Cap’n Dillon shows off his logbook alongside Cap’n Aux.
Commercial flying is a brutal business. In the past 30 years, the career has been a roller coaster ride—mostly downhill. As a result, legions of burned-out pilots abound. Their tales of woe have been scaring off starry-eyed, upcoming pilots for some time now. No wonder the decades-late “looming pilot shortage” is now upon us. Nobody wants “40 years of severe turbulence” as a job description.
Sadly, these bruised and battered casualties of war have lost touch with the very reason they pursued this career in the first place: THE MAGIC OF FLIGHT. From the moment they could walk, they wanted to spread their wings and fly. And they did. They became one of the 0.03% who are licensed pilots.*
In short, they ACHIEVED THEIR DREAM.
And what dream worth pursuing is not rife with pitfalls, dangers and challenges? Otherwise, the world would be filled with cowboys, ballerinas and astronauts.
If you’re a burned out pilot, watch this video. It’s about a young man with Cerebral Palsy who finally achieves his lifelong dream: TO FLY. Will it make you cry? Perhaps. But through the tears, you will smile so much it hurts. And it will restore, not only your faith in humanity, but the magic of your first love.
And don’t ever again forget the magic of flight. As Louis C.K. puts it: “You’re sitting in a chair….IN THE SKY!”
In celebration of the MAGIC OF FLIGHT, and NATIONAL CEREBRAL PALSY MONTH, I bring you…
“Cap’n Dillon’s Ecstatic Adventure!”
*According to U.S. statistics
Eric “Cap’n Aux” Auxier is an airline pilot by day, writer by night, and kid by choice. An A320 Captain for a major U.S. airline, he is also a freelance writer, novelist and blogger. His second novel, The Last Bush Pilots, captured the coveted Amazon TOP 100 Breakthrough Novels in 2013. Mr. Auxier makes his home in Phoenix, Arizona.
