A Clear Path for Career Changers

Everyone’s path to a career in aviation looks different. While many start flight training right after high school, many pursue opportunities in other fields before deciding to make a career change. Thankfully, for those career changers, LIFT Academy^® provides a clear and accelerated path to make the switch. To detail how LIFT can set you up for a successful career in aviation, we talked with Bailey Hough, LIFT graduate and Assistant Chief Instructor at LIFT Academy.

The Journey

Like many pilots, aviation is in Bailey’s DNA. Bailey’s dad worked for General Electric (GE) Aerospace, and he instilled his love for planes in his children by taking Bailey and his twin brother to airshows around the country. Despite that, aviation was not Bailey’s initial career choice.

After receiving his undergraduate degree in Intelligence Analysis from Indiana State University, Bailey planned to further his education through a graduate program until the COVID pandemic put those plans on pause. That’s when a colleague, who also worked as a flight attendant, reignited Bailey’s love for aviation by bringing him along on trips.

It was then that Bailey knew aviation was the career path he wanted to pursue. The only question that remained was which flight training program he would train with. After some research, he found himself on the phone with LIFT Academy, and within a month, he had started his flight training.

Bailey ultimately decided to train with LIFT for a few key reasons. As a career changer, LIFT’s accelerated nature was a big draw, as he knew he could earn his ratings in approximately 12-18 months. An even bigger consideration was LIFT’s defined career pathway to Republic Airways.

“One of the best things about LIFT is its career pathway,” said Bailey. “I always knew what was next and what I was working toward. I didn’t have to worry.”

The Next Steps

After just 14 months, Bailey had earned all of his ratings — and did so at the top of his class. That meant it was time to focus on getting his 1,500 hours, and luckily for him, LIFT offers different time-building pathways: working as a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) at LIFT, flying for Brickyard Connection or building flight time with our newest and fastest route to 1,500 hours, Bridge Air.

Bailey opted for the CFI route, as he really enjoyed his experience training with CFIs during his time at LIFT.

“It was a great option for me, because not only did I get to work with students, but I was able to consistently build flight hours at the same time,” said Bailey.

Being able to regularly build flight hours is critical for anyone who wants to become a commercial airline pilot efficiently. Earning an income while doing so is also crucially important, which only further cemented his decision.

Now working as Assistant Chief Instructor at LIFT, Bailey helps ensure the curriculum at LIFT is maximizing students’ potential. He also plays an important part in our culture of support.

“With LIFT’s path to Republic, there’s a real chance the people you fly with at LIFT are people that you’ll fly with later on,” Bailey explained. “It makes the culture at LIFT all the more meaningful, because we really do try to uplift and support each other.”

The Parting Advice

When asked what advice he had for anyone considering changing their career to become a commercial airline pilot, Bailey had this to say:

“Scary as it seems, sometimes you just have to chase your dreams. And if your dream is to become a pilot, LIFT is a great place to make it happen.”

Bailey also had this to share for LIFT students:

“Remember why you are here,” he said. “Everyone who comes through LIFT intends to become a commercial airline pilot, and it’s important to stay grounded in that purpose.”

Learn how you can start your path to becoming a commercial airline pilot at flywithlift.com.