MODG Junior Jacob Croix is working to get his pilot license when he turns 17 in April, and he hopes to fly for FedEx.

When did you first become interested in flying airplanes?

I’ve always been interested in airplanes, but I was around 12 when I realized, “Hey, I might be able to actually fly someday.”

How did you first become interested in flying airplanes?

I have a few pilots in my family, so it’s always been a big interest of mine to fly, but this one particular day showed me that this is what I would want to do with my life. It was in Spring of 2015, I was on vacation visiting my Uncle, who had his own plane and was learning to fly. His instructor, a family friend, took my family and I to Cooperstown NY, to see the Baseball Hall of Fame, and he let me fly part of the way back. I booked my first lesson a couple of months after that day.

What interested you the most about flying?

The ability to control an aircraft at 100+ miles per hour and at several thousand feet in the air. To be that high above hundreds to millions of people at one time is what makes flying so fun for me.

What is your favorite thing about flying and why?

Landing. Although being high above the ground is fun, the complexity of the approach to landing is my favorite part of flying.

What are the requirements for obtaining a pilot’s license?

For the Private Pilot License (the license that I am trying to get), you have to be 17 years old; have 40 hours of flying time; be able to speak, read, and write in fluent English; have a third class medical certificate, which expires every 60 months; pass the written knowledge test with a score of 70% or better; complete an in-flight test with an examiner from the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA).

How far have you gotten in the procedure for obtaining a pilot’s license?

My 17th birthday is in April, so that is what is keeping me from getting my license. I have around 85 hours at the time of this interview, which is over twice the required amount. I have a third class medical certificate, and I will be taking the written test shortly. Since I’ve been flying for so long, I’ve been able to space out the requirements, which has made it a lot easier.

What are some of the benefits of having a pilot’s license?

In general, having a pilot’s license makes it easier for people to travel places in a lot less time. For me the main benefit when I get my license will be that I can fly friends and family places.

What do you plan on doing when you have your pilot’s license?

My career goal is to become a cargo pilot for FedEx. After I get my Private Pilot License, I will start working on my next rating, which I can obtain at 18 years old. I would like to obtain all of my required ratings and get a job with FedEx at around 24 years old.

What are some of the benefits from this kind of job?

In general, most people who get jobs as pilots will get paid very well. Those that are just starting with a company will have to work almost every day of the month, but the pilots that have been with the company for 10 or more years can work as little as 10 days a month. For me, the best benefit is that I would get paid to fly an airplane, which I think is more fun than work.

What advice would you give to someone who was trying to get a pilot’s license?

Study hard, research the cost of training, and most importantly, make sure that flying is something that you will want to do for a long time. Flying is supposed to be enjoyable, so be sure that you will enjoy it before spending all of your time and money on getting a license.