August 16, 2022 New Horizons

The Liberty Gazette

August 16, 2022

Ely Air Lines

By Mike Ely and Linda Street-Ely

After becoming empty-nesters, William Bartz and his wife, Katie, of Mont Belvieu, looked forward to more freedom, especially travel. So, when William was laid off from his job in oil and gas, it seemed the perfect time to get serious about learning to fly. He wasted no time starting his journey to a new career as a professional pilot. Within two months, William earned his private pilot certificate, a major accomplishment. He has already taken the written exams for his instrument and instrument instructor ratings; he's on a fast-track at ATP flight school at Ellington, a great place to learn to fly with a variety of air traffic – military, corporate, occasional airline, students, and NASA. 

His schedule is intense, studying and flying seven days a week. It’s been a while since he was in school, so the challenge is exhilarating. He feels sharper, engaging his brain to such a degree. And William’s no slouch. With a mathematics degree and a background in finance and business development, he’s done a fair amount of learning. But this is new and different, and he’s giving it all he’s got. 

“There’s so much to learn about flying,” he says. “Like the illusions of night flying. They’re real! Learning to land at night is completely different. And weather. I look at the sky and find myself analyzing what’s happening in the atmosphere. I have names for what I see now that I hadn’t known before. And I was surprised to learn that even here in Southeast Texas, where it’s hot, there can be ice at higher altitudes.”

He’s fascinated by flight. Aeronautical engineering has captivated his sense of wonder. When he considers a certain part of an aircraft, such as the pitot tube, he wonders, how did someone think of that? Imagine inventing a way to detect air pressure and provide a read-out instrument, so a pilot knows the altitude of the aircraft. These are the kinds of things William contemplates with awe. 

All the firsts are amazing. “The first time I took off,” he adds, “my first landing, first solo, I thought, ‘I just did that! I can do this! Why not?’” He can see his skills improving, and it’s incredibly satisfying to grease a landing. Especially if it’s in a crosswind. And it has led to increased confidence. 

He’s looking forward to being in control of a large jet aircraft, to having a career that depends fully on his performance, and now he knows he can do it. His end goal is a career that will allow him and Katie to travel. While that may be an airline job, William is open to the options. Besides, he owes her a trip to Italy, after that snafu on their honeymoon when they landed in London, with his passport expiring in less than six months.

“But,” he laughs, “a more immediate goal these days is flying an airplane with air conditioning.”

Here’s to the exciting journey ahead, William. May your new horizons be full of blue skies.

 

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