Capping a Busy Year for 2017 Hoover Scholars

CJP partnered in 2017 with the Bob Hoover Legacy Foundation to jointly award four Bob Hoover Presidential Scholarship recipients with $25,000 each to be used towards continuing their aviation-related studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) on campuses in Prescott, AZ and Daytona Beach, FL. As we look towards the new year ahead, recipients Andrius Logvinenka, Brooke Harrington, and Dillon Smith provided CJP with the following updates.

Dillon Smith

Every morning I wake up and cannot believe that I am already a junior in college. Life is going by incredibly fast and every day it feels like it moves even faster. It is a good reminder to make the most of every moment and cherish the friends and relationships that I have been blessed with. Some of my favorite memories this semester come from my experiences at the CJP regional event in Napa Valley California and the annual Convention in Phoenix, AZ.

To all the members I met at these two conferences that may be reading this article, it was an absolute pleasure to be among such amazing company. From these experiences, I have learned a lot about what it means to be a person of character; what it means to be hard worker; and what it means to be humble. Everyone in the CJP has been a strong positive influence in my life and I will never forget the unique experiences I have had these last two months. First, I would like to give a shout out to Chuck Brady for picking Andrius and me up in his jet on his way to Napa Valley. As you can all imagine I had never been on a private jet before. It still is a little difficult to comprehend to this day that a jet would pull up to the ramp at Prescott for the sole purpose of picking me up. The educational sessions at the event were very informative regardless of that fact that I do not fly a Citation. I am honored to be able to say that I have learned the ins and outs of anti-ice and de-ice fluid from Mr. Neil Singer. I don’t think there are many other college students out there that can say that.

Another highlight of the trip was getting to fly and ride as a passenger in a DC-3. It was like looking back in time to the 1940’s when commercial aviation was a new concept and air travel was a luxury. I even got to take full control of the aircraft well flying over the San Francisco Bay. It was an unbelievable flight I will never forget. Attending the Napa Valley Regional event was an amazing experience and worth missing school. After it was over I could not wait for the annual Convention the following month.

I had just as much fun, if not more, at the Convention as I did in Napa Valley. Once again, the people I met were amazing. I have made friends and connections that are leading to internships and possible future careers. About a week after the event while standing in the hallway outside the classroom we use for Commercial Pilot Ground School, my classmates and I were waiting for our professor to arrive. Since we are all pilots, we were passing the time by talking about flying and aviation. One topic that came up among my peers was a story known well as “The L.A. Speed Check.” A story you’re probably familiar with where aircraft in the area were asking L.A. Center for their ground speed with the intent of out doing one another and it ended with an SR-71 Black Bird calling in with a ground speed of over 1,000 knots.

My classmates’ account of the story was okay, but it just made me smile as I listened in the background because I had heard what actually happened from Brian Shul, the pilot of the SR-71 involved in the story. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude because I have been given the privilege to have these unique experiences that most college students do not get to have. Another experience I am forever thankful for was the opportunity to fly Tracy Forrest’s CJ3+ from Phoenix to Prescott after the convention. To this day I still struggle to comprehend that I landed a Citation Jet at the Prescott airport. For that reason, my second shout out goes to Mr. Tracy Forrest for his patience and willingness to mentor me in flying his jet. This trip has been unlike anything I could have imagined making it hard to return to my life as a college student.

This semester at Embry-Riddle I am taking Commercial Pilot Ground School, Weather Satellite and Radar Interpretation, Marketing, Domestic and International Navigation, and Crew Resource Management. So far, the greatest challenge this semester is waking up at 6:30 AM every day to go to commercial ground school. My academics are going well and I’m currently hanging on to straight A’s. In the extracurricular world, I have begun exercising my duties as leader of the Jazz Ensemble. Practices are going well, and the group sounds great. We had our first performance last weekend at an event on campus called “Open Arts Night”. I performed a solo in the song “Green Onions”. It went very well. Just last night I finished the intermural soccer season on the Chi Alpha team. We came in 4th in the league and were unfortunately eliminated from the tournament by a devastating loss to the team known as The Nomads. I am continually doing my work as the school mascot Ernie the Eagle and loving every moment of it. I take the job very seriously and give everything I have regarding energy and dance moves to get the crowd excited. The best part for me is the fact that no one knows who I am. I couldn’t ask for a better beginning to my Junior year and I can’t believe my first semester is over half way compete.

In my August newsletter update, I commented that I was working on my instrument flight training and planning to apply for an internship at Alaska Airlines. I am proud to report that my instrument flight training is almost over. I am currently waiting for check rides for my rating and will be rated before I head home this December. It was an extremely fast journey and I’m happy to be closing the book on this chapter of my flight training. On another note, just last week I put in my application to intern at Alaska Airlines. I have also applied for Horizon Airlines, Republic Airways, and I am currently working on my application for Southwest. So far, I have an interview lined up with Republic Airways this week. At this moment, I have no idea what my future holds or where I will be working this summer, but I am optimistic about the opportunities opening before me.

I can’t believe it was almost a year ago that I submitted my application for the Citation Jet Pilots Association Scholarship. Back then I had no idea the incredible journey it would entail. To be honest, I was not confident in my ability to win this scholarship. I know competition was fierce and I do not view myself as anyone special. But CJP saw me better than I see myself and I do not know where I would be right now without the support of the Citation Jet Pilots Association. I am honored and forever grateful for my involvement with your amazing organization. It has had a monumental impact on my life. Thank you.

Brooke Harrington

The Fall season is absolutely flying by! My classes have been very challenging this semester, but I’m doing my best. My goal is to conquer Physics II. This class does not have a very high pass rate nor is it anything like Physics I that I completed over the summer, but I’m adamant on passing on the first attempt. Turbines has won me over this semester as one of my most interesting classes. It’s incredible how such small parts can produce such power!

As you may know hurricane Matthew decided to bless Florida with its presence this semester. While the school was closed, I drove down to go see my family and decided to ride out the storm at home. Thankfully we just had some minor damage such as down trees and fences, but everyone made it through the storm safely. The school stayed closed for a few days following the storm. Since I had already planned to visit my family the following weekend I made the best out of the situation and stayed in South Florida for longer than originally planned.

With little to do and no power we decided to take advantage of being surrounded by water, a family friend offered to teach us to wake surf so we headed to the bay. I’m not a huge fan of going into the ocean, but when presented with an awesome opportunity I couldn’t say no. After many failed attempts, I managed to stand up and surf all by myself for all of 20 seconds! It was exhilarating and I recommend everyone go out and wake surf!

Now that school is back to full speed I’m busier than ever. I am still working at in the Flight Operations building and I was recently hired at a much nicer restaurant. With a new job comes all types of adjustments, including a new flight block. I since I am still in instrument training I now fly my instrument block at 6 AM. I’ll be honest, it is a rough time to be up and fully functioning, but as long as I’m able to fly I’ll be up as early as I have to!

Andrius Logvinenka

Hello everyone! My last update came around the time I was just getting back to school. A lot of has happened since then, and I feel like I have moved forward in my life a lot.

Academically-wise I am doing very well in my classes. I mentioned in the previous newsletter that I am currently taking turbine engines, instrument ground school, second level weather class, crew resource management and aircraft performance. This semester has been packed with knowledge that I feel like I will use for the rest of my career. From learning about turbines and how they work and operate, to learning a whole new side of flying in instrument ground school, the psychological side of flying in CRM, how airplanes perform in different conditions and a whole new level of knowledge in weather. I am currently holding and pursuing to maintain straight A’s in all of my classes. Although these classes are challenging, I enjoy the work and the knowledge that I am gaining.

From my last update about two months ago, I was still waiting for an instructor due to instructor shortages at Embry-Riddle. Well, I am excited to report that I have achieved the private pilot milestone. After, earning my private pilot licenses I hope to get an instructor for instrument training after the Christmas Holiday break, and finish my Instrument training by the end of the 2018 summer. I am really excited to be flying again and enjoy the privileges of being a pilot.

Personally, during the last few months most of my focus has been on academics and flying but, I still set personal goals for myself. I am proud to say that I am still on my New Year’s resolution of 2017, of persistently working out. I have always been a fairly fit person, but I wanted to start hitting the gym and now I have been persistently doing it for 11 months and man does it feel great. During the month of October Embry-Riddle has fall break which is a long four-day weekend.

Instead of my friends and I sitting around the dorm, we decided to take a road trip to California. We went to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles and drove down to San Diego where my friend rented a plane for a coastal flight. We had loads of fun and it was nice to get a break from school.

Thank you for taking the time for taking a interest in me of where I am at academically and personally. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me!

I also want to thank each and every person that I met at the Napa Valley Regional Event and the annual CJP Convention in Phoenix. Everyone at CJP made me feel like I was a part of the family the instant I met them. I learned so much at these events that I feel like I will remember for the rest of my life. It is so great to see that people from so many different backgrounds share the same passion for aviation, and keep that passion going. I am extremely blessed for CJP providing this opportunity, and allowing Dillon and I (below) to meet so many great people at CJP.

I think in today’s pilot shortage, less and less kids want to become pilots, and I think that CJP is trying to show the vision of how great it is to be a pilot, and I enjoy being a part of that process. From being at these events I see a common mission at CJP of helping the aspiring young pilots and I am thankful for everyone helping me. I hope once I am able to support myself enough and I have the resources and people, I want to give back to the aviation community the way CJP does and others. Once again, I want to thank everyone at CJP for making my experiences at the CJP events ones that I will value and hold on to for the rest of my life.