Eric Johnson with Avro in the hangar at Minneapolis Airport preparing for escape slide training in 2005
Almost a quarter of a century after leaving Western Michigan University as a Lee Honors College graduate with a degree in aviation flight science, Eric Johnson is still in a learning mode.
Like almost every newly minted college alumnus with the ink still wet on his diploma, Johnson figured either he knew it all, or at least he was close.
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But after five-plus years as a first officer for the former Mesaba Airlines and now as director of training products for FlightSafety International, there is always more to learn, and that's the way he wants it.
Johnson with his wife Katy and daughters Laura and Rebecca during a sailing trip taken during their Maine vacation in 2022
The path to becoming a pilot was "just down the road" for the 1995 graduate of Battle Creek Central High School. Western's main campus was a short drive westward to Kalamazoo and its aviation program would eventually be based in his backyard, so to speak, at what is now the Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field.
Since childhood, Johnson dreamed of becoming a pilot and seemed to perpetually look toward the sky. "Extended family members were interested in aviation," he says. "My Dad was an officer in the U.S. Air Force. We had many conversations, and went to air shows and museums."
Where to transfer his dreams to reality was a no-brainer. "WMU was the place to earn a high-quality education in aviation," he says. "It was -- and still is -- well connected with internships, and has a reputation for producing outstanding pilots and aviation professionals, all the while providing a comprehensive college experience." The latter was important to Johnson. Highly musically inclined, Johnson played euphonium in the WMU Symphonic Band during his four years at Western. Most aviation-targeted institutions can't provide such horizon-expanding opportunities.
Johnson getting ready for a flight on the Challenger 604
One could say Johnson learned the "Western Ways" from the ground up. During his first three years, he "washed dishes and made hamburgers" in a residence-hall cafeteria -- an experience he described as "hard work" that also drilled in him some "teamwork skills."
More in line with his future career was being on the College of Aviation's flight-line service team shortly after the program's move to the Battle Creek site. "Someone had to put all of those planes away at night," he says. "It was a fun job being around the airport and the airplanes. Who wouldn't love that?"
Or love being a part of Western's competitive flight team -- the Sky Broncos. Johnson was a member of the 1998 squadron that finished first in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association's (NIFA) annual tournament. "That has helped my professional life in countless ways," he says, "networking, teamwork, pushing to constantly improve, how to compete. My teammates will be with me the rest of my career." Before joining Mesaba, Johnson was Sky Broncos coach Ryan Seiler's assistant and has since then served as a NIFA judge when Western hosts the regional competition
Johnson arriving in Eagle, Colorado in the Gulfstream G200
Before his Diploma Day in January 1999, Johnson had joined the college's squad of flight instructors. His first "student pilot," Steve Denomme, remains a good friend two decades later -- a testament to the Bronco Brotherhood of the Air. For 22 months, he guided scores of students in gaining their wings and schooled those who wanted to become flight instructors. That's where he learned the lesson of the teaching corps -- "It was a great opportunity to help others build their knowledge and skills," he says, "and, in doing so, I also sharpened mine."
Overseeing that sharpening with their professionalism, ability as relevant teachers, and commitment to the industry were the likes of: Tom Grossman, the current executive director of flight operations; Ron Sackett, who was coordinator of flight instruction upon his 1999 retirement; and Tom Deckard, who logged 30 years in the program before hanging up his wings as director of flight education. The latter two have been inducted into the college's Hall of Honor and qualify as Hall of Fame mentors. All three, as well as Seiler, he says, provided examples of how to be an effective teacher, responsible mentor, and effective, efficient professional.
Johnson and his wife, Katy, during their Montana vacation, enjoying some of their favorite activities: the outdoors, camping, hiking, boating, etc.
In November of 2000, all of that came into play when he joined Mesaba, then a key regional carrier aligned with Northwest Airlines and with a reputation for outstanding training and safety. "Western prepared me well to make it through its intense training," says Johnson who flew as a first officer until June of 2006. And none of it was a walk in the park -- or even a flight over the park?
"Those were challenging times in the aviation industry," he recalls. "Mesaba went through a series of expansions and contractions. There was little motion in the seniority ranks to move up the list, let alone upgrade to captain. I was fortunate to hold on to my job as friends and colleagues were furloughed. Still, it was a great job to gain experience in airline operations and do all-weather -- and I mean all-weather -- flying. I learned more as a first officer, gaining soft skills figuring out how to adapt to each captain's temperament, and how I could best perform as a teammate with the person sitting to my left."
When he donned a Mesaba uniform, he found a pair of friendly faces in Steve Oosse and John Christianson, who were his flight instructors at Western and were pilots for the regional. The Bronco Brotherhood of the Air came into play again in the form of Kevin Wiig and Jay Orwin, fellow members of the Sky Broncos flight team. Sensing that Johnson was seeking a new direction in his aviation career, the duo introduced him to FlightSafety International, which, at 26 locations in the United States and others around the planet, offers a variety of advanced and simulated training to professional pilots and aviation technicians.
First stop was as a FlightSafety instructor at the company's operations in Delaware -- specifically for two varieties of jets. In both a classroom and in simulators, he says, "my level of knowledge of aviation increased exponentially." That led to a promotion as a program manager for training tied to the Gulfstream G-200, a twin-engine business jet, at its Wilmington facility. The mission was to lead a team through the qualification process to become instructors and evaluators in the eyes of the Federal Aviation Administration and its European counterpart. That often took him to FlightSafety's simulator-manufacturing operation in Broken Arrow, OK, and a close collaboration with Gulfstream personnel.
Johnson building a Lego Jet with his daughter, Rebecca, who was 6 years old at the time
"This gave me the chance to begin my management and leadership career in aviation," Johnson says, "while still using my pilot skills and credentials." Similar training projects involved the Hawker 800, a mid-sized, twin-engine corporate aircraft, and the Global Express, a long-range business jet. He earned a type rating for each airplane and led teams of instructors from airlines, the military, and corporate aviation.
Johnson moved up the ladder again in 2014 when he became director of training for FlightSafety's learning center in Teterboro, NJ, which features state-of-the-art Dassault Falcons and a King Air 350. The center's program managers (his former position) operated under his purview. He kept his pilot skills up to date and filled in as an instructor when needed.
Johnson, who assumed his present duties on New Year's Day and has now attained ratings on eight species of business and corporate jets, says he enjoys witnessing the "aviation success stories of pilots and aviation professionals earning new ratings and going out to safely put their skills to use in the industry. It's great to see WMU alums come through our courses for their training. I went to school with many of them. They perform well and uphold the College of Aviation's reputation each time. Our instructors will comment how well a pilot did. It does not surprise me that it's a WMU grad."
He believes he's found his career niche -- "to provide the best training experiences to pilots that we can and to continue to find ways to make it even better. I never look at the clock," he says, "and never think -- when is this day going to end. That's because it is aviation and airplanes. There's plenty to be excited about. I get to help others in their aviation careers and I still fly to some cool places now and then." Like Honolulu, Paris, and all of the lower 48 states.
The Johnson Family enjoying a concert at Madison Square Garden. As New Jersey residents, the family enjoys NYC for events, museums, restaurants, and the city life
Earning each of those ratings is a challenge, he says, "but after a while it gets easier because of experience, learning from mistakes, and always pushing to be better. I realize I took a different path than many pilots, but I am happy with what I do. Persistence has been key. I remember having trouble with landings as a student pilot. Both my instructor and I were frustrated. Not giving up is the key. At some point, things just click because of effort, perseverance, and a willingness to put one's ego aside for the sake of finding ways to be better."
Whenever there is an opportunity to share advice about careers as a pilot, aviation technician or airport manager, Johnson becomes a Western recruiter. He shares stories about being a Sky Bronco and the competitions, being chosen to fly the college's new fleet of aircraft from the manufacturer, completing an internship with American Airlines in the summer of 1998 at the Dallas airport thanks to Western's connections with the industry, riding in the jumpseat of an American airliner bound for just about anywhere he wanted on a weekend, and being a part of the Symphonic Band's concerts in Miller Auditorium.
Johnson in front of the FlightSafety Teterboro, NJ Learning Center
He and his wife, Katy, share parental duties raising two daughters, Laura, 17, and Rebecca, 12. She earned her teaching degree from the WMU College of Education as a member of the Lee Honors College where the pair first crossed paths. When any of her high-school students show an interest in aviation, she becomes a recruiter as well.
From their New Jersey residence, the family enjoys kayaking, hiking, and camping. Woodworking and building model aircraft are Johnson's personal hobbies. As a Civil Air Patrol volunteer, he runs weekly activities for a cadet squadron, such as learning about aerodynamics, flying drones, and conducting high-altitude balloon experiments.
And, of course, there is perpetual learning. Johnson recently earned an MBA from Rutgers University with a concentration in analytics and information management. "Even pilots," he says, "should find ways to keep learning and developing outside of the flight deck."