Type Rated at 800 Hours: Building a Corporate Aviation Career Early
Ariel Johnson earned her Citation type rating at 800 hours while teaching students and finishing her aviation degree.
Ariel Johnson discovered aviation at Sun ’n Fun. By 800 hours, and before turning 21, she had a Citation type rating, all while teaching students and finishing her aviation degree.
In Episode 351, she tells Justin how she moved so quickly into corporate flying.
- 01Moving from private pilot to corporate jet operations
- 02What getting typed in a Citation is like
- 03Part 91 vs Part 135 flying
- 04Building time efficiently as a CFI
- 05How mentorship, networking and social media help
- 06North Carolina flying destinations like Wilmington and Oak Island
An accelerated path
Ariel went from discovering aviation at Sun ’n Fun to teaching students and flying corporate jets while still finishing her degree.
Getting typed early
She shares her experience earning a Citation type rating at 800 hours and the differences between Part 91 and Part 135 flying.
Relationships over shortcuts
Ariel credits mentorship, networking and genuine relationships, and talks about the role of social media in an aviation career.
Advice for training
She shares how to make the most of every rating, avoid common pitfalls and stay passionate through training, plus favorite North Carolina destinations like Wilmington and Oak Island.
Ariel Johnson
Ariel Johnson (@whiskeyflies) is a North Carolina–based flight instructor who earned a Citation type rating at 800 hours while finishing her aviation degree.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get a jet type rating with low time?
Ariel Johnson earned a Citation type rating at 800 hours.
What is the difference between Part 91 and Part 135?
Ariel and Justin discuss the differences between the two in this episode.
How can a CFI build time efficiently?
Ariel shares how she built time as a CFI while moving into corporate flying.
