Something that most frustrates me in the aviation industry currently is that lack of knowledge and professionalism in young instructors. I care about this deeply as the kids my age that I have flown with seem unattentively to this matter. The impacts of the lack of knowledge and professionalism is poor training, unpreparedness, and a possible accident that could happen in the future. Using my education in mechanical engineering, I could help developed a better way of gaining knowledge, especially in regards to aircraft systems and as for professionalism; help produce key warning signs in regards to unprofessional attitudes. Throughout my time in going to flight school in just getting my private pilot license and instrument rating, I have had over 15 instructors. From the list of those instructors, only 3 I can say were amazing. They talked to me in a professional attitude, explained things clearly, and were knowledgeable in all fields of aviation. All the other instructors were unprofessional by seeming lazy, uncooperative, unknowledgeable, and not willing to give proper instruction. In regards to the bad instructors, one thing that specifically frustrates me the most was they were unwilling to do VFR or IFR flight planning and then actually fly on a VFR and IFR flight plan with me. I asked them why and they said "I just don't want to do it, we can use VFR Flight Following as it will be easier". From those descriptions, I learned they just did not care and were lazy. In regards to aircraft knowledge, only the 3 good instructors I did have were knowledgeable of there systems and were the best way I learned about the aircraft I was flying. For the bad instructors, they never really taught me anything about aircraft systems. The impacts that can result from lack of knowledge and unprofessionalism can be very devastating. When my instructors were teaching me they left very important things out so I mostly had to learned things myself. This lead to very poor training. This also made it to were I was unprepared for many things but luckily I learned a lot teaching myself to make sure I was safe. Something that I do fear currently with these new young pilots is that they do lack knowledge and professionalism and if they do start flying for an airline I am afraid they may cause an aviation accident sense most aviation accidents are caused my pilot error. Something I may be able to help fixed this is by creating a new system maybe even a requirement that instructors must go through and extensively learn about aircraft systems to able to teach there fellow students effectively. Now I know there are books and websites to helped learned these things, but I think I can get to complex for some people and I think some hands on learning would be beneficial to everyone. In regards to professionalism, I think companies that hire young flight instructors should pay more attention to there instructors and watch out for unprofessional attitudes. They should have certain aspects in place if an instructors is not performing there duties in an professional manner. There should be things in place that have key signs for unprofessional attitudes. The current generation instructing right now is of great concern. I care about this deeply as these could be people that I fly with someday in an airline. The impacts of lack of knowledge and professionalism create a bad working environment. As for the impacts, they affect the students and there could be a possible accident in the future.

The dream version of my future self is to become a professional airline pilot for FedEx.

When I found a passion for aviation it was the best day of my life. I also have a great passion for many things and one of the reasons why I am going to college. There are many things I had to do to get here and much more that I must do to keep going. Based on my situation, I think I have to work harder than others since I do not have as many tools as my other colleagues. I plan to explain myself to the best of my ability, what got me interested in aviation, and what I had to go threw to exemplify leadership qualities. My name is Benjamin Conner Kilgore. I am currently at Mississippi State University pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. I would say I am selfless. I find making others feel better makes me also feel good. I am also a work smarter not harder type of guy. How I got to my degree was my interest in designing and building those designs using a 3D printer. I believe I was 15 years old when on Christmas day, my parents got me my first ever 3D printer, an Ender 3 pro. I was also into shotgun shooting sports such as trap, skeet and sporting clays. I went off to win 18 awards. I am also a former Civil Air Patrol cadet. The highest rank I was able to achieve was a cadet Senior Master Sargent. During my time in CAP, I went to two encampments. I also became a part of the Color Guard for my squadron and also became its Aerospace NCO (none commissioned officer) for a little while. Now, before all of this was the spark that led me to my interest in aviation. I got my interest in aviation when I went on my first flight. The special part about this flight was it was my dad who took me up on my first flight in a Piper tri-pacer our friend has and still flies to this day. I was 12 years old when my father took me up and when I was up there I finally realized what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to be an airline pilot. As of writing this I just got my private pilot's license on June 3rd and I am one step closer to my goal. I also have a drone license that I flew commercially for a company in Memphis I just could not fit it in here. The flight with my father sparked my entire interest in aviation. Aviation became my passion since that day. I feel I exemplify leadership qualities based on my actions and performance. In CAP they taught us what and how to be a leader. I remember them saying, "Leaders are not born, they're made". I strived to maintain those words by becoming the Aerospace NCO for my squadron and also becoming a part of the MSWG cadet advisory council. I also learned great leadership skills being a drone pilot for the company I flew a drone for in Memphis. I lead by example so that others may look up to me one day. I wanted to maintain what was required of me. There is still so much I wish to say about myself. My interest in aviation is what led me to everything I have gone threw. Lastly, I exemplify leadership by leading by example. I wish I could describe more about my life. This tells a little about me, how I got interested in aviation, and how I exemplify leadership qualities.