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.
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...
Our Role in this Time of Crisis
COVID-19 has done dramatic damage to our collective national health, and this highly infectious virus has absolutely obliterated years of progress to the airlines’...
Which Offer Should I Take?
If you’ve been observing the industry, you know that this is a great time to be a pilot. Pay, benefits and status are on...
The Joys of Returning to General Aviation
Airline pilots are of two molds; those who learn to fly in the military, and those who obtain licenses privately at flight schools or...
I’ve Got My Certificates, Now What?
I am frequently asked, “I’ve got my private/commercial/airline transport certificate, now what?” And I always think to myself, “Why are you asking me? Was...
Crew Resource Management Outside the Flight Deck
Crew Resource Management (CRM) is a concept familiar to all pilots. In Advisory Circular (AC) 120-51E, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines it as...
