About this episode

Mike shares his challenging journey through the FAA medical process and flight training after a past DUI.

What happens when the path to becoming a pilot gets way harder than expected? In this episode of Pilots Say What?, Zach talks with Mike, a Thrust Flight student who went from working as a pilot scheduler at American Airlines to pursuing flight training full time. Mike shares how a past DUI led to a brutal FAA medical process that took over two years and cost him around $25,000, why he still refused to quit, what private pilot training was really like for him, and how faith, pressure, setbacks, and stage checks shaped his journey. This is a powerful episode for anyone wondering if flight training is still worth it when the road gets hard. If you’re thinking about becoming a pilot, taking a discovery flight, or starting your training, this conversation is for you.

People in this episode

Host: Zach

Guest: Mike

Topics covered

• flight training
• FAA medical process
• personal setbacks
• pursuing aviation
• pilot journey
• overcoming challenges

Keywords

• pilot training
• FAA
• medical process
• DUI
• flight school
• aviation career
• Thrust Flight
• personal journey
• setbacks
• faith

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: American Airlines, Thrust Flight

More episodes of Pilots Say What?

• Ep. 109: Why This Pro Baseball Player Became a Pilot · May 8, 2026 · 52 min
• Ep. 107: How to Get a CFI Job in a Tough Market · April 24, 2026 · 49 min
• Ep. 106: From Fear of Flying to Flight Instructor · April 17, 2026 · 54 min
• Ep. 105: From Student to CFI: What No One Tells You · April 10, 2026 · 52 min
• Ep. 104: He’s Not an Airline Pilot Yet… But Already Has Flight Benefits · April 3, 2026 · 53 min
• Ep. 103: He Quit His Corporate Job to Become a Pilot · March 27, 2026 · 1h 1m

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