# Ep. 102: He Spent $25,000 Just to Get His Medical

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/pilots-say-what-6865192/ep-102-he-spent-25-000-just-to-get-his-medical
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/pilots-say-what-6865192/ep-102-he-spent-25-000-just-to-get-his-medical.md
Podcast: [Pilots Say What?](https://stenobird.com/podcast/pilots-say-what-6865192)
Published: 2026-03-20T16:45:00+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/thrustflight/2645543
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/264230/2645543/thrustflight/2026_03_20_15_28_54_e768eb48-084b-4e98-bb33-83919a1a7f8f.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/pilots-say-what-6865192/episodes/ep-102-he-spent-25-000-just-to-get-his-medical
Duration seconds: 3079

## Resource

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.

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## Transcript

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