Driving an Air Ambulance

I have always loved aviation, but began a career in IT to support my growing family. In 2011, the corporation I'd enthusiastically worked for and invested in for nearly 6 years announced a company wide outsourcing of the Technology department. Thankfully, the outsourcing company hired me, but the transition was awkward at best; I began contemplating a return to college to pick up where I left off years ago.

I graduated from the local Junior college with Associate degree's in Computer and Electronics Engineering.  I worked my way through college the hard way- as a young husband with a baby on the way. By the time graduation rolled around, I was offered a job and decided to take it and work on a Bachelor's degree later. Baby number two was on the way not long after that.

After the outsourcing announcement it was time to go back to school and complete a higher degree.  As I researched what to major in and what college to attend, I wanted to find a job that suited my love of adventure, made a contribution to the comunity and had a low probability of being outsourced.  One of the plans discuessed was for me to work on a degree in Avation Management and learn to fly helicopters; I later decided that I ultimatly wanted to be a pilot for an air ambulance service.  I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I am ready to do what is needed to provide for my family.  

Learning to fly is expensive, but my wife, Ashley, and I discussed every option we could think of as to how best provide for the family.  We prayed and struggled on what was the best decision for our family.  Finally, after much consideration and many late night talks and worry sessions after the children had been tucked in, we decided that the aviation degree and learning to fly was what we wanted. 

At the start of 2012, I began collge classes and flight lessons.  Neither was particularly easy, but I worked hard to ensure everything got done.  I was very busy with my full time job, my family, school work and helicopter school.  I flew once a week and had a two hour drive to the helicopter school.  There were many bumps in the road.  The school's helicopter was involved in an accident and was totaled.  Flight training has taken longer than expected, but my focus, passion and desire to provide meaningful service to the comunity never waivered.

In 2013, my third child was born and introduced to an excited older sister and brother. This last pregnancy proved dangerous to both mother and baby. Ashley was on bedrest and in and out of the hospital. It was determined finally that baby and mother both could no longer continue the pregnancy safely, and so in mid-April the baby was delivered by C-section a full month early, weighing a scant 3 pounds.  After a very full examination, he was declared healthy, but small!  It was a blessing.  I stopped flight training to be home to take care of my family.  Every day, I walked past the hospital's helipad and through the emergency room. While sitting in the NICU and holding this impossibly small little human, I began to really consider my future.  This is when I knew I wanted to fly Air Ambulance.  As an air ambulance pilot I would be helping injured people get to the life saving facilities they needed.  

After I get my commercial pilots license, I will have to build hours and gain experience flying.  I will have an array of jobs before I will meet the common qualifications to be hired by an air ambulance provider, but getting my commercial license is the first step.  This first step is what I need help with.

I want to help people and communities by being able to help transport injured people as part of an air ambulence crew or support fire fighters that combat the frequent wildfires.  I am getting close to graduating and my ability to get student loans for flight school will end.  Please help me continue my path in becomming a helicopter pilot and enable me to help our comunity.

Thanks, 
Ryan