Pilot Spotlight
A small selection of ODYSSEY alumni volunteered their Success Stories after completing our time building program. Any of these 8 great stories could be yours!
Noah Pulitzer
Flew with SkyWest, Frontier
Please tell us about your story and the process of completing your hours at OPH and then getting hired as a pilot:
“While flight instructing in Michigan, I interviewed and got a conditional job offer from a couple regional airlines. With the class dates I was given, there was no way to meet the hour requirements in time solely instructing, especially during winter.”
“I luckily found OPH and reached out to hopefully fly during my winter break. Not only was I able to fly over 100 hours while others were flying merely 10, I was offered a job to stay and continue instructing.”
“Flying around West was a great experience – from the scenery to the abundance of clear days. Flying as both a customer and instructor of OPH, I can say that this is the place to be.”
“I was excited to spend several more months instructing in the SportCruiser when I got a call that my class date got moved up. Again, I didn’t have enough hours to make the class, so I was able to rent from OPH to build the remaining hours just in time.”
If it weren’t for OPH, I would be several months behind at minimum, which is critical for seniority, pay, and QOL [Quality of Life].
Noah Pulitzer
How did building time at Odyssey Pilot Hours help prepare you for your piloting job?
“First and foremost I got the hours I needed quickly, which is crucial in this industry. Doing cross country flights was more realistic than just going up and doing maneuvers, and we normally threw approaches into the mix, especially at night, to stay proficient.”
“Flying with a partner who may have less or more experience than you and working together as a team rather than just an individual being evaluated is something that carries over well into professional aviation.”
“Again, teamwork, crew resource management, and making decisions together as a team while flying the Sport Cruiser across the West is a very valuable experience. Additionally, the freedom OPH gives you is rare, unless you own your own aircraft, so enjoy!”
Congratulations, Noah!
Ben Smith
Flew with Republic, Frontier
Please tell us about your story and the process of completing your hours at OPH and then getting hired as a pilot:
“I started flight training full time in 2019, finishing right before COVID hit in 2020. After a brief pause due to COVID, I began flight instructing to build my hours. While I gained good experience, I was only getting around 50 to 60 hours per month.”
“In an industry where seniority is everything, this was a little slow. That is why, when I was given a CJO [Conditional Job Offer] at Republic Airways, I chose to go to Odyssey Pilot Hours.”
“The lodging was excellent, clean, and well furnished. I was able to fly a significant amount of hours, finishing 200 in under 4 weeks. The planes were fun to fly, and having a partner to fly with helped to pass the time. I am still friends to this day with one flying partner, Noah Pulitzer.”
“Maintenance was always taken seriously and I never doubted the safety of the aircraft I flew. With such a quick accumulation of hours at OPH, I was able to get my class date pushed up at Republic and start building my seniority sooner.”
Use the time at OPH to build your skills, not just punch holes in the sky. Learn IFR inside and out, learn how to communicate with and work with a crew member, and above all have fun!
Ben Smith
How did building time at Odyssey Pilot Hours help prepare you for your piloting job?
“I got really good at flying IFR [Instrument Flight Rules] and using automation (2 of the biggest skills for the airlines). Flying with a partner also really sharpened my Crew Resource Management skills, especially with the occasionally challenging weather conditions in Colorado.”
“OPH also let me get to Republic early, which let me build hours sooner and get to Frontier sooner. Getting in front of the hiring wave was key, and now I am able to be home based at Frontier flying mostly day trips. I would not be where I am if I hadn’t gotten here as quickly.”
Congratulations, Ben!
Tyler Puryear
Flew with Skywest Airlines ERJ-175
Please tell us about your story and the process of completing your hours at OPH and then getting hired as a pilot:
“I still needed some hours to get my restricted-ATP for Skywest Airlines. Luckily I was able to find OPH. I was able to get through my hours at Odyssey pretty quickly since they had the planes available pretty much 24/7, other than maintenace.”
“Without getting my hours at Odyssey, I would be stagnant in my aviation career. I am so thankful that because of Odyssey, my aviation career and pilot seniority has started years before originally anticipated.”
[My] favorite part of the program was actually just getting here and actually being able to fly as much as I wanted. And to be done quicker than expected.
Tyler Puryear
How did building time at Odyssey Pilot Hours help prepare you for your piloting job?
“Getting my flight hours ASAP is what really I am thankful for. Flying at Odyssey will accelerate your career to the airline of your choice. But most importantly it will start your pilot seniority sooner. I am thankful to have flown at Odyssey and I still recommend it to any pilots that I talk with.”
Congratulations, Tyler!
Jackie Lazzaro
Flew with Southern Airways Express (C-208), Aero-Tech Services (Learjet 45), Tri-State Jet Charter (CRJ-200)
Please tell us about your story and the process of completing your hours at OPH and then getting hired as a pilot:
“My journey into aviation began in the fall of 2019. I was working a 9-5 job as a Trust and Estate Attorney in New Jersey and did not feel fulfilled by my career. I started taking flight lessons at my local airport before work and eventually decided to make a career change.”
“By the spring of 2021 I had all my ratings, but needed 100 more hours in order to start my first job flying Cessna Caravans. Odyssey was the perfect solution. In less than a month I built 100 hours and was immediately hired.”
Everything’s set up like you wish time building was; there’s housing that’s included in the cost, you’re automatically paired with people, you have the freedom to go and do what you want to work on.
Jackie Lazzaro
How did building time at Odyssey Pilot Hours help prepare you for your piloting job?
“Time building at Odyssey was the most fun I’ve had in all of my aviation career.”
“Unlike flight training where each lesson is regimented, at Odyssey we were free to fly where we wanted, work on the things we wanted to work on, and genuinely enjoy our time in the air.”
“More important than building time, I was able to build confidence as a pilot. That confidence is what drove me to where I am today.”
Congratulations, Jackie!
Alexander Santiago
Contract Pilot as a Jump Pilot and Part 91 Private Flying
Please tell us about your story and the process of completing your hours at OPH and then getting hired as a pilot:
“I found out about OPH on social media and when I reached out to them they were offering exactly what I was looking for, so I booked a flight from Puerto Rico and completed my 50 hours in one week.”
You’re getting a lot of hours in a very short time, so that’s very good!
Alexander Rodriguez
How did building time at Odyssey Pilot Hours help prepare you for your piloting job?
“Personally I think flying im Colorado definitely made me a much better pilot. To fly there you need to take into consideration things that maybe when I fly in Puerto Rico I don’t have to worry about.
“Also flying with different people was a good experience!”
Congratulations, Alex!
Matt Carson
Airline Pilot – Embreaer 175
Please tell us about your story and the process of completing your hours at OPH and then getting hired as a pilot:
“I came to OPH during a critical hiring phase after the pandemic. OPH enabled me to finish my ATP minimum hours much quicker than I would have working as normal. I was able to gain a significant bump in seniority by completing my hours faster.”
The program did exactly what I needed it to do. I could go at the pace that I wanted to, and in my case, needed to.
Matt Carson
How did building time at Odyssey Pilot Hours help prepare you for your piloting job?
“Flying in and around mountainous terrain was a new experience for me. This provided many opportunities to improve my aeronautical decision making, the most critical skill for an airline pilot. Flying with different pilots in a crew environment was a great skill to practice as well.”
Congratulations, Matt!
Nick Garner
Flew with Skydive Houston, Yute Commuter Service
Please tell us about your story and the process of completing your hours at OPH and then getting hired as a pilot:
“When I came to OPH, I was local to Denver looking to build time towards my commercial mins. I wanted to get my career started but also build quality time practicing instrument approaches.”
“OPH made it possible and easy for me to build 50-75 hours quickly allowing me to finish my commercial rating and immediately get hired flying skydivers in Houston, Texas. After four months in Texas, I was picked up to fly C207s in Southwest Alaska.”
Without OPH, I wouldn’t have met the time requirements as quickly and efficiently which likely would have resulted in me missing the opportunities I’ve been given.
Nick Garner
How did building time at Odyssey Pilot Hours help prepare you for your piloting job?
“In addition to honing my skills as a pilot, the program at OPH gave me experience working with different personalities.”
“Learning how to work with and get along with people of different backgrounds and skill sets has proven to be extremely beneficial so far in my career.”
Congratulations, Nick!
Micheal Hofhenke
Flew with SkyWest Airlines, Frontier Airlines
Please tell us about your story and the process of completing your hours at OPH and then getting hired as a pilot:
“I started flying as a military aviator and transitioned to the civilian sector a few years later. I started getting my rating like most folks and then upon completion of my commercial rating I had the hurdle that most people encounter which is building enough hours to be qualified for a job.”
“Shortly after I obtained my commercial license I interviewed and was accepted to SkyWest Airlines. The issue was I needed my required hours before I could be assigned a class date.”
“I needed to build quality hours fast in order to get to my first job. This is where OPH really shined.”
“I searched the entire US for cheap airplanes to rent and other pilots who would like to build time. I was let down time and time again because flight schools wouldn’t let me rent for long periods, airplanes would break, or people would cancel and leave me hanging to pay for the plane myself.”
“OPH solved all these issues by having new planes, with essentially unlimited hours to fly, and dedicated partners to fly with everyday.”
Using OPH aircraft I was able to conduct various types of approaches everyday and become more comfortable with managing automation witch drastically helped me at my first airline training.
Michael Hofhenke
“If maintenance issues occurred, we jumped to a new plane and that plane was fixed immediately. I was able to build 258 hours in less than 30 days. “
“No where in the country could I do that. On top of it all, the price of the plane included housing in a beautiful neighborhood just minutes from the Airfield.”
How did building time at Odyssey Pilot Hours help prepare you for your piloting job?
“OPH uses Sport cruisers. Everywhere else uses VERY old cessnas and pipers and not all time building is equal. OPH has brand new sport cruisers that qualify as TAA with full glass cockpits and autopilot.”
“If your goal is to make it to the airlines you want to start using autopilot capabilities so your training is not as difficult.”
