Kristopher Olson
Kristopher grew up in an airline family including pilots, mechanics, flight attendants and air traffic controllers for major airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration. As a lifelong aviation enthusiast, Kristopher has always known that the flight deck was where he wanted to be. In his professional career, he has served as a flight instructor for his home-town flight school, captain and first officer for a CFR Part 135 charter company and ExpressJet Airlines. In addition to flying as a first officer on the Airbus A-320, Kristopher’s is a mentor with Professional Pilots of Tomorrow. Kristopher is an alumnus of the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.
The Pros of Being an Airline Pilot
The Perspectives column is meant to share insights into the piloting profession, from what goes into the decision to upgrade to understanding the resources available to...
The Upgrade Conundrum
A question that my non-aviation friends often ask is, “Are you the copilot or the real pilot?” This is something I am sure almost...
How to Get the Job
As I discussed in an earlier column titled, The Time is Now, airlines are hiring again! Almost all legacy, LCC, ULCCs and regionals have announced plans...
The Time Is Now
Very recently, I wrote a piece titled Uncertainty and the Airlines. That article discussed how cyclical this industry can be. It wasn’t meant to dissuade...
Why Do I Mentor?
The year 2020 began as any other for our industry, and like every downturn prior, our world is unexpectedly turned upside down. For those...
Professionalism through Reflection
In the 1980s, psychologist Ola Svenson conducted a study of drivers in Sweden and America. The drivers were asked to rate themselves relative to...
Uncertainty and the Airlines
Over the years this column has had many individuals share their points of view on a variety of topics such as making the best...
Contracts and Crisis
I want to express my sincerest sympathies to those whose careers are in turmoil due to this pandemic. This pandemic is unprecedented, and I certainly...
Let’s Talk Expectations
Many employees, investors and industry observers are wondering which airlines will falter as the COVID-19 pandemic ravages airlines. Name an airline and I am...
Is learning to fly still worth it?
The other day, Professional Pilots of Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to unbiased mentorship for which I volunteer, hosted a webinar on the state...
