Ashley didn’t grow up planning to be a pilot. She was on track for a business and healthcare degree — until one discovery flight completely changed her life. In this episode of Pilot’s Say What?, Ashley shares what it’s really like transitioning from a Part 61 flight school to an accelerated Part 141 program, overcoming comparison, surviving commercial checkride pressure, and preparing for CFI training.

What if high school wasn’t just about checking boxes… but actually launching careers? In this episode of Pilot’s Say What?, we sit down with Scott Meehan, founder of Rising Aviation High School at Addison Airport. Scott shares how he built an aviation-focused high school from scratch — and why putting teenagers in real airplanes can be life-changing.

Jordan shares her journey from college classrooms to the cockpit as she works through commercial pilot training. In this episode, we talk honestly about choosing aviation over a traditional 9–5, what flight training actually feels like as a new student, and the mental challenges that come with private, instrument, and commercial training. This episode is perfect for anyone considering flight training, feeling overwhelmed early on, or wondering if aviation is really for them.

Most pilots think learning stops once you pass a checkride — but the real understanding often begins when you start teaching. In this video, we talk with a flight instructor about why becoming a CFI forces pilots to move beyond memorization and into true understanding. Teaching aviation concepts exposes gaps in knowledge, sharpens aeronautical decision making, and builds confidence in a way that flying alone never can.

What is it really like interviewing for a regional airline once you hit 1,500 hours? In this episode of Pilot’s Say What?, we sit down with a Thrust Flight CFI who recently crossed the 1,500-hour mark and started interviewing for the regionals. He breaks down the full process — from preparing your application and résumé to studying for the interview, managing nerves, and understanding what airlines are actually looking for.

We sit down with Casey Talbot, a flight instructor at Thrust Flight, to talk about her journey from working as a flight attendant at Delta to becoming a certified flight instructor. Casey shares what it was really like to leave a stable airline career, start flight training in her mid-30s, and commit fully to aviation while raising two kids. We dive into fear, motivation, study habits, Part 141 flight training, checkrides, failures, and what helped her push through moments of doubt—especially during instrument training.

Getting stuck in the FAA medical process is one of the most frustrating—and least talked about—parts of becoming a pilot. In this episode, Tyler shares what it was really like having his medical deferred, waiting nearly a year with no clear timeline, and pushing through the uncertainty without quitting. We talk about what happens when your paperwork is “just sitting in line,” how medical delays affect motivation, and why patience becomes part of the pilot journey whether you expect it or not.

There’s a moment in flight training when things finally click—when you stop second-guessing and start trusting what you’ve been taught. In this episode of Pilot’s Say What?, Zach sits down with Austin, a flight instructor at Thrust Flight, to talk about how that confidence shift happens. They discuss the role instructors play in building trust, why first solo is such a turning point, how community impacts student success, and why most pilots are far more capable than they think.