Success Story

Bob Feher, Boeing 777 first officer

Bob Feher South Windsor, Connecticut Age 33 B777 First Officer, Continental Airlines ATP, B737, E145 Total time 2,600 hours; 2,300 multiengine turbine

Bob Feher's long road to a major airline was a bumpy one filled with sacrifice and determination. And with the help of a few key players, this blue-collar boy from Connecticut realized his dream to fly.

Inspiration to fly came from a visit to an airshow when he was just 6. "I had retina burn and a sore neck, but I will never forget the rush of adrenaline as the airplanes did loops to music," said Feher. "I thought it was an unachievable dream given my background."

As a senior in high school, Feher signed up with the Connecticut Air National Guard. "From the moment I stepped on the base, my dream of becoming a pilot was raging in my blood again," said Feher. "I didn't have the money for college, and the Guard had a tuition waiver where I could go to any state university for free."

Feher became a full-time student at Central Connecticut State University and a "weekend warrior" for the Guard as a radio/computer specialist. Feher also joined his school's flying club, which paid for half of his private pilot training. To make ends meet, he worked as a bartender. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to cover expenses. Feher credits Bob Woodward, a chief master sergeant in the Guard, with changing his life. Woodward lent Feher $2,000 to finish his private pilot training.

Feher graduated in 1996 and worked for the Guard as an enlisted operations man. He had bid for a pilot slot on several occasions but was rejected each time. So he improved his r�sum� by becoming an officer and tactical air traffic controller. Meanwhile, through the military flying club, Feher had 150 hours of time in single-engine airplanes. On his fourth try, Feher was selected for pilot training in the A-10 Thunderbolt II. Meanwhile, on the home front, Feher was now married and had a son during the busy days in training.

"Within a year of my first A-10 sortie, I was over the skies of Iraq at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Feher. By May 2003, he was back at home and working full time in the Guard. In 2004, he applied to Express Jet Holdings, the parent company of Continental Express, and landed a job as an Embraer 145 first officer. "Flying can be a tough life. The schedules are erratic, time away from home is tough, and money is tight."

After two years at Express Jet, and with two more sons at home, Feher was hired by Continental Airlines in the fall of 2006. "It's a dream job. I can drive to work; fly in the youngest, most advanced fleet in the industry; and work with great people who enjoy their jobs," said Feher. He now works about 15 days a month for Continental and 10 days a month for the Guard. "It's a huge juggling act," he says. He recently became a first officer in the Boeing 777--at age 33.

Pete Bedell is a Boeing 737 first officer for a major airline and former technical editor of AOPA Pilot.