Success Story

Jason DuVernay, CRJ first officer

Jason DuVernay Cincinnati, Ohio Age 23 CRJ First Officer, Comair Commercial, instrument, CFI, CFII, CRJ second-in-command type rating Total time 850 hours 250 multiengine

Proof positive that the pilot hiring environment has changed is Comair First Officer Jason DuVernay, 23. Originally from Michigan, DuVernay started flying in 2002 at the University of North Dakota, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in aeronautics. His interest in aviation was stoked by growing up right under the busy final approach course for a military base. He was also able to attend "a lot of airshows, and that was very cool."

When he was 12, DuVernay went to the Aviation Challenge division of Space Camp, where UND was a major sponsor, and got his first ride in an airplane provided by the university. He wouldn't get another until he arrived at UND. In the interim, he became very proficient at Microsoft Flight Simulator on his computer.

After graduating, DuVernay worked as a CFI in Michigan for six months. During that first winter away from school, he wasn't teaching, so he went home and bought himself some multiengine time. Comair hired him in February 2007 with 655 total hours and 55 multiengine hours. He enjoys the job but will readily acknowledge that "you must have the right personality to work for a regional. Half of the private pilot students in my freshman class dropped out of the flight training program when they learned what the lifestyle and pay was going to be like. But I love the flying."

He chose Comair, he says, "because even though it is a longer wait to upgrade, the pay and work rules are among the best in the regional industry, and Cincinnati has a great cost of living."

DuVernay acknowledges that the expense of flight training now is a barrier, but he points out that there are a lot of ways to save money, including grants, scholarships, and even buying your own airplane to use. He loved UND and points out that it has the only high-altitude chamber in a college flight program in the United States, and said the 20 hours he received in a Canadair Regional Jet Level 6 flight training device as part of a CRJ training class was among the most valuable training he received.

His favorite part of the job? "It seems like I am always able to meet up with college buddies on my trips, either in the hotels or the airports. And I get paid to do it!"

Chip Wright has been flying since 1990, has been a CFI since 1994, and is now an ATP and a Canadair Regional Jet captain for Comair. His total time is 8,000 hours.