Meet our Featured Jump Pilot - Orion with Chicagoland Skydiving Center

Meet our Featured Jump Pilot Orion, a Twin Otter pilot with Chicagoland Skydiving Center. A drop zone that has been in business since 1968 and is one of the largest in the Midwest United States.

Name: Orion

Age: 27

From: Vermont

Total Time: 1,250

Company: Chicagoland Skydiving Center

Location:  Rochelle, IL

Years flying Skydivers: 2 years

What do you like most about flying Skydivers? 

I enjoy the skydiving community, being around people that love what they are doing allows you to appreciate your role as a pilot.  I get to fly cool planes filled with cool people.  Plus, skydivers are always happy... who wouldn't want to hang out with happy people?

What are your career goals?  

Never to have a 9-5er... But seriously... to enjoy my career, I would say is my primary goal. That and try out all that aviation has to offer. I only hope I don't croak before I get to do it all. 

What is your advice for younger pilots?  

Do what you love and always be ready to learn, the rest will come.  Also, part of being a pilot is to always be looking for that next great opportunity. But most importantly, don't forget where you are now and where you came from.

An added note from Orion: "Growing up on the side of a mountain in Vermont, listening to the gliders catching the updrafts as they whistled by sparked my love for aviation.  From then on I knew exactly what I wanted to do in my life, I was going to FLY!  

My love for aviation brought me into skydiving as a jump pilot, flying a Cessna 182.  Working and spending nearly all my time at the drop zone it became apparent that I should take the opportunity and learn to skydive.  After completing my AFF training and receiving my A license, I began to understand why everyone around me was so hooked.  Skydiving is one of those things that once you realize there is nothing to be afraid of, the possibilities are endless.  I can say for certain that I am addicted.  

I enjoy the drop zone atmosphere and being around people who love what they are doing so much that it is hardly a job to them, myself included.  I look forward to being the guy at the front of the plane taking you to altitude, and feel free to talk to me or give me a high five!!  See you in the sky!"

Feel free to visit the Chicagoland Skydiving Center site skydivecsc.com

Featured Jump Pilot - Shaun from Skydive Santa Barbara

Meet Shaun, a fellow Jump Pilot that I met a few years ago when I was hired to ferry a Caravan from Georgia to Illinois and then to Colorado. I am honored to have introduced him to the Caravan on that trip. He learned the airplane faster than anyone that I have ever taught. He now flies a Honeywell powered Grand Caravan for Skydive Santa Barbara. The perfect airplane for flying skydivers up to 13,000 and even 18,000 feet!

Age: 26

Total Time: 2600

Company: SkyDive Santa Barbara

Location: California

Years Flying the Caravan: 3 years

What do you like most about flying the Caravan?

I love the Caravan because it is a very well built airplane. It's durable, easy on the controls, and it's a work horse. The Garret TPE- 331 conversion makes it a fast and efficient aircraft, especially for skydiving operations. Even though it is a single engine it feels very safe and has an outstanding glide ratio in engine out operations. All in all the Caravan is one of my favorite aircraft to fly. 

What are your career goals? 

To be perfectly honest I don't have a set path in aviation. I've never had one ultimate goal. Instead, I focus on the enjoyment of flying and the realization of how blessed I am to be able to do what I love. I do know I am going to stay away from the airlines for the short term at least. I've always been attracted to the "odd ball" jobs in aviation, like being a Jump Pilot and Air Attack, all the non mainstream forms of flying. Some would say the "skill gigs". Really though, I just want to make sure I'm always having fun and continue to love flying.

What is your advice to younger pilots? 

My advice to younger newer pilots is to keep a positive attitude towards flying. There are times where it can seem overwhelming, sometimes you may feel under appreciated. But the key is to maintain a positive outlook. Stick up for yourself but always remember why we do this, why we fly. When you get down and frustrated, take a deep breath, relax every muscle in your body and take a look outside your cockpit. Look and see how beautiful flying is. Remind yourself of why you love to fly.