The Auto Pilot - Jamail Larkins

[P E O P L E and P L A C E SCatching Up with Jamail LarkinsThe Sky Is Not the LimitBy Amy Gray LightMost people don’t grow up to becomewhat they dream as children. If theyhad, the world might be filled withcowboys, spies and rock stars, withvery few accountants and public-healthofficials. Jamail Larkins is one of those rareexceptions, who at the tender age of 24,has managed to accomplish so much in hisdream field of aviation that upon lookingover his resume one would easily assume hewas decades older.The drive behind his achievements canbe summed up in one word: Passion.“For as long as I can remember, I’ve beeninterested in everything in the sky…my‘ah-ha’ moment came at age 10 when Iwent to Space Camp. I just knew flyingwas want I wanted to do from then on,” hesays.Not knowing anyone in the aviationfield was no deterrent for the youngster,who asked his dad for a Microsoft FlightSimulator computer game. Larkinspracticed for hours, learning to ‘fly,’ andvolunteered at Young Eagle airshows andnetworking events. He soloed at 14 in aCessna 172 in Canada when he couldn’t geta waiver to fly at that age in the U.S., andat 16, he soloed in a Cirrus SR20 in theU.S, becoming the first student pilot everto solo in that aircraft.Today Larkins is a commercialinstrument-rated pilot with 1,280 hours offlight time in 36 different types of aircraft.He doesn’t have any trouble staying currentwith approximately 300 hours a year.30 The AutoPILOT | Florida October/November 2008

“The tour has been more successful than I ever imagined, andit’s really motivational.”— Jamail LarkinsLarkins received an Aviation Business degreefrom Embry-Riddle University in 2006. Heis president of Ascension Aircraft, a leasingand sales company that currently owns 10piston and turbine-powered GA aircraft,with plans to expand in the future. Larkinsserves as special assistant to the presidentof the NBAA, on a variety of governmentaffairs and industry outreach projects.In addition, he is chairman of the Boardfor Careers in Aviation (CIA), workingwith President Judy Rice to grow CIA’sscholarship endowment and educationaloutreach initiative. Larkins has also beenthe national spokesperson since 2001for the nonprofit. He is currently anFAA Ambassador for Aviation & SpaceEducation, traveling the country on theDream Launch Tour—a program thathe helped create as an introduction forstudents to aviation career opportunities,aviation youth programs, and scholarships.CIA is one of the major sponsors of theDream Launch tour, now in its fourthyear. Through direct presentations, thetour reaches between 25,000 to 30,000students each year, with many morereached through media efforts that promotethe aviation industry. “The tour has beenmore successful than I ever imagined,and it’s really motivational,” Larkins says.“Our main goals are three-fold: to educateyouth about career opportunities; educatemainstream America about the benefits ofthe aviation industry; and encourage othersto go after the impossible to make theirdreams a reality.”Asked what advice he offers the studentshe meets, Larkins replies, “To work hard.To never give up, especially when thingsstart to get tough. To surround yourselfwith mentors who can help provide advice,and to surround yourself with likemindedindividuals.”Larkins knows people hear about thecrises in the aviation industry through themedia, yet he is in the unique situation tomake a difference. “We will have a workforce situation down the road when 27percent of our work force becomes eligiblefor retirement at the end of 2008, whichmeans we need to be more proactive ininteresting young people to a field theyaren’t as exposed to as they could be, or thatdon’t know this field is a viable option forthem,” he says. “The programs we promotecounter this thinking.”There isn’t much Larkins hasn’t achievedin his aviation goals, but he still has plans,including an MBA at Embry-Riddle,dreaming of a next-level multi-engine pilotrating, flying trips to Africa and China, andeven participating in a private commercialspace flight.Over the years, Larkins has even beenfortunate to meet aviation notables:original members of the Tuskegee Air Men,and John and Martha King, owners of theKing Schools, one of the most successfulpilot training organizations in the country.“They’re probably the most recognizedand influential people in the industry,” hemarvels.Larkins shows us that the sky doesn’thave to be the limit. He continues to provehimself as a role model, inspiring youngand older aviators everywhere to pursuetheir dreams. QThe AutoPILOT | www.autopilotmagazine.com31