Aviation
My grandfather worked for the Port Authority in New York City, and for a time, he was based at LaGuardia Airport. Some of my earliest memories are of watching 747s undergoing maintenance. Every time a plane flew over our house, I’d try to guess what type it was.
Fast forward a few years, and I now work on aerospace interface and logistics projects, coming from a background in game and dashboard design. I had a clear academic research agenda, but there were noticeable gaps in my hands-on knowledge. My users were mostly pilots and aircraft maintainers—and as the saying goes, you should know your audience.
What started as professional curiosity quickly turned into a passion. I studied. I flew. I practiced. I read everything I could get my hands on. In 2023, I earned a perfect score on the FAA knowledge exam on my first attempt. In 2024, I passed my checkride, also on the first attempt, and became a licensed pilot.
A friend once asked if I love flying because of the freedom it offers. The truth? I just really appreciate a good checklist.
What I have learned from aviation:
2023 onward
pivate pilot ASEL
My grandfather worked for the Port Authority in New York City, and for a time, he was based at LaGuardia Airport. Some of my earliest memories are of watching 747s undergoing maintenance. Every time a plane flew over our house, I’d try to guess what type it was.
Fast forward a few years, and I now work on aerospace interface and logistics projects, coming from a background in game and dashboard design. I had a clear academic research agenda, but there were noticeable gaps in my hands-on knowledge. My users were mostly pilots and aircraft maintainers—and as the saying goes, you should know your audience.
What started as professional curiosity quickly turned into a passion. I studied. I flew. I practiced. I read everything I could get my hands on. In 2023, I earned a perfect score on the FAA knowledge exam on my first attempt. In 2024, I passed my checkride, also on the first attempt, and became a licensed pilot.
A friend once asked if I love flying because of the freedom it offers. The truth? I just really appreciate a good checklist.
What I have learned from aviation:
- Being prepared is the start of any solution.
- Safety is the first and greatest priority.
- Communication is a challenge we solve with others.
- Smooth air never made for a good pilot.
- Always plan for a missed approach.
- Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.