6 minute read
Talk Like A Pilot
By Captain Alyse Adkins
As a young girl, Barbies and baby dolls didn’t spark the same excitement in me as they did in other girls my age. Instead, I was drawn to my dad’s vacuum tube collection and fascinated by circuit boards. It came as no surprise to those who knew me that I would become the youngest amateur radio operator in the state of Indiana at the tender age of eight. Honestly, I assumed all little girls were just like me.
Growing up, I had the privilege of traveling extensively with my parents. During one of our longest journeys, a flight on a Boeing 747 took us all the way to Australia. I vividly remember approaching the flight attendants, asking if I could peek inside the cockpit. It felt like a magnetic pull. Later, I discovered that I could plug headphones into the armrest and listen to air traffic control communications. For the next five hours, I was enraptured. Upon landing, I turned to my parents and declared my desire to “talk like a pilot.” I was hooked.
Fast forward to high school French class, where I swiftly realized that learning French was not my passion. I often found myself daydreaming and gazing out of the classroom window. Then, on a cold Monday morning, something shiny high in the sky caught my attention, dancing amidst the clouds. I might not have been passionate about learning French, but I knew that flying could take me to destinations around the world.
My high school was conveniently located next to a small airport (KSMD in Fort Wayne, Indiana). With the unwavering support of my parents, I embarked on flight lessons at the age of fourteen. Balancing school, homework, and flight lessons wasn’t easy, but I had a bright idea. I decided to approach my high school principal and persuade him to allow me to take flight lessons during my study hall period. Armed with my enthusiasm for flying, I presented my case, explaining how this would jumpstart my career. To my surprise, he wholeheartedly agreed, with one condition – I had to show him my logbook weekly. It was a proud moment when I informed him that I had completed my first solo flight on my sixteenth birthday.
The path to aviation was not without turbulence. Looking back on my journey, I encountered numerous obstacles that could have grounded me had I let them. One obstacle shook me to my core and could have deterred me from taking flight. After high school, I had set my sights on attending one of Indiana’s leading aviation universities. I was a straight-A student, but my SAT scores were only average. I assumed my extensive flight experience would guarantee my acceptance, but it didn’t. The rejection letter was a devastating blow. My family believed in me, but it didn’t lessen the disappointment. I questioned if my dreams were attainable until I recalled a lesson from years of watching Olympic figure skating with my mother. Those young athletes had practiced for years for a brief moment of glory on the ice. Even after years of practice, some would fall. My mother would look at me and say, “When they fall, do they stay on the ice sulking, or do they pick themselves up with a smile and finish what they started?”
It took some time, but I realized that failure is an integral part of success. This rejection was a crucial aspect of my journey and the first of many lessons. It taught me that failure is merely an opportunity in disguise.
I eventually found my place at Vincennes University, earning all my ratings and an associate’s degree in just 11 months. Later, I completed my bachelor’s degree at Embry Riddle and was hired by an airline at the age of 20. I accumulated hours rapidly and achieved the rank of Captain by the age of 23.
I became a check airman, gaining invaluable experience that ultimately led to an opportunity to serve as an Air Safety Investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board, the U.S. government’s accident investigative agency.
Today, I can proudly say that I am living my “French class dream.” As an Assistant Chief Pilot for UPS Airlines, I am blessed, honored, and proud to work alongside the finest pilot group in the industry, delivering what matters to communities worldwide. UPS invests in me, believes in me, and supports my growth, learning, and personal development, much like my high school principal did many years ago. To all of you daydreaming in French class, discover your passion and stay the course. Your actions today have the power to shape the world of tomorrow. Dreaming is a timeless act of optimism and a testament to our belief in the boundless possibilities that await us if we dare to believe.
Back in 1998, John took a one dollar bill and tore it in half. We each kept a half, with his promise, “When you become a captain on a big airliner one day, I’ll give you the other half.” We both kept our half for 25 years. I am holding a wooden propeller that he made for me and presented to me at lunch. It holds our two halves, with “Just Believe in Yourself” engraved on the base.
