ARAS SIRVELIS

I started flying remote-controlled Super Cubs as a 12-year-old and watching real Cubs fly over my home near Merrill Field. By 16, I knew I wanted to fly the real thing.I enrolled in the King Career Center’s aviation classes during my junior and senior years in high school along with spending summers working at Rust’s Flying Services as a dock hand. I knew that I loved aviation and with the financial help of my family I began my private pilot lessons. My goal was to get my license by 1, and I pulled it off!Once again with the help of family members, we decided that it made more sense to buy Cessna 150 to use to build my hours toward a commercial license. Doing the math, it made sense at the time, but once I had that 150 in hand, the mechanical problems started showing up (as they always do).

I’d taken the plane to Pratt Aviation to fix the exhaust and some other issues. John Pratt let me watch and help his mechanic. I was hooked. Not only did I want to fly, I wanted to fix my own plane. As fortune would have it, John hired me as an apprentice during my last semester of high school.It was a perfect introduction to starting UAA’s aviation maintenance program. Apprenticing at John’s was an amazing opportunity. I was given excellent guidance by the mechanics, as well as a good deal of responsibility. I loved the work. I also continued to fly and work on my Cessna. I made numerous trips around Alaska. I realized that I wanted to fly and build planes.My current plan is to finish my A&P certificate, and start working towards my IA. Alongside the maintenance, I hope to finish up my instrument and commercial certificates in the near future.