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| Scott Swanberg, Helicopter Pilot |
Scott comes from a family of pilots, earned his private airplane license at seventeen years of age, has over ten years of aviation experience, and is currently an instructor at Classic Helicopters. As Scott puts it, "flying is in the blood."
A Veteran of the Armed Forces, Scott also brings a wealth of service experience and a strong work ethic to the classroom. He's gearing up to graduate this December. Check out his story below!
Hi Scott. Thanks for joining us on the blog. What's it like to be a student in the Helicopter Pilot program at Green River?
Scott: It's a great opportunity to get the training I need. GRCC instructors are top notch, and I have learned a lot from them despite coming into the program with 10+ years of aviation under my belt. My situation is very atypical, as I entered the program as a flight instructor and am only finishing up my Instrument and Instrument Instructor ratings, but it has still been a great opportunity for me to learn and grow within my field. I am considering sticking with the program and and finishing up my Airplane ratings as well.
Can you tell us the story of how you decided to pursue training in this field?
Scott: I come from a family of many pilots, so I guess it's in my blood. I remember flying at a very young age with my father and I can't imagine doing anything else. I got my airplane private license when I was 17. My first helicopter flight was magical, and I just had to get my add-on rating. The balance of my life has been spent pursuing that dream.
How has your background as a Veteran of the Armed Forces prepared you to succeed at the college level?
Scott: The military was a great experience for me. The discipline, emphasis on maintaining physical fitness, and hard work ethic are positive tools that shape motivated, contributing members of our society. The brotherhood will stay with me forever. Getting out of the service and looking ahead, I am motivated to succeed and know that I can. I see these traits in other Veterans and attribute it to our service experiences. I also think that "growing up" in the service and starting college a little later in life changes priorities. I have a family, and so having the skills and education I need to put food on the table is a priority. I take this very seriously.
You're approaching graduation--congrats! What advice would you have for new students who are thinking about pursuing Helicopter Training at Green River?
Scott: Manage your time! I see others in the program struggling to do this. This program takes a lot of dedication. I am both a student and an instructor at Classic Helicopters, so I can tell you that Green River instructors are all great and are there to help students succeed, but students need to meet us half-way. Stay on top of school obligations and set aside time to fly. Also, take Knowledge Tests (part of the requirement for your FAA rating) early! Procrastination will hold you back at the end and can cause problems. Sometimes I need to follow my own advice! It's easy to get overwhelmed. You just have to grit your teeth and go for it!
Funding Tip! All four Workforce Education funding programs support the Helicopter Pilot program at Green River, including: BFET, Opportunity Grant, Worker Retraining, and WorkFirst.
