Episode
Ep. 102: He Spent $25,000 Just to Get His Medical
- Podcast
- Pilots Say What?
- Published
- Mar 20, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3079
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://rss.com/podcasts/thrustflight/2645543
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Summary
What happens when the path to becoming a pilot gets way harder than expected? In this episode of Pilots Say What?, Zach talks with Mike, a Thrust Flight student who went from working as a pilot scheduler at American Airlines to pursuing flight training full time. Mike shares how a past DUI led to a brutal FAA medical process that took over two years and cost him around $25,000, why he still refused to quit, what private pilot training was really like for him, and how faith, pressure, setbacks, and stage checks shaped his journey. This is a powerful episode for anyone wondering if flight training is still worth it when the road gets hard. If you’re thinking about becoming a pilot, taking a discovery flight, or starting your training, this conversation is for you.