SKY HIGH DREAMS: A Lifelong Journey

By Austin Pohjola

Within the world of aviation, few are more knowledgeable than corporate pilots. Some of the most important aspects of being a pilot are the ability to understand and communicate, dedication, precision, and most importantly, experience. It is through these qualities that exceptional pilots are made. One such example is corporate pilot and ex-military pilot Michael Ferguson. Throughout his years of piloting, he has continually grown in his abilities. In an interview with Ferguson, we discussed his history with aviation, his experience in the Army, the intricacies of his career, and the valuable insights he has gained from his involvement in aviation.

Though he lived most of his childhood with little interest in aviation, it only took a moment for everything to change. During a middle school field trip to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, there was a flight simulator. “I think from that point on I was totally infatuated with aviation.” There, he had his first experience piloting an aircraft through a simple flight simulator. His curiosity for aviation only grew from then on until he was sure he wanted to become a pilot.

With his goal in mind and his extreme passion for aviation, only one barrier existed to pursuing a career in aviation: opportunity. One of the hardest aspects of becoming a professional pilot is getting the opportunity to do so. Although aviation is a growing industry, there are only three main ways to become a professional pilot: the military, university flight programs, and individual pursuit. For Ferguson, the answer was enlisting in a military flight program.

Ferguson’s life as a military pilot, although very exciting, was exhaustive. Day in and day out, he saw, heard, and talked about aviation. “Once you start, it’s day after day after day.” Despite the enormous commitment, Ferguson describes the military as a great way to learn to fly. “That training scheme is very efficient because what you learned yesterday is still going to be fresh in your mind today.” Through the military, Ferguson could learn the most about piloting, although it was a huge commitment. His first experience controlling an aircraft came from piloting a TH-55. “We flew that for about 50 hours and all got our basic instruction,” until eventually learning to operate larger helicopters as well. After completing his training as a helicopter pilot, he was assigned to the Blackhawks unit. After 12 years in the Blackhawks, Ferguson applied to a fixed-wing program in the Army.

Through the fixed-wing program, Ferguson was able to fly many types of airplanes. After completing flight training for fixed-wing aircraft, he got his first assignment, which was to operate a surveillance Beechcraft King Air. As Ferguson grew more skillful, he attained more responsibility until he began operating his first jet. “I got to move into my first jet, which was the Citation Ultra.” For three years, he operated the Citation, flying VIPs around different countries, planning routes, and interpreting aviation laws. Near the end of his military career, he was given the task of flying a modified Gulfstream G550 around Washington D.C.

After a long and successful military career, Abbott hired Ferguson as a corporate pilot, and he has been flying since. By luck, he flies the same plane as he did in the Army, another Gulfstream. Ferguson describes his experience as a corporate pilot as a fast-paced job with a meticulous regimen. “We don’t have a lot of time on the ground; we have to focus on planning and managing our own rest,” but rewarding in many ways. “There are times when we get a fair amount of time on the ground and so we can have a tourist-like experience.”

Being a corporate pilot has provided Ferguson with other unique encounters with natural phenomena. “Just seeing a lightning show, the aurora borealis, Saint Elmo’s fire.” Flying provides pilots with many encounters with weather that watching from the ground doesn’t do justice to. “I’ve gotten to see a meteorite one time for fifteen minutes, and it was on fire, just all glowing.”

Through his many years of involvement in aviation, Ferguson has developed many insights into the aviation industry. From student to military pilot to corporate pilot, Ferguson has developed a deep understanding of what is needed to grow in the aviation industry. From this, he became a CFI who works to educate new pilots not only on the mechanics of flying an aircraft but also on the characteristics of a pilot. To Ferguson, there are many characteristics needed to become a pilot, but the most important is self-discipline. “They have to be very self-motivated, self-disciplined, willing to work unsupervised… a willingness and a motivation would be the most important qualities that I look for in a pilot.”

For someone learning to fly and someone wanting to teach others, there is one essential characteristic: dedication. One of the hardest challenges that Ferguson encounters as a flight instructor is the inconsistency in learning. “When you’re learning, you’ll go through phases. Sometimes you’ll learn something harder than other times.” As a student or teacher, it is hard to keep the motivation to practice if little progress is made. Ferguson recommends finding the things you do well each day so that it’s easy to see the subtle improvements necessary to maintain your motivation.

There are many ways to become involved in the business of aviation. One of the most rewarding careers in aviation is becoming a pilot. Corporate pilots require communication skills, dedication, and a significant background. In every pilot, there exists a dedication to the pursuit of excellence that few other professions ever reach. Michael Ferguson is one such person whose desire for excellence has been proven through the many years he has spent involved in aviation. Whether it be teaching aspiring students, flying for the military, or traveling the world, few are as competent or qualified as Mickey Ferguson. From his childhood to today, Ferguson’s passion for aviation has led him to an excellent career and a life of great accomplishment.