Over the years, Fly Legacy has trained a number of flight attendants who decided to make the transition from flight attendant to pilot. This transition comes with a number of very specific benefits as well as some specific considerations. Our CFI roster has included instructors with this history, including former CFIs Carlos Lopes and Luca Salussolia, and current instructor Jennifer Sremanak. Recently, we are finding a staggeringly high number of flight attendants interested in pursuing their flight training here at Legacy. We asked CFI Carlos, who recently left Fly Legacy after being hired by PSA Airlines, to share his experience.
“Hi I’m Carlos. I left Portugal to pursue the American dream. I moved to New York City and got a job delivering pizzas while I learned English and established myself in the Big Apple. After some time I found an exciting opportunity to become a flight attendant in Philadelphia. The skies became my second home and I embraced a sense of curiosity about the places I’d travel and the endless possibilities ahead of me. I loved meeting new people: colleagues and passengers. I gained a lot of experience in the aviation industry.
As years went on, I grew my own family here. I met my wife and we had two little ones. I found myself juggling the demands of family life and work and I struggled to find a balance. I decided to pursue a career in becoming a pilot to have a more comfortable future to support my family. I felt inspired by my experiences, fueled by a lifelong passion for flying, and unwavering support from my family.
I completed my pilot training even if it took me a little longer than some because I was working part-time as a flight attendant to maintain my medical benefits and have some sort of income. I did that throughout my flight instructor training too. It wasn’t always easy, especially because I was hardly home. I worked five days of the week instructing at Legacy and then flew as a flight attendant on the weekends. It took me about four full years. It wasn’t always easy but it was truly worth it. I took it day by day and I finished one day. The sky’s the limit.”
If you are a flight attendant currently considering flight training, be sure to give us a call and learn how we can help you, like Carlos, make the jump from the cabin to the flight deck.
