Chasing the dream

Prior to making a huge career switch in 2021, I was the chief meteorologist at the Birmingham, Alabama, Fox affiliate. Broadcast meteorology had been a great career providing a comfortable lifestyle, but I had always wanted to fly airplanes.

My love affair with aviation began growing up next to a grass airstrip in Florida. Even before I could read, I was looking at the pictures and diagrams in aviation books, watching Black Sheep Squadron on television, and going to airshows at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. Despite my passion for aviation, I ended up with a different career path, earning degrees in broadcast news and meteorology with career stops in Florida and Alabama. Even though I enjoyed working in television, I never lost the itch to fly.

I started taking flying lessons in 2010 at age 38. My original goal was to learn to fly and purchase an airplane. After earning my private certificate in 2011, I soon purchased a Piper Archer. Flying my own airplane to visit family in Central Florida or just make the $100 hamburger run was my original plan. Over the years, my wife and I used that airplane to travel to the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and other big trips. With a desire to go faster, we sold the Archer and bought a Mooney M20J. That’s the personal airplane we still own and love.

A big setback hit when I was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2012. The cancer sidetracked my instrument rating for about a year while I was recovering from surgery and chemotherapy. Fortunately, by summer 2013, I had a new medical and a new perspective on life. It was time to chase the dream of becoming a professional pilot. I quickly gained my instrument, commercial, multiengine, and even glider ratings. Through the local pilot community and some aggressive networking, I took advantage of every flying opportunity I could. Before too long, I was flying trips in Beechcraft Barons, King Airs, and Cessna Citations. After years of paying big money for the opportunity to fly, I was finally getting a paycheck. It was more than just money. I was getting valuable hours in my logbook.

There were some serious dues to pay. This meant getting up before sunrise to fly a trip and coming back during the afternoon and then rushing to the television station for the evening newscasts. There were many 15-hour days. My wife would often ask why I was working so much. I would respond, “Logbooks don’t fill out themselves.”

I was so passionate about sharing my love of aviation I decided to pursue my flight instructor certificate. I even had the opportunity to solo my son when he turned 16. Instrument and multiengine instructor ratings soon followed. At this point, my hours quickly grew as well as my contacts in the local aviation community. At around 2,000 hours, I earned my airline transport pilot certificate, and some doors started to open.

When I received an opportunity to fly a Gulfstream IV, I left my almost three-decade career in television weather at age 49. For almost two years and about 600 plus hours, much of my new job was flying back and forth from Birmingham to South America. As a first jet type rating, The G-IV is not for the faint of heart. I learned an incredible amount about flying jets in a short period of time both from formal training and more importantly from other experienced pilots. My flying came full circle when one of the companies I worked for as a contractor years before called me about a job opportunity. It was a smaller Citation CJ2, but the schedule was a better fit for my personal life. Today, I’m captain of a Gulfstream 150 for that same company.

My advice to someone looking to make a career change to aviation is to network and use social media to your advantage. Speaking of social media, it is important to have a professional social media image. If a company is going to trust you with a multimillion dollar airplane and the lives of its passengers, you need to come across as a professional.

Utilize platforms like LinkedIn. Take advantage of opportunities to fly. Sometimes it will not be convenient, but you need to make it happen. Ask any veteran aviator, it is much easier to get opportunities now than five years ago. Still, don’t expect anyone to give you anything. Take advice from experienced pilots and be willing to learn and take criticism. Chances are they have been in your place before trying to climb the ranks of aviation. You also need to plan for this career change financially. At least initially, a career change can mean going backwards in income.

After 4300+ hours with three jet type ratings, I am loving life as a full time corporate pilot and owner of an aircraft management and brokerage company. Making a career change takes courage, but it has been worth it for me and my family. I never take for granted I get paid to fly airplanes. It is a dream come true.

JP Dice is a veteran meteorologist, flight instructor, and corporate pilot flying Cessna Citations and Gulfstreams.