Airline Pilot Tackles Common Fears and Facts of Flying
Nick Plagenhoef joins The SavvyCast to share about his career as a pilot and answer listeners’ questions on all things air travel!
Episode At A Glance:
This week on The SavvyCast, I am joined by my dear friend and pilot Nick Plagenhoef. Nick shares his expertise on all things flying and answers listener-submitted questions! We discuss how he first developed a passion for aviation, what advice he would give to young pilots, and spend plenty of time answering your flight-related questions! Nick addressed safety concerns, how air travel has changed since 9/11, what to do if you’ve missed your flight, and much more!
Who Is Nick Plagenhoef?
Nick has had a passion for aviation since he was a kid, and his love for airplanes only grew into his early teenage years. He began flying at 15, and soloed in an airplane before driving a car by himself on his 16th birthday. He went on to achieve his private, instrument, and commercial single-engine ratings before graduating high school. His pursuit of a career in aviation continued as he went to Auburn University, where he majored in Aviation Management. While in college and shortly thereafter, he accumulated hundreds of hours of teaching as a flight instructor in many different general aviation aircraft.
Upon graduation, he worked his way through the ranks of corporate aviation. Nick found himself in a multitude of different piston aircraft and light to midsized business jets, accumulating hundreds of hours of flight time in more than 50+ different aircraft. He’s been named Director of Sales and Aircraft Management at prior employers and has helped companies manage and acquire aircraft, start flight schools, and achieve 135 charter certificates.
This strong base in general aviation helped propel him into a fruitful airline career. Today, he’s now a pilot for a major U.S. airline on the Airbus 319/320/321 aircraft. He still loves general aviation and flies his personal airplane as much as he can while continuing to help businesses and individuals acquire and sell their aircraft through his aircraft brokerage business (Stable Approach Aviation).
Questions Answered In This Episode:
- Why did you become a pilot?
- What did your journey to becoming a pilot look like?
- How has your career evolved over time?
- What advice do you have for someone who wants to become a pilot?
- Should I be worried about turbulence?
- Is the air on a plane contaminated?
- Where are the best places to sit on a plane?
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
I hope you enjoyed this episode! As always, if you have time to rate, review, and subscribe to The SavvyCast on Apple Podcasts, it would be SO appreciated. If you would prefer to watch the podcast interview, check it out on YouTube. Blessings to you!
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