Professional Aviation has always been a dream of mine. Growing up in Nicaragua, that dream seemed like an impossibility. There are no Nicaraguan airlines. There is one flight school in Nicaragua with a total of 5 airplanes. But with a family income of $50 per week, training there was not an option. I dreamed as a child I would someday be a pilot, but the natural response to my dream was disbelief from the people around me. I continued to dream in silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2012 I met a family of missionaries from the US. They sponsored me for short-term visitor visas to visit them in the US. I was on one of those short-term visitor visas in 2020 when COVID hit. I was not able to return to Nicaragua. They renewed my visitor visa as needed and I began training as a Private Pilot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After receiving my Private Pilot Certificate in 2021, they transferred my visitor visa to a student visa. I continued my training and received my Instrument Rating in December 2022. With further study, I received my Advanced Ground Instructor Certificate in February 2025. I later completed the training and obtained my Commercial Pilot Certificate in March 2025. In September of 2025, I received my Certified Flight Instructor Certificate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am an active member of various aviation communities. I am a member of EAA, WNC Air Museum, WNC Pilots Association, and Pilots for Christ. I enjoy hearing from more experienced pilots to help me be a better pilot and to allow me to share what I have learned with others. Pilots for Christ has asked me to write my story to use in a book of inspiration for others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am a 2nd Lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol. I am a Transport Mission Pilot, Mission Observer, and a Mission Scanner. I take the cadets on their Orientation Flights. I can ferry aircraft for the CAP. I can fly in the right seat on search and rescue missions handling communications and navigation. As a part of the Civil Air Patrol, I hope to inspire young cadets to follow their dreams despite any hardships they may face.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was honored to receive a grant in 2023 from the Western North Carolina Pilots Association. In 2024, I was honored to receive another grant from the Western North Carolina Pilots Association, called the Mal Beckham Jr. Memorial Grant. The grant is named in memory of long-time local pilot and aviation enthusiast, Malachy Beckham Jr. I hope to be able to honor his memory in the future, giving back to help other aspiring young pilots. Also in 2024, I was honored to receive a scholarship from the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA<\/em>), based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. I am so thankful for all of these people for believing in me and helping me on this journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is through God\u2019s grace and the generosity of many people that I have been able to achieve the goals I have already achieved. This flight has had its share of turbulence, but I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead of me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phone: 828-450-8698<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My Story Professional Aviation has always been a dream of mine. Growing up in Nicaragua, that dream seemed like an impossibility. There are no Nicaraguan …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-12","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilotmichaelortiz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilotmichaelortiz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilotmichaelortiz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pilotmichaelortiz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pilotmichaelortiz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/pilotmichaelortiz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60,"href":"https:\/\/pilotmichaelortiz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12\/revisions\/60"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilotmichaelortiz.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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WNC Aviation, LLC
Certified Flight Instructor<\/li>\n\n\n\n
WNC Aviation,LLC
Commercial Single Engine Land Rating<\/li>\n\n\n\n
WNC Aviation, LLC
Advanced Ground Instructor<\/li>\n\n\n\n
WNC Aviation, LLC
Instrument Single Engine Land Rating<\/li>\n\n\n\n
WNC Aviation, LLC
Private Pilot Single Engine Land Certificate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nLanguages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Full Professional Proficiency<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Native Proficiency<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nExperience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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June 2018 \u2013 December 2019
I was a personal driver for a distinguished individual in Nicaragua. Maintained his vehicle. Ensured safe transportation from his residence to various locations across Nicaragua.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
July 2014 \u2013 December 2019
I contacted the rental company and made the arrangements for housing for the teams coming into Nicaragua. I secured our rental cars for each trip. When special needs arose, I worked with the missionaries in the US to take care of those needs. I did all of the driving there in Nicaragua for the teams. I was the guide and interpreter for the teams. I worked alongside of the teams in ministry and serving in the various communities. After teams left, I followed up with the communities that were served.
I worked in my community in Nicaragua providing soccer shoes and balls to all of the young people who wanted to play. I was a “big brother” to many of the young boys in my community, giving advice and encouragement for their daily lives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nContact Me<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Email: Michaelortiz0314@gmail.com<\/a>
Address: 15 Sales Farm Drive, Asheville, NC 28803 USA
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com\/in\/michael-ortiz-853942347\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n