Elizabeth Cook
Captain, PC-12
With PlaneSense, Inc. since 2021

Ironically, Covid brought me to PlaneSense. I had an entirely different plan for my aviation career when Covid hit, and that plan was almost instantly vaporized. Options were slim, and a knew a couple of people who had started at PlaneSense, so I decided to take a closer look.

There are a lot of reasons: the culture, the type of flying we do, the airplane itself…I could go on. I look forward to coming to work every week, and there’s a lot to be said for that.

Talk to the people who work here. Ask questions, be curious. It’s not for everyone, but if it’s for you, you’ll know very quickly. We work hard, so you must love what you do every day.

Be prepared to be flexible. The path to where you want to be is never straightforward. There will be plenty of unexpected twists and turns, and even setbacks, and you may discover along the way that what you thought you wanted isn’t what you wanted at all. Keep an open mind, and just keep moving forward. Enjoy the journey.

I started flying as a hobby in 2015 shortly after my father passed away. At the time, my goal was to earn my private certificate and buy a Piper Cub. However, once I started, I couldn’t stop, so I progressed through my instrument, commercial and CFI over the next few years. In 2019, I quit my full-time job at an IT market research firm to flight instruct full time, which is both the scariest and best decision I ever made. Covid created a big setback, but I earned my CFII in 2020 and kept instructing independently to build time. In summer 2021 I got the call from PlaneSense and haven’t looked back!

I don’t have much experience with aviation safety outside of PlaneSense, but one of the things that’s resonated with me is that management always has our backs. The few times I’ve had to call MPOD about an issue, I’ve always been told to just do what I’m comfortable with, and if I’m not comfortable, don’t do it. I think that speaks volumes. Of course, we want to get the job done, but getting the job done safely is our first priority, and I think that’s expressed and enforced by what we see from management.

We’re spoiled by the airplane. It’s really nice to be flying new, modern airplanes, and that’s a huge benefit!

I’m not sure I can put my finger on specifically what it is about the culture that I like, but it feels so much like a family. The pilots aren’t just numbers, we are known as individuals. I’ve made some fantastic friends during my time at the company, and I have a list of people I would really like to fly with (or fly with again). I suspect that the culture is going to be challenging to preserve as we continue growing, but it’s one of the best parts about the company.

The view is much better than cubicle walls!

The close-knit family aspect. Crews interact with one another both in PSM and on the road, and I, at least, enjoy running into other crews during the week and comparing and contrasting how things are going and our experiences. It truly feels like it’s a company of people who care about each other.

It’s predictable. I know a year out whether I am working on a specific day or not, so it makes it easier to plan around. Being away from home for 7 days can sometimes be tough, but the 7 days at home at the end of it are pretty nice. Plus, when vacation gets thrown in, it’s a full 3 weeks off.

The relative autonomy of it: we get an airplane and a schedule, and the rest is up to us. I really like seeing my day as a challenge, and it’s up to me to meet it.

That’s a tough question to answer. There are so many that are unique, but one of the things I love is bringing the airplane into a smaller airport that has a strong aviation community. It usually gets a lot of attention, and if there are any kids around and if we have time, I love letting them take a look at the airplane and answering questions. Places like EZF and JGG come to mind, and I’d also give my right arm to be able to bring the 12 into 6B6, the airport where I learned to fly.

Elk River in North Carolina comes to mind, as does Aspen, Colorado. But each airport has its unique challenges, whether it’s terrain, a high volume of training activity, a busy Bravo airport, tricky approaches, etc. Every destination is different, even if you’re headed there multiple times in the same day. It’s part of what makes the job interesting.

The PC12 is a ridiculously capable airplane. There’s not a lot that it can’t do, and it’s so much fun to fly. It’s an easy and forgiving plane to learn, and we get the privilege of taking it into some pretty unique airports where other similar aircraft may not be able to go.

I’ve had some really inspiring mentors here that I will always credit with having a hand in my success here at the company. I think that, more than anything else is the most memorable part of my experience here. I’ve definitely had fun overnights as well – Charleston, SC is at the top of the list – but it’s the people more than anything that make the experiences what they are.

I’m not sure there is such a thing as a typical week! Our schedule is always changing, and sometimes when you wake up in the morning you have no idea where you’ll be going to sleep that night. Every week is an adventure, and that’s one of the things I love about this job.

We are the face of the company to our owners and passengers. It’s up to us to make a good first impression when we meet them in the FBO and leave them with a lasting sense of being cared for when we bring them to their destination. It could be as simple as asking how their day is going, or making sure we have treats for their dogs, but also working with the FOC to arrange transportation alternatives if something goes wrong or we need to divert due to weather. I think the biggest thing that we do with regard to customer service is making sure our owners feel seen and heard and cared for throughout the entire process.