EAA Chapter 430Message from Jacob Kirschbaum
Open the PDF at page 5 See the whole December 2021 issue
Hello members of Chapter 430, For the past three and a half years I have been working on my aviation degree at the University of North Dakota. I have earned my Commercial, Multi, Instrument, CFI, and CFII certificates/ratings with help from your scholarship. I am now working at UND as a CFI while finishing up my degree. I will be graduating from UND on December 17th.
I want to thank all of you for your donations and support over the past few years. In my initial application letter to the EAA chapter I said:
“I plan to contribute to the future of aviation by volunteering as an instructor at the [Port Townsend Aero] museum and helping to pass on a love of aviation to another generation of pilots. I don’t think anything else could be as fulfilling as helping kids in the same position as I was to realize that aviation is not out of reach, and to help them find their true passion.”
I am happy to report back that I spent May through July of 2021 working full time at the museum as a CFI. I was able to fly with the kids giving dual instruction and also help Mike and Kevin in the shop. As you will likely see in the next newsletter from PTAM, one of the students I worked with successfully passed his private check ride in October a few months after I had returned to school. With your help I was able to begin what I hope will be many years of helping out at the museum working to mentor and teach the next generation of pilots.
That brings us to my plans for the future. As of right now, I am planning to stay at UND in the spring working as a CFI. While UND is a great school, and I have definitely received a great education here, I am hoping to find a job elsewhere to finish up building time for my ATP. I think the value of the extra experience I could gain flying in a new environment is too valuable to pass up. I do not have anywhere in particular picked out yet, but with the opportunities currently available in the industry, I have been keeping my eyes open.
I will certainly be keeping in touch with you all and updating you as I progress through my career. Thank you again for all of the help you have given me!
Jacob Kirschbaum
