LIFT Pilot Q&A – Jacqueline Lux

It was always on Jacqueline Lux’s bucket list to learn to fly, so she tried it and quickly fell in love. Jacqueline always loved to travel and knew she did not want an office job. She pursued her love of flying when she joined LIFT in our very first class in September 2018. Jacqueline enjoyed both her time as a LIFT student and an instructor and felt her time at LIFT Academy really prepared her for preparing to take her Airline Transport Pilot Certificate test and eventually flying the line at Republic.

Take-off checklist questions:

• Favorite overnight city?
  • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
• Dream airport to fly into?
  • Sint Maarten (SXM)
• Favorite plane flown?
  • E175
• Dream plane to fly?
  • Cirrus Vision Jet
• Hardest rating to achieve?
  • Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate
• Favorite airport meal?
  • Caramel macchiato from Starbucks
• Role model?
  • Megan Rapinoe

Question: What made you want to be a pilot? What drew you to aviation?

Jacqueline Lux: I love traveling and did not want an office job. I also love trying new things and challenging myself. Learning how to fly was always on my bucket list, so I tried it out and fell in love.

Question: When were you a student at LIFT? Instructor?

Jacqueline: I was a student from September 2018 and officially graduated in October 2020 with my MEI. I began instructing in January of 2020 and finished my ratings while I was instructing.

Question: What was your experience like as a student? Instructor?

Jacqueline: I had a great experience as a student. I had a different instructor for each rating and learned so much from each of them. Instructing was so rewarding, I loved working with my students.

Question: What made you excited to go to Republic to fly?

Jacqueline: Learning how to fly the jet, going to new places and shooting new approaches, all while getting paid to do it!

Question: What was training at Republic like? Did you feel prepared?

Jacqueline: Training is intense, but LIFT prepared me well. There is a huge learning curve going to Part 121 (commercial airline), especially with no prior experience. There’s nothing that can prepare you for learning new procedures and skills, like crew resource management, but everyone in Republic’s training department wants to see you succeed and I felt very supported.

Question: How did your education at LIFT prepare you for flying the line at Republic?

Jacqueline: We have similar checklists, procedures and call outs. The glass cockpit and the G1000 are a huge advantage as well.

Question: Did you feel like you had an advantage compared to others in your class because of your training at LIFT Academy?

Jacqueline: Absolutely. There were aspects of training that I didn’t have to put as much time in to studying and could invest my time into other topics.

Question: What tools did you rely on the most during your training at Republic?

Jacqueline: Flashcards. Studying with classmates. Working out when stressed.

Question: What is it like to be a commercial airline pilot? What are your favorite parts?

Jacqueline: Flying is still flying.  It’s just more professional and more fun. I love living in my base and not having to commute. One of my favorite parts is visiting new cities that I’ve never been before.

Question: What do you have to look forward to in your career as a pilot?

Jacqueline: I’m looking forward to upgrading to Captain!