Why I Love Flying People
The Beginnings
For as long as I can recall, I aimed to become a pilot. My earliest flight memory involves boarding a 747 Jumbo Jet; I cannot recall the destination or purpose, since I was likely two or three. I do remember a pilot noticing me with a toy airplane during boarding while my sister overwhelmed my mother. This pilot invited me to sit in the cockpit. It is hard to picture an airline permitting that now. I was surrounded by uniformed men making callouts, running checklists, completing final checks, speaking on the radio, flipping switches, reading dials. These men and the ease with which they went about the very serious business of preparing an aluminum tube with hundreds of people to climb tens of thousands of feet into the air, traveling at hundreds of miles per hour over two continents and one ocean, still amazes me. The final detail of that fateful flight was me sitting on the pilot’s lap during taxiing; he pushed all the levers forward, and the loudest, most thrilling ride I have ever known began. Even today, fifty years later, that kindness toward my mother and me was “the moment” I realized what my ambition was. As I grew up, that moment stayed with me. The care the crew showed my mother, my sister, and me showed me what was possible with a spark.
I love flying airplanes. But what makes flying for Mid Coast Air Charter meaningful to me is the people who step aboard.
Every flight has a purpose. Someone has a meeting to attend, family to see, or a trip they’ve been looking forward to. The destination matters, but so does everything it takes to get there. I enjoy being the person who helps make that journey easier.
Making Time for What Matters
One of the most rewarding things about charter flying is giving people more control over their time.
A trip that takes most of a day on the airlines can sometimes become a straightforward flight into an airport closer to where someone actually needs to be. That can mean more time with a customer, an extra stop during a busy workday, or getting home in time to spend the evening with family.
Those are practical benefits, but they’re personal, too. I like knowing that the work I do in the cockpit can make a difference in someone’s day long after they leave the airplane.
Knowing Who’s on Board
In a small charter company, the relationship is personal. I get to know the people I fly, understand what matters to them, and help them feel comfortable with the trip.
Sometimes that means explaining what to expect to someone who hasn’t flown in a smaller airplane before. Sometimes it means answering questions about the King Air. Other times, it means recognizing that a passenger simply wants to settle into the cabin and enjoy a quiet flight.
I enjoy that part of the job. Being a good pilot includes paying attention to people, listening, and understanding that everyone brings a different set of expectations aboard.
Earning Their Trust
When someone steps onto my airplane, they’re placing their trust in me. I take that responsibility seriously.
Much of the work behind a flight happens before the passengers arrive: reviewing the weather, planning the route, checking the airplane, and making decisions about the day ahead. That preparation is part of taking care of the people on board.
Sometimes taking care of them means adjusting a plan or having an honest conversation about what the weather will allow. My responsibility is to exercise good judgment throughout the trip. Earning that trust—and continuing to earn it—is one of the most meaningful parts of what I do.
Sharing the Experience
There’s also something special about sharing flying with other people.
A view above the clouds, the Louisiana landscape below, or the moment a passenger spots their destination through the window can remind me how fortunate I am to do this work. Flying may be familiar to me, but seeing someone else enjoy it keeps that sense of appreciation alive.
Why Mid Coast Matters to Me
Building Mid Coast Air Charter gives me the opportunity to put my own care and attention into the entire experience. From our home base in Baton Rouge, and as a Baton Rouge Air Charter operator, I want people to feel that their trip matters and that someone is looking after the details.
I love the airplane, the flying, and the challenge of doing the job well. But the most satisfying part is helping people get where they need to go—and knowing they felt well cared for along the way.
That’s what makes me look forward to the next flight.
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