Michael Gagliani
St. Thomas, VI (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal
SkyHawk Excursions
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Startup
Location:
St. Thomas
Industry:
Transportation
Year Founded:
2011
Number Employees:
1-10 people
Business Stage:
Creation/Idea
Entity Type:
Not Incorporated
Description:
Since before that fateful flight by Icarus, humankind has been mesmerized with the idea of flight. Whether for military purposes, or business advantage, or scholarly research, or simply the desire to look down, flying is a romance, an adventure all its own
In this day of the bean counter, a good case can be made for learning to fly. If time is money, then .... well you know the routine. But flying is more than that. It develops an appreciation of the beauty of the planet; an awareness of its fragility; knowledge of its geography and thus an insight to an area's historical and economical significance.
If the purpose of education is the mental and spiritual growth of the individual, flying presents an unique opportunity. Consider viewing a sunrise from 3,000 feet ... or seeing humpback whales swimming with their young.
And for the bean counters, in a world without borders, it is important to understand what aviation and the aviator can and cannot do. How can the military leader, the captain of commerce, the scientist, the teacher be truly effective without insight into the Twentieth Century's greatest achievement?
Leaning to fly is a real-life education. It develops and continually hones decision making skills. It teaches awareness of the physical world ... its dangers and its beauties. And learning to fly enhances the maturation and seasoning process. It is the salt and pepper of life.
I first started flying at 19 years old, but the urge to fly started much younger. Two years old was the age I told my mom I wanted to become a pilot. I took an introductory flight on 10/13/2006 in a Cessna 172 (N86VB).
My flight instructor, Shawn gave me my first flight lesson at Ace Flight Center located here on St. Thomas. It was hands on from the get go, starting the engine, taxing to the runway, then once cleared for takeoff. Shawn said “You have the controls”.
Full throttle, then at 60 kts we floated off the ground into the air. Yes, it's the feeling of flight that always excites me. But like most things in life, it costs money, and lots of it. 150 an hour was and still is a pricey tag to pay.
I have been able to log 33 hours of flight and ground instruction so far with my goal of obtaining a commercial pilot's license.
After obtaining a commercial pilot license I would then operate and manage a Cessna 172 seaplane for charter and sightseeing tours based on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.