Linda: Petter Hornfeldt is a YouTube sensation; an airline pilot who’s taken a leave because his two channels, Mentour Pilot and Mentour Now!, have skyrocketed to over 2.4 million subscribers. Aviation had been his dream and passion ever since his parents gave him a flight lesson for his 14th birthday. The flight ignited something inside, and the encouragement he found in flying helped him to go from a mediocre student to a straight-A student, which paved the way to join a government-sponsored pilot program in his hometown in Sweden.
He completed all his training, plus a year of mandatory military service as an airport firefighter, by the age of 20, and landed his first job with an airline, flying the Boeing 737.
Over the next 20 years, he became captain, then line training captain, then type rating instructor, and examiner. He fully invested himself in his future. And now, he’s producing intelligent content on two channels because he believes it’s the best way to use his expertise to serve the aviation community and the world right now. He was able to take the earliest steps on his journey because the local government said yes to investment in an airport.
Petter sees aviation as the foundation for a better connected and united world while also being, by far, one of the safest modes of transportation, made possible “because of the countless decisions made every day by millions of unsung heroes around the globe.” Not just pilots, but also ground crew, cabin crew, aircraft technicians, air traffic controllers, and many more.
He appeals to those who fly and those who don’t. Nonpilots have told him that watching his videos makes them less nervous about flying because he helps them understand it. Hearing so many stories from viewers has been one of the most gratifying aspects of running these channels and the reason he’s now doing this full-time. We applaud Petter’s decision to take a break from the flight deck to educate people.
Mike: One of the earliest jobs a future or developing pilot often gets is fueling aircraft. They may walk out to the customer or drive a truck to each plane, depending on the airport layout. These workers learn a lot about the industry and make valuable contacts which lead to more opportunities. Another common student job is in aircraft maintenance, under the tutelage of a master mechanic. Swapping time spent washing airplanes for flights is one more way for future airplane pilots to build time. Or like Petter, become an airport firefighter.
After gaining the certificates and ratings, the next steps could be banner towing, flight instructing, or charter pilot, each step offering a new challenge and personal growth.
A healthy airport provides more than cheap fuel. If properly administered and nurtured, it provides a solid stake in and serves the community and leads to stronger economic growth. It may also be the start of many dreams of seeking what is just beyond the horizon and finding out what it means to be responsible and productive.