Flight Training - June 2023 - 23

PREFLIGHT FIVE QUESTIONS
BY JULIE SUMMERS WALKER
BRUNO BRASILEIRO
FLY WITH BRUNO
BRUNO BRASILEIRO SAYS HE GOT THE
aviation bug when he was just 5 years old,
growing up in Brazil. But he was never
able to pursue his dream until he moved
to the United States in 2015. On July 4,
2017, he took his first flight in a friend's
Piper Cherokee. " That day, something
flipped in my mind, and I decided that it
was finally time to pursue my childhood
dream. Being a foreigner, I had to go
through a rigorous TSA background process
and lots of paperwork. But in January
2019, I finally went to a flight school at
Republic Airport (FRG), Long Island, New
York, and took my very first flying lesson. "
He works in advertising in New York
City, so his lessons were confined to
weekends. After five months, he had his
private pilot certificate. " It took 30 years
for me to finally go after my dream, but
the wait was worth it. It's the best thing
I've ever done in my life. "
He purchased his Grumman Cheetah-the
N number said 4U and he took
that as a good sign-and started posting
on Instagram and YouTube. His followers
enjoy his positive attitude and helped him
name his stuffed cheetah, which sits on
the glareshield at the right seat. He's called
" Mars " (as in the singer Bruno Mars).
How did you get started in aviation?
I always dreamed about being a pilot.
Growing up in Brazil, I realized that pursuing
a career in aviation wasn't for
everyone, so I chose a different one:
advertising (my career to this day). Even
so, the love for flying never left me, and
I spent my entire childhood, teenage
years, and adult life reading, studying,
watching, and absorbing anything and
everything related to aviation.
Favorite aircraft? My Grumman AA-5A
Cheetah. My airplane has taught me so
much: maintenance, avionics, safety. It has
made me a better pilot, and it took me so
many places. In 2022 alone, I logged 174
hours, visited over 20 states, flew over
3,500 nautical miles, and created memories
that I'll never forget. Most important,
it allowed me to bring along family,
friends, and people that I care about.
Favorite aviation-related activity?
Sharing my journey with other pilots and
aviation enthusiasts, with the goal of motivating
more people to pursue their dream.
I'm fascinated and humbled by the number
of messages I receive from people all
over the world saying that following me
has motivated them to start in aviation.
LOGBOOK
WHO: Content creator
Bruno Brasileiro
" Fly With Bruno "
HOURS: 550 hours,
375 in N9984U
RATINGS: Private
pilot certificate with an
instrument rating.
EXTRA: " When I
started my Instagram
account and my
YouTube channel, I
simply wanted to share
my journey with others.
After a few years, I
realized I was doing
more than just sharing;
I was inspiring. "
@flywithbruno
flywithbruno1@
gmail.com
Photography courtesy of Samuel Delgassi
Biggest challenges? I struggled with
crosswind landings. I would get several
right, but then I'd mess up, get yelled at
by my instructor, and it would shatter my
confidence for weeks. One day I drove
home thinking aviation wasn't for me, and
that I should give up. But if your passion
is big enough, you find a way to make it
work. When you find yourself in smooth
air, looking at a beautiful sunset while
listening to the roar of your Lycoming
engine, you realize that those challenges
are minor compared to the joy of flying.
Advice for students? Never let the
struggles or challenges you'll face during
training get bigger than your dream of flying.
Find a CFI you bond with and become
friends with. It will make all the difference
in your training, and in your flying.
julie.walker@aopa.org
FLIGHT TRAINING JUNE 2023
23
JOSH COCHRAN
Flight Training - June 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - June 2023
