At ATP.Academy, our goal is to find, educate, and involve top-tier instructors in the aviation field. To teach ATP-CTP courses, instructors must meet strict requirements, including holding Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), flight instructor with Instrument Rating (CFII), multi engine instructor rating (MEI) certificates and having at least two years of experience with a U.S. airline under Part 121. Our team includes many experienced and talented instructors, and we’re proud to introduce them to our current and future students. The first instructor we’re featuring is airline pilot Joel Simpson, an A320 captain at Spirit Airlines.
Joel’s Pilot Career Path to Airlines
When and why did you decide to become a pilot?
“It’s a funny story. My first flight was a family vacation to Orlando, Florida, in 1993 when I was three years old. As we were exiting the aircraft, I ran into the cockpit. The captain welcomed me warmly, lifted me onto his lap, put his hat on my head, and let me touch all the buttons while answering all my questions. That experience was deeply memorable and made me realize that being a pilot, traveling, and exploring places as part of my job would be the coolest thing ever. So, I’ve wanted to be a pilot since I was three, and every career day at school reaffirmed my dream.”