The road that you are about to choose is not an easy one – as a matter of fact, this road keeps on getting harder and more difficult with every passing year. It is hard on both ends – financially on one end, where it is getting more expensive with every year to earn any certificate, and regulatory on another end, where new rules are created and have to be followed as such. For example starting in August of 2013, for any one with dreams of flying for any regional or major airline, such person must have 1500 flying hours before they can become an airline pilot.
Let me tell you a few things about myself, so that you will have an idea with whom you will be sharing a small cockpit with. My name is Vladimir Gurevich and I am a flight instructor teaching and flying out of Republic Airport (KFRG). I had a dream of becoming a pilot all my life, and in 1997, I did my first introduction flight out of the same airport that I have been flying in and out of for the past 16 years. After becoming private pilot, I had a desire for higher levels in aviation. This in turn drove me to become an instrument pilot, then a commercial pilot, and eventually an airline transport pilot with a multi-engine rating certificate.
Being a physical education teacher, I have always had a desire to teach and enjoyed sharing my knowledge with others. After a year and a half of flying, I was happy to become a flight instructor and start teaching. Within the next 24 month, I taught 10 students who were able to complete their certificates. This enabled me to receive a “Gold Seal CFI” on my flight instructor certificate. After instructing for seven years and raising two children I decided to embark on my life-long dream – to become an Airline pilot. And shortly thereafter, I was hired by American Eagle Airline with a home base in LaGuardia Airport.
