As the College of Technology’s May 2015 graduates move into their careers, we are profiling a few and finding out their future plans and how they arrived at this point in their lives.
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Thomas Kieffer, Columbus, Indiana
First officer, Endeavor Air
Education
Bachelor’s degree in professional flight technology with a minor in organizational leadership and supervision; also earned a commercial pilot certificate and is a certified flight instructor.
Job duties
I will be flying the Bombardier CRJ regional jet to operate flights for Delta Connection. My job is to assist the captain, help with preflight duties, ensure the aircraft is ready for flight, and to fly and conduct safe and efficient flight operations for the airline. I will go through about two and half months of training in Minneapolis. Afterward, I will be assigned to either Detroit, New York JFK, or Minneapolis as a crew base.
Purdue classes that helped Thomas prepare for his job
- Purdue’s advanced turbine operations classes have really helped me prepare to move on to larger airplanes. We start in a ground school for our Embraer Phenom 100 jet, move on to a simulator, and then fly the airplane. In the simulator, I learned how to work in a crew environment and operate more complex aircraft systems in normal and abnormal emergency situations.
- On top of the classes where we learn the basic knowledge to become commercial pilots, human factors and weather classes have been very beneficial to me. My human factors class has helped me work more effectively as a crew. These classes help build a basic foundation of knowledge and skills that I have been able to build upon with my flying experiences.
Other ways the college and/or Purdue provided preparation and assistance
Purdue has provided me with amazing experiences to help prepare me for the aviation industry. Over the last year, I have become a better pilot as I have flown as a copilot on our jet flying trips for the university. Our aviation program also has many student organizations and opportunities for networking. As a member of the Purdue flight team, I have been able to learn, compete, and make many connections in the aviation industry.
Thanks go to:
- Tim Johnson and Ken Raver, two teachers and Beechjet captains that I flew many university trips with, for teaching me not only flying, but also how to be a professional aviator.
- All of the flight instructors at Hangar 6, including Larry Gross, Bernie Wulle, and Mitch Grundman.
- My original flight instructor and mentors from my home airport who helped encourage me and gave me opportunities in aviation.
- My family for supporting my dream and encouraging me to do my best.