I thought was doable for a young guy living on the couch of friends’ houses. During this discovery flight, I was able to take control. The flight involved flying over the city of Winnipeg.

I flew a Cessna 175 for the discovery flight and a Diamond DA20 in flight school.

My dream when I graduate flight school soon is to fly surveillance overseas for PAL Aerospace and eventually getting my ATPL and fly the largest airline airplanes, but my ultimate goal is to inspire others who think it may be too late or think that they can’t do it, that they can also do this! I think every pilot has a goal to own an airplane, and if I can one day, I want a Cirrus Vision Jet for me and my family. 

Thankfully, I have never had a flight where something went wrong, but I am always prepared and trained for it.