Bruno Brasileiro

But he was never able to pursue his dream until he moved to the United States in 2015. On July 4, 2017, he took his first flight in a friend’s Piper Cherokee. “That day, something flipped in my mind, and I decided that it was finally time to pursue my childhood dream. Being a foreigner, I had to go through a rigorous TSA background process and lots of paperwork. But in January 2019, I finally went to a flight school at Republic Airport (FRG), Long Island, New York, and took my very first flying lesson.”

He works in advertising in New York City, so his lessons were confined to weekends. After five months, he had his private pilot certificate. “It took 30 years for me to finally go after my dream, but the wait was worth it. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

He purchased his Grumman Cheetah—the N number said 4U and he took that as a good sign—and started posting on Instagram and YouTube. His followers enjoy his positive attitude and helped him name his stuffed cheetah, which sits on the glareshield at the right seat. He’s called “Mars” (as in the singer Bruno Mars).

How did you get started in aviation? I always dreamed about being a pilot. Growing up in Brazil, I realized that pursuing a career in aviation wasn’t for everyone, so I chose a different one: advertising (my career to this day). Even so, the love for flying never left me, and I spent my entire childhood, teenage years, and adult life reading, studying, watching, and absorbing anything and everything related to aviation.

Favorite aircraft? My Grumman AA-5A Cheetah. My airplane has taught me so much: maintenance, avionics, safety. It has made me a better pilot, and it took me so many places. In 2022 alone, I logged 174 hours, visited over 20 states, flew over 3,500 nautical miles, and created memories that I’ll never forget. Most important, it allowed me to bring along family, friends, and people that I care about.

Favorite aviation-related activity? Sharing my journey with other pilots and aviation enthusiasts, with the goal of motivating more people to pursue their dream. I’m fascinated and humbled by the number of messages I receive from people all over the world saying that following me has motivated them to start in aviation.

Biggest challenges? I struggled with crosswind landings. I would get several right, but then I’d mess up, get yelled at by my instructor, and it would shatter my confidence for weeks. One day I drove home thinking aviation wasn’t for me, and that I should give up. But if your passion is big enough, you find a way to make it work. When you find yourself in smooth air, looking at a beautiful sunset while listening to the roar of your Lycoming engine, you realize that those challenges are minor compared to the joy of flying. 

Advice for students? Never let the struggles or challenges you’ll face during training get bigger than your dream of flying. Find a CFI you bond with and become friends with. It will make all the difference in your training, and in your flying.

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