Senior Tiscareno navigates his way to earning pilot license

By Claire Regenstreif
Staff Writer

From playing with a flight simulator to flying through the sky, senior Vinny Tiscareno has been working toward his pilot license since he was 15 through the Santa Monica Airport.

In order to receive a private pilot’s license, one must complete 80 hours of flying practice, pass written tests and complete a check ride, which is a driving test for airplanes. This license allows a pilot to fly himself or herself only in a small aircraft with one engine.

“Aviation is my passion; I’ve always wanted to fly for a commercial airline ever since I was a kid,” Tiscareno said. “I decided to pursue my private pilot’s license early on in high school to get a jump start on my desired career.”

Tiscareno has currently completed 30 of the 80 hours needed to receive a private flying license. He plans to fly the remaining hours after graduation so that he may earn his private license. He also hopes to become a major airline pilot after graduation, which requires the completion of 1,500 flying hours.

“I naturally wanted to follow in my family’s foot steps, as my mom worked for United and my grandpa was in the air force,” Tiscareno said. “I learned a lot about flying from them.”

Tiscareno flies about once every two weeks and attends Airport Transport Pilot Flight School. At ATP, he earns ratings that regulate the types of planes and conditions in which he can fly. ATP also trains students to become flight instructors. Tiscareno plans to become a flight instructor in the United States before pursuing a professional career.

“I’m lucky to be a part of the flight school because they are partners with many different regional airlines that I would be interested in,” Tiscareno said.

Tiscareno has attended flight camps at Los Angeles Airport and in Long Beach where attendees learn about flight history and use flight simulators. He was a member of the Civil Air Patrol where he would work at air shows and other aviation and military-related events. According to Tiscareno, these camps have assisted him on his journey to becoming an aviation pilot.

“Everything that I know about airplanes was self taught,” Tiscareno said. “I was confident in my ability to fly even before my first real flight where I had control of the aircraft, which was in 2012.”

In the future, Tiscareno plans to fly for a regional airline, then become a commercial pilot for American or United airlines.

“I have always wanted this to be my career for as long as I can remember, and being close to achieving it is the best feeling,” Tiscareno said. “At the end of the day, the worst thing about flying is ending the flight and having to leave the aircraft.”