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Pilot to Pilot

Justin Siems

Pilot to Pilot is the podcast for anyone who flies — or dreams about it. Host Justin Siems sits down with airline captains, bush pilots, CFIs, and everyone in between for honest conversations about the path to the cockpit, the grind of the career, and the love of flying that keeps us coming back. Whether you're a student pilot chasing your first solo or a captain with 20,000 hours, there's a seat for you here. New episodes weekly.

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  • 24 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 1 hr 5 min
  • English

Episodes 24

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  • S1 · E349
    January 16 · 55 min

    E349: Building Time as a CFI: Luke's Journey from ATP to 900 Hours

    In this episode, I sit down with Luke, a flight instructor based in Utah who's currently at around 900 hours and grinding his way toward the airlines. Luke shares his experience going through ATP Flight Training in just 8.5 months, the reality of being a CFI without the guaranteed job he expected, and how social media helped him land his current position as chief instructor at a flight school in Provo. We discuss the challenges of building time in today's aviation environment, the pros and cons of the ATP route, and what it's really like to be in the trenches as a CFI. Luke opens up about his ultimate goal of flying for Delta, his concerns about being an aviation influencer while job hunting, and the valuable lesson he's learned about building relationships in this industry. Whether you're currently grinding toward 1,500 hours, considering flight training, or just finished your ratings, Luke's honest perspective on the realities of early career aviation will resonate with you. This is the grind—unfiltered and real. Topics covered: Why Luke chose ATP and if he regrets it The hidden costs and realities of accelerated flight training Finding CFI work without the ATP guarantee Building time through aerobatics and upset recovery training Balancing social media presence with professional aviation career The importance of mentorship and networking in aviation

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  • S1 · E348
    January 13 · 1 hr 24 min

    E348: Nick Fialka's Unconventional Path and Interview Secrets

    Not every pilot's journey starts with dreams of flight—some begin with a challenge and a bottle of Eagle Rare bourbon. In this episode, we sit down with Nick Fialka, captain at a major airline, host of the Ready for Pushback podcast, and interview coach at Spitfire Elite. Nick's path to the cockpit is anything but conventional. From attending The Citadel (not exactly known for churning out pilots) to flying helicopters in the Navy, then leaving it all to build a successful RV park in Florida—Nick thought the airlines weren't in his future. That changed when a retired Delta captain rolled into his RV park with a $700,000 rig and convinced him over whiskey that he belonged at 35,000 feet. We dive deep into what it really takes to land a job at a major airline in today's market. Nick pulls back the curtain on the interview process, sharing the mistakes that sink applications before they're even read, the logbook disasters that cost pilots their dream jobs, and why spending $600 on interview prep for a $22 million career is the easiest decision you'll ever make. We also tackle the reality of aviation's boom-and-bust cycles, what the 2026 hiring landscape looks like, and why even the most senior pilots need to keep one eye on their next move. Whether you're building hours at a regional, prepping for your first major airline interview, or just trying to figure out if this career is right for you—this conversation is packed with real talk and actionable advice. Plus, Nick shares why leading with empathy beats canned answers every time, and how your attitude might matter more than your flight time.

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  • S1 · E347
    Dec 15, 2025 · 29 min

    E347: Fractional Pilot vs Airline Pilot

    THE PILOT TO PILOT MAGAZINE HAS LANDED!!!!! Thirteen articles + thirteen companion podcasts. Read. Listen. Share. Thinking about making the jump from fractional to the airlines—or wondering which path is right for you? In this episode, I break down my personal experience going from flying the Citation Latitude at a fractional operation to flying a 737 as a major airline pilot. We cover the real pros and cons of each career path: the seven-day work weeks and FBO life of fractional flying versus the "turn left and you're done" simplicity of airline operations. From quality of life changes after becoming a parent to the grind of short-call reserve, I try to give an honest, no-holds-barred comparison of both worlds. Whether you're chasing Garmin avionics and owner interactions or looking for longer overnights and schedule predictability, this episode will help you understand what to expect from each side of the professional pilot world. Topics covered: Quality of life: 7 on 7 off vs. airline scheduling Customer service and crew dynamics The reality of short-call reserve Making the decision that's right for your family

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  • S1 · E346
    Dec 9, 2025 · 44 min

    E346: Inside Microsoft Flight Sim 2024 with Jorg Neumann & Sebastian Wloch

    Podcast Title: Building the Ultimate Flight Simulator: Inside Microsoft Flight Sim 2024 with Jorg Neumann & Sebastian Wloch Podcast Description: Join host Justin Seams as he sits down with Jorg Neumann (Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator) and Sebastian Wloch (CEO of Asobo Studio) for an in-depth look at one of aviation's most influential training tools. Discover how Microsoft Flight Simulator has evolved since its 2020 release, with groundbreaking additions like career mode, wake turbulence simulation, and photorealistic graphics that even fool experienced pilots. In this episode, Jorg and Sebastian share behind-the-scenes stories about: Working with real test pilots from Boom Supersonic, Red Bull Air Race, and Boeing The painstaking process of achieving 99.9% realism in atmospheric lighting Simulating complex airport ground operations with thousands of moving parts How Flight Simulator inspires the next generation of pilots (an estimated 50% of all pilots started with the sim!) Partnerships with manufacturers like Boeing for virtual airplane training programs The future of flight simulation as a legitimate pilot training tool Whether you're a seasoned pilot, aspiring aviator, or passionate sim enthusiast, this conversation reveals the incredible dedication and innovation behind the game that continues to spark the aviation bug in millions worldwide.

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Showing 21–24 of 24 episodes