麻豆传媒

His Attitude Matches His Altitude

Sunny outlook, solid flight plan keep this professional pilot on course to his goals

Evan Vazquez brightens any room he鈥檚 in. Outgoing, polite and always stylishly dressed, his huge smile radiates confidence and warmth.

Looking at him today, as he begins his senior year as professional pilot major in 麻豆传媒's College of Aeronautics and Engineeering, you鈥檇 never know that as a freshman, he considered himself quite shy.

Evan Vazquez at an Alpha Sigma Phi Holiday gathering

Finding His Voice

Vazquez credits joining a fraternity with helping him overcome his shyness and gain confidence.

鈥淚 came in not thinking I would join a fraternity and ending up joining Alpha Sigma Phi, and that was probably the best decision I made at college,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 where I really flourished.

He said that being part of the fraternity helped him 鈥渙pen up.鈥

鈥淚 would definitely say I鈥檓 not as shy. I definitely enjoy taking more risks or raising my hand or getting more active in my classrooms,鈥 Vazquez said. 鈥淒uring my first semester here, I discovered a lot about myself and who I am as a person, where I want my career to go and who I want in my life. So: growing up.鈥

Evan Vazquez in the cockpit

鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to be a pilot.鈥 鈥 Evan Vazquez

He Always Had an Eye to the Skies

Growing up, his family would regularly fly to Mississippi to visit his grandfather. Vazquez looked forward to these trips every year, particularly the flying part. As he got older, his interest grew.

鈥淚 first noticed Evan鈥檚 interest in flying and becoming a pilot when he was around eight years old,鈥 said Michael Vazquez, Evan鈥檚 father, a battalion chief with the City of Cleveland鈥檚 Fire Department. Evan Vazquez's mother is a nurse at the Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital.

Evan Vazquez with his mother, sister and father at his sister's wedding

Evan Vazquez with his mother, sister and father at his sister's wedding.

鈥淲e were going to New York City to see the Macy鈥檚 Thanksgiving Day Parade. He booked the flights and told us about the planes we were taking. During that trip, we went to F.A.O. Schwartz, and he wanted all of the Playmobil airplanes and airport models,鈥 said Michael Vazquez.

Living in Medina, Ohio, Evan Vazquez said he was very lucky to have an airport close by. He earned his private pilot certification when he was a senior in high school.

鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to be a pilot. There was never really another career choice for me. I was born to do it,鈥 said Evan Vazquez.

A video recorded by Evan Vazquez during one of his flights.

 

鈥淎s a parent of a Kent State student, I believe Kent State was a great choice for Evan.鈥 鈥 Michael Vazquez.

Michael Vazquez said he and Evan visited San Jose State and Bowling Green State University to look at the flight programs. They had planned to visit Kent State, but the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic derailed that plan.

Evan Vazquez with an aircraft at the 麻豆传媒 Airport

For Evan Vazquez, the choice was always between Kent State and Bowling Green. He said that each had its pros and cons, but Kent State was his first choice.

鈥淚 kind of always leaned toward Kent because their aviation program is No. 1 in the state, so that is definitely a big factor for me,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey also are very involved with the Delta Propel program and the STEP program, so that also encouraged me to go here.鈥

In Delta Airlines' Propel Collegiate Pilot Career Path program, the airline will interview, help train and recruit high-quality pilot candidates among Kent State students who meet the program's eligibility requirements. STEP, or Student to Endeavor Pilot, is a program from Endeavor Air 鈥 a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Airlines. The STEP program engages with flight students throughout their educational career, helping them navigate the steps required to join the Endeavor Air team.

An image of downtown Cleveland, captured by Evan Vazquez during a flight

An aerial view of The Flats in Cleveland, captured by Evan Vazquez during a flight

Kent State鈥檚 location, relative to his home in Medina, also influenced Vazquez鈥檚 choice.

鈥淚t鈥檚 only 50 minutes, so if I want to go home, I can,鈥 he said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 still far enough that I can get my freedom and stuff.鈥

鈥淎s a parent of a Kent State student, I believe Kent State was a great choice for Evan. He has not only progressed in his field, but as an adult as well. Living on, or near, campus he has learned to budget not only his time, but also his finances,鈥 said Michael Vazquez, who also noted the appeal of the campus, the city of Kent and ongoing improvement of the pilot program. 鈥淭he program just received a grant to purchase six new aircraft that will upgrade the program and allow it to offer more flying hours,鈥 he said.

A Tik Tok video, created by Evan Vazquez shows highlights of some of his flights

The Years Fly By

As a soon-to-be-graduating senior, Evan Vazquez looks back at his time at Kent State and a pilot program he says he would recommend to anyone.

鈥淚 love flying. I can talk it about it for hours and hours,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 would say to come here because their program is really, really good. You work a lot with the Federal Aviation Administration and with the other airlines. The program prepares you with the most knowledge they can give you. It very much prepares you for the real world."

Vazquez loves his time in the air and acknowledges that it鈥檚 an important part of Kent State鈥檚 program.

鈥淵ou get so much experience,鈥 he said. 鈥淢y favorite thing was when I did an eight-hour flight. I flew to Syracuse, New York, by myself, which was very exciting and a lot of fun, very challenging, but it definitely pushed me, and it was just so much fun.鈥

A photo taken by Evan Vazquez during a flight

鈥淚t gives you a different aspect of the world.鈥 鈥 Evan Vazquez

鈥淲hen I go flying, I have the best time,鈥 Vazquez said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think about anything else. You get to see a lot of stuff; I鈥檒l drive roads and then I鈥檒l fly over. I think that鈥檚 so cool. Flying is very freeing, and it gives you a different aspect of the world, seeing over the ground. It鈥檚 so cool to me. If you have that passion for it, then go for it, see what it鈥檚 about, give it a try.鈥

As the semester begins, Vazquez said he is excited about commencement.

鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy to think I was a freshman four years ago and now I鈥檓 getting ready to graduate,鈥 he said.

He continues to build upon his flying skills and is working on his multi-rating, which is about learning to fly a two-engine aircraft as opposed to the single-engine aircraft he has been flying up to now.

鈥淔lying a two-engine is a lot different, so this is a course I looked forward to,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 challenging, but it has really upped my skills.鈥

A photo taken by Evan Vazquez during a night flight

A photo from one of Evan Vazquez's night flights

It's All About the Hours

The airspace on the way to becoming a professional pilot is filled with hours. Pilots are required to complete a certain number of flight hours to be considered for different positions in aviation. Vazquez even moved closer to the 麻豆传媒 Airport so that he might pick up extra flying time on short notice.

A screen capture from Evan Vazquez's phone, showing the path of his flight

A screen capture from Evan Vazquez's phone shows his flight path from Kent to Toledo.

To become an airline pilot, Vazquez said, he will need 1,000 flight hours. He鈥檒l graduate from Kent State with 250. So, how do pilots accrue those valuable hours? Vazquez said that he can think of about 15 different avenues someone could take, from being a flight instructor, to a pilot for parachute operations to working in aerial photography or a becoming a pipeline patrol pilot.

After graduation, Vazquez is looking at applying for a position as a pipeline patrol company in Texas. In an entry-level position with the company, he can continue to accrue those valuable flight hours.

鈥淎nd then eventually, I think it鈥檚 at 500 hours, I would be an official pipeline patrol pilot,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd then it鈥檚 just getting those hours to get to the airlines. I鈥檒l need 1,000 flight hours.鈥

Evan Vazquez holding his Kent State flight certificate

鈥楧efinitely Don鈥檛 Get Discouraged鈥

The lessons Vazquez has learned as a pilot have helped him to better handle the ups and downs in all areas of his life.

鈥淒efinitely don鈥檛 get discouraged,鈥 he said. 鈥淲ith flying in general, and with any college you go to, there are going to be peaks and valleys. It鈥檚 how it is.鈥

鈥淪o, I鈥檝e always reminded myself, it鈥檚 anywhere and everywhere you go, the setbacks 鈥 it鈥檚 join going to happen,鈥 Vazquez said. 鈥淏ut for me, it鈥檚 about being confident and to just keep going, don鈥檛 stop. Just keep going.鈥

Evan Vazquez taking a photo with his phone
POSTED: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 03:30 PM
Updated: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 02:46 PM
WRITTEN BY:
Phil B. Soencksen