Three Surgeries, Multiple Rejections, One Dream: Jake Tishman’s Road to the Airlines
An autoimmune disease cost him the Naval Academy and nearly his airline career. A320 captain Jake Tishman on resilience and gratitude.
In this Thanksgiving episode, A320 captain Jake Tishman tells Justin about a decade-long fight with an autoimmune disease that kept threatening his goal of flying for an airline.
It cost him a spot at the Naval Academy, put him in the hospital during college and flight training, and led to several surgeries. He kept going anyway.
- 01Being medically disqualified from the Naval Academy
- 02Finishing instrument through CFI and CFII in 5.5 months
- 03Taking medical leave from a first airline job
- 04Working in corporate aviation after airline rejections
- 05Appreciating small victories
Setbacks from the start
The disease led to Jake’s medical disqualification from the Naval Academy, then multiple hospitalizations and surgeries during college and flight training.
Fast training, slow road
Jake finished every rating from instrument through CFI and CFII in 5.5 months. Later he took medical leave from his first airline job, faced rejections and flew corporate before joining his current carrier after nearly giving up.
Perspective
The conversation is about resilience and gratitude, down to appreciating having the energy to get out of the car. There’s also some Ohio State vs. Florida State football, corporate aviation perks and chasing seniority numbers.
Jake Tishman
Jake Tishman is an A320 captain who fought an autoimmune disease for a decade on his way to the airlines.
Frequently asked questions
Can you become an airline pilot with a chronic illness?
Jake Tishman fought an autoimmune disease for a decade, including surgeries and medical leave, and is now an A320 captain.
How fast did Jake Tishman finish his ratings?
He completed instrument through CFI and CFII in 5.5 months.
