KEARNEY – Fila Yusuf clearly remembers the moment that sparked his passion for aviation.
He was about 5 years old when his mother took him to an airport, giving him his first up-close look at airplanes and flying.
“Ever since then, I have been in love with aviation,” Yusuf said.
Now, the Grand Island native is turning that childhood interest into a career at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
A senior studying aviation with an emphasis in professional flight, Yusuf is on track to graduate next spring, with plans to eventually become an airline pilot.
“This career path is tough, yet it is also extremely rewarding,” he said. “Getting to travel the world and get paid for it sounds more like a vacation than a job. We also get to constantly challenge ourselves by flying into new environments with ever-changing weather and conditions.”
There’s a strong demand for airline and commercial pilots, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 7% growth in the profession over the next decade. The annual salary for these positions can easily exceed $100,000.
Those are great selling points, but it’s the actual act of flying that Yusuf enjoys most.
“You are literally floating through the air,” he said. “That feeling is so surreal, and it will never get old to me.”
Yusuf chose UNK because it offered the combination he was looking for – affordability, proximity to home and a campus that was the right size for him.
Once he arrived, he found another reason to appreciate the university’s aviation program.
“The biggest strength of UNK’s aviation program is the selflessness it embodies,” Yusuf said. “The faculty and instructors have always provided us with unique opportunities to grow as students, pilots and instructors. Aside from that, we have received countless hours of tutoring outside of class. They have always put us first as students, and it has left a huge impact on me.”
Yusuf is already paying it forward as a flight instructor for the new Loper Flight Academy, where he helps fellow aviation students sharpen their skills.
Launched last month, the academy is fully owned and operated by UNK, giving the university greater control over flight training, safety, scheduling and costs. It uses a fleet of seven Tecnam P-Mentor aircraft based at Kearney Regional Airport and serves UNK students pursuing professional pilot careers as well as community members interested in earning pilot certificates.
Yusuf primarily works with beginning students, guiding them through the early stages of flight training.
“What I enjoy the most about my role is seeing my students develop and gain confidence in themselves,” he said. “The habits and decision-making skills they form here will aid them for the rest of their careers, and it’s an honor to play a part in that.”
His leadership extends beyond the cockpit, as well.
He serves as president of Alpha Nu Aeronautica, a campus organization for aviation students. The group has more than 30 members and offers tutoring, mentorship, guest speakers, trips and other activities designed to create a stronger sense of community within the aviation program.
Its mission is straightforward: Create better people, pilots and professionals.
“Flight training can be tough and lonely sometimes. We want to ensure that every student has a support system,” Yusuf said. “As president, I try to find exciting new opportunities and benefits for our members as well as represent the organization at large.”
After graduating, Yusuf plans to remain with the Loper Flight Academy until he reaches 1,500 flight hours, then pursue his next goal – flying jets for a regional airline.
PHOTOS BY ERIKA PRITCHARD, UNK COMMUNICATIONS
