Episode 56: How One Man Went from Satellites to a Second Career as a Flight Instructor

This week on Fly the Transition, we're joined by Gary Palmer – Certified Flight Instructor, student pilot advocate, and aviation writer – whose inspiring story proves it's never too late to pursue your aviation dreams.After a successful career in information security for satellite systems, Gary decided to shift gears and chase his lifelong interest in flight. Now, as a passionate CFI, he works tirelessly to support student pilots, advocate for their rights, and challenge some of the most persistent myths and misconceptions in flight training.In this episode, we explore:🚀 Gary’s transition from a tech-heavy career to becoming a flight instructor🧠 Common misunderstandings in aviation training and how instructors can do better💬 The importance of student pilot advocacy and building a supportive learning environment for yourself✍️ Gary’s work as a writer in the aviation space and his mission to change the culture of flight instructionWhether you're a new student, a seasoned pilot, or someone navigating a midlife career change, Gary brings insight, candor, and a fresh perspective that will leave you inspired.🔗 Check out Gary’s work and advocacy at: timetoflyplanes.comAirventure Forum: July 26th 11:30amForum State 6https://events.rdmobile.com/Sessions/Details/2871110Support the Show: If you are looking for early releases, exclusive content, or just want to support the show, consider joining me on Patreon!There are several levels of support and extra goodies at each level. Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/flyingmidwest⁠⁠⁠⁠AeroExploration: Check out Jim's new YouTube Channel. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AeroExploration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Community:If you enjoy Fly the Transition and want to continue the conversation, consider joining our Discord community. To request an invite, simply reach out to Jim by email or social media.Social Media Handles:Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.flyingmidwest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/flythetranstion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jim on Instagram: ⁠@flymidwestjim⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠Sponsor Information:Support our sponsors and affiliates who help make this podcast possible!Affiliate Links:Lightspeed Headsets: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lightspeedaviation.com/?campaign=flyingmidwest23&ref=101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flying Eyes Sunglasses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://flyingeyesoptics.com/?ref=Flyingmidwest23⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code Flyingmidwest10 for 10% off your purchaseFly the Transition Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flyingmidwest.com/merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Information:Do you have questions or comments about the show? Do you have an idea for a future episode? Do you want to be a guest on the podcast? Reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or connect with Jim through social media or the website.🔊 Listen now on:✅ Apple Podcasts | ✅ Spotify | ✅ Google Podcasts | 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!