Seattle Flight Employee Profiles

Seattle Flight's Flight Instructors and Commercial Pilots are an all-star team of the best the Puget Sound region has to offer. Every Seattle Flight employee has worked for years at other Northwest flight schools... where they were senior instructors with excellent reputations amongst their students and peers. Nearly every major flight school in the Seattle area has some of their top former employees at Seattle Flight.

Seattle Flight's high pay and profit sharing, along with its empowerment of employees to innovate and create new standards in the industry have attracted these outstanding people that make one of the most dedicated and professional flight schools in the country!

Learn more about our top-notch employees:

C. O'Donnell, John - Flight Instructor

O'Donnell John - Flight Instructor

My educational background...

 

            I attended Big Bend Community College from 1998 to 2000. There, I graduated with a commercial pilot’s license and an instrument rating. I also earned an Associate’s Degree with an emphasis in safety. In the spring of 2002, I enrolled at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and will earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Aeronautics with a minor in Safety in early spring 2003. I plan to begin a Master’s Degree in Technical Management at Embry-Riddle after graduation.

 

My aviation experience...

 

            After I graduated from Big Bend, I moved to Portland, Oregon to earn a flight instructor’s certificate. The job market brought me to Seattle where I worked at a local flight school for a year and a half. During that time, I earned my instrument instructor certificate. In February 2002, I went to California for three weeks where I earned my multi-engine rating and multi-engine instructor certificate.

 

Philosophy on flight instruction...

 

            The basic rules of pilot training are simple. I teach students the right way the first time. This is the foundation for becoming a good pilot. Everything else is just experience. However, my main goal is safety. I don’t want to be in a plane with some one who will put me in danger. Also, I don’t want anyone to put him or herself in danger. It is easy: rely on your training and follow the rules- they are there for a reason.

 

Most “exciting” emergency...

 

            Fortunately, we can learn many lessons from situations that are uncomfortable or put us in danger. I know I learned my lesson one day in a Mooney M20K. I departed Moses Lake, WA with two student pilots, one in the left seat. We were heading to Boeing Field and I knew we were going to be in the clouds most of the way. At 12,000 feet, somewhere over the Cascades, we encountered some ice. It wasn’t too bad, but I asked for a lower altitude. After several minutes, we were finally cleared to 10,000. During the descent, the ice became more severe and the turbulence was so rough that I could barely tune the radio to listen to ATIS. After fighting with the controls to stay level for what seemed like hours, we were cleared to a lower altitude where it was warm enough to melt the ice. We shot the ILS into Boeing and broke out around 1,500 feet. I was never so happy to see the runway. The experience taught me an important lesson. If the conditions for which you are about to launch into are marginal, you have doubts, or find yourself checking the weather reports every two minutes, don’t go at all. I was fortunate enough that we were able to get out of the ice fairly quickly. But if we were in a different situation, it could easily have become an emergency.

 

My favorite flying destination...

 

            Probably one of the best airports I have flown in to would be Lake Tahoe. The scenery is surreal. The victor airway takes you over the Sierra Nevada mountains and drops you out over the lake where you make your final approach. Lake Tahoe is a surprisingly large body of water as you fly over the whole length to get to the airport. The ski resorts are just off to the left and well above the final approach path. I would recommend a stop at Lake Tahoe if you are in the area, but be familiar with high density altitude operations.

 

Favorite airplane...

 

            There are too many cool airplanes to choose just one as the best. So, here are a few that I think are noteworthy. First, the Gulfstream V because of is beauty, luxury, style, and range. Second, the Citation X wins because of its superior speed as the fastest corporate jet in the world. The C-17 Globemaster has amazing performance for such a large military transport aircraft. It can engage full reverse thrust during flight and descend at 27,000 feet per minute. Finally, I like Beechcraft Bonanza and the F-18 Hornet just because.

 

Favorite aviation related activity...

 

            I’m a social person. One of my favorite things to do is chat with a few friends about the different experiences we have had. Not only is it entertaining, but also I usually learn a thing or two from people who have experienced things that I have not.

 

Most memorable flying trip...

 

            My experience in California was my favorite. I went there with fellow employee and flight instructor, Ian Griffith. After completing our individual training and earning new certificates, we flew around all of California, Nevada, and Arizona. On an instrument approach in Montgomery Field in San Diego the controller issued us a final altitude and cleared us for the approach. We began our landing sequence in the meagerly equipped Seneca I, when the controller suddenly announced “Terrain alert, terrain alert! Verify level at 2,500”. I confirmed our altitude and he replied, “Oh, sometimes if you descend too fast it gives me a warning. Never mind, contact tower”. Was this guy kidding? After much hesitation, we began the approach and broke out to the clouds around 1,800 feet. Again, I was never happier to see the runway.

 

My first interest in flying...

 

            It all started when I was 12 years old. My family and I were traveling on an airline to a vacation destination. As we boarded the plane, one of the flight attendants asked if I wanted to view the cockpit. Of course I said yes. I was amazed at all the dials, switches and buttons, and for some strange reason, I wanted to know what all of them did. Nine years later, I enrolled in the flight program at Big Bend Community College.

 

Career goals...

 

            My ultimate goal as a pilot is to work for a major airline. How I get there is another story. As far as I am concerned, I will do just about anything. I would like to fly corporate jets for a while just to have some fun sitting behind the wheel of a little rocket. Most likely I will end up flying with a regional airline, but who knows? I’ve even considered the Air National Guard flying KC-135s.

 

Hobbies...

 

            If there was one thing I could do professionally besides flying, it would be snow skiing. I’ve been skiing for about 17 years and have a part-time job as a ski instructor at Snoqualmie Pass. I tried racing for a short time but did not like it. I won first place in the only race I was ever in. Other than skiing, family and friends is my hobby.

 

Thoughts on Seattle Flight...

 

            First and foremost, Seattle Flight has a huge potential. We have some excellent plans to expand and develop programs to tailor to everyone’s needs. I have done a lot of flying at many FBO's and flight schools and not one within 1,500 miles has matched the package deals that we offer. I have never seen any flight school offer a guaranteed package deal that includes as much as ours do. There are no hidden costs, no auto-draft credit card fees, no club membership, and no dues. These things are rare in this industry. Just shop around, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

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