Getting Your Start: Pilot Careers

Friday, May 19 at 10:00

PAVILION 10

This panel is a great opportunity for attendees who are interested in pursuing a career as a pilot. Panelists will be pilots from different sectors of aviation. During the panel, these pilots will share their insights and experiences on what it takes to become a successful pilot in each sector, including the skills and education needed, the challenges and rewards of the job and the different career paths available. The panel will also provide an opportunity for you to ask questions and gain valuable advice from these professionals as you embark on your own aviation career.

Scott Kinder

Scott Kinder has a wide range of flying experience in a career that has so far spanned over three decades. He began his aviation journey in the US Air Force performing various roles including as a T-37 instructor pilot, a T-1A instructor/ evaluator pilot, an aircraft commander on the E-3A AWACS. Scott retired from the US Air Force after 28 years of service. Currently, Scott is a pilot for United Airlines, where he has flown a wide range of aircraft, including the Boeing 727, 737, 757, and 767, as well as the Airbus A320 and A319. With over 18,000 total flight hours, Scott is now a 737 Captain based out of Chicago. Scott uses his wide range of experience to give back to the community through organizations such as PAPA.

Alex Miravite

Colonel (retired) Alex Miravite, Jr served 28 years in the United States Air Force culminating as the 16th Presidential Pilot in U.S. history from 2019-2022. In his role as Commander of Air Force One, he served as the chief pilot, as the Commander of the Presidential Airlift Group, and as an operational director at the White House Military Office. As Group Commander, he led 2 subordinate squadrons, the Presidential Logistics Squadron and the Presidential Airlift Squadron. His 350-person Group was the Department of Defense’s sole unit responsible for the safe, comfortable and reliable fixed-wing transport of the President. He led Air Force One on numerous historic efforts including: President Trump’s 2019 covert trip to visit troops in Afghanistan; the the busiest month of Presidential travel during the 2020 Presidential Campaign; the first domestic and international trips for President Biden. In total, he flew 11 years as an Air Force One pilot, from 20112022, flying both the Boeing 757 and 747 and directly serving 3 U.S Presidents - Presidents Obama, Trump and Biden. Colonel Miravite was born in Bethesda, Maryland and grew up in West Springfield, Virginia. Both of his parents immigrated from Metro Manila, Philippines in 1968. He graduated from

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology in Alexandria, Virginia in 1990 then attended the University of Michigan majoring in Computer Engineering. He entered the Air Force in 1994, earning his commission through Air Force ROTC Detachment 390. During his Air Force career, Colonel Miravite logged over 7,000 flight hours in the T-37B Tweet, T-1A Jayhawk, C-21A Learjet, C-5 Galaxy, C-32 (Boeing 757) and VC-25 (Boeing 747). Since retiring from the Air Force in 2022, Colonel Miravite was type-rated in the Gulfstream G650ER and is flying as a Part 91 International Captain on an account with Solairus Aviation.

Sean Wan

Sean is currently a First Officer at Republic Airways. He attended Purdue University and earned his B.S. in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering and M.S. in Aviation & Aerospace Management. Throughout his college career, Sean concurrently received flight training from Private Pilot to CFI/CFII/MEI under Part 61 at a local flight school, Purdue Aviation, LLC. After graduating in 2019, he then continued to flight instruct in West Lafayette, IN at both Purdue Aviation and Purdue University’s Professional Flight program under Part 61 and 141. In addition, Sean also serves as the Chair of PAPA’s Chapter Management Committee assisting our collegiate chapters nationwide.

Jason Woo

Jason was born in Malaysia where he grew up dreaming of becoming a pilot. Thanks to an international student scholarship program established at Western Michigan University (WMU), Jason moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan where he obtained his pilot ratings and degree in Aviation Flight Science in 2011. After flight instructing for three different flight schools over several years, Jason joined Compass Airlines in 2015 where he flew the E175 as a First Officer for two years, followed by two years as a Captain. In 2019, he started flying for Frontier Airlines on the A320 before accepting an offer to join Delta Air Lines in early 2020. During the 2020 pandemic, Jason made the switch to the “dark side” and began flying cargo for FedEx Express. He is currently a B757 First Officer based out of Cologne, Germany. Q