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Portland, Ore., November 13, 2006 – Former Young Eagle Michele Ewing is living her dream as a pilot for Horizon Air, pursuing a passion that began in high school and lifted off with the help of the EAA Young Eagles program.
Ewing’s interest in aviation started the summer before high school, when her family visited Washington D.C. She loved the National Air and Space museum and wanted to be a Navy fighter pilot. During Ewing’s junior year of high school, she applied to all branches of the military, but reluctantly was rejected due to a childhood injury. With that news, she started looking for colleges with great aviation programs.
At the same time, Ewing’s father, a state employee, introduced her to Jeanne McPherson. McPherson works for the Montana Aeronautics Division. She suggested attending an FAA sponsored ACE camp, which introduces young poeple to all types of aviation careers.
”I went up in a hot air balloon, attended wilderness survival training and went on my EAA Young Eagles flight. I was hooked, and Jeanne did all she could to help feed my love of aviation until I moved away to college,” Ewing said.
McPherson would travel around Montana conducting EAA Young Eagle flights with Ewing alongside, supporting her dream until she entered her first year of college at the Helena (Mont.) Community College completing general education credits while living at home.
During the fall of 1998, Ewing moved to Grand Forks, N.D., to attend the University of North Dakota, receiving a $500 scholarship from the Montana Pilots Association. By May 2001, after finishing her classes and flying year-round, Ewing obtained a Bachelors degree in Business, majoring in Aviation Management and had earned her Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate as well.
Ewing later moved to Phoenix, Ariz., with her husband and started instructing for the University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation while earning her Certificated Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) and Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) certificates.
”I learned so much from my students and had a great time in Arizona,” Ewing said.
In March 2004, Piedmont Airlines hired Ewing as a first officer where she stayed for about a year, commuting to Roanoke, Va., flying the Dash-8 100/200/300. Ewing is currently a first officer flying a Dash-8 400 with Horizon Air since April 2005.
”I was so happy at Horizon that my husband and I moved to Portland, Ore., where I am based [doing great.] I get to fly to Montana regularly and enjoy seeing my family often,” Ewing said.
She has considered working for a major airline, but hasn’t set her sights on any one in particular seeing as though she loves flying in and out of Montana.
”I have received a lot of help along the way from many sources. I would credit my parents and Jeanne with encouraging me that my dream career was possible. The EAA Young Eagles flight was amazing. I hope millions more kids will get the joy of experiencing their first flight.”
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Michele Ewing was a Young Eagle before she became a first officer for Horizon Air in 2005.
Ewing started instructing at the University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation before she landed as a first officer with Horizon Air.
Ewing has flown a Dash-8 100/200/300 and currently flies a Dash-8 400 aircraft.
For More Information
Horizon Air
Montana Aeronautic Division
University of North Dakota
Montana Pilots Association
CFI, CFII, & MEI
Piedmont Airlines
Dash-8 400
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