From SWAT Officer to Corporate Jet Pilot: Josh Schirard’s Career Change
Two decades in law enforcement, 13 years on SWAT, then a fresh start. How Josh Schirard became a corporate jet pilot.
Josh Schirard spent two decades in law enforcement, including 13 years on SWAT, before walking away to start over as a pilot.
In Episode 356, he walks Justin through every step, and shares the mindset that has made him one of the show’s most thoughtful guests.
- 01How skydiving pulled him back into aviation
- 02His honest take on ATP flight training
- 03How SWAT decision-making overlaps with crew resource management
- 04Building time as a jump pilot instead of a CFI
- 05Landing a first corporate job through networking
- 06Why the gap between personal minimums and comfort zone should grow
Back to aviation through skydiving
Skydiving drew Josh back into aviation after years away. He trained with ATP and shares what went well, what was hard and what he would do differently.
From SWAT to CRM
Josh connects SWAT decision-making to crew resource management, and why those skills carried over to the cockpit.
Building time without instructing
He chose to build time as a jump pilot rather than go the CFI route, and landed his first corporate flying job through networking.
Minimums and comfort zones
Josh explains why he is keeping his options open about the airlines, and why he believes the gap between personal minimums and your comfort zone should be expanded.
Josh Schirard
Josh Schirard is a corporate pilot flying the Hawker 800 and Lear 60, a professional skydiver with the REMAX Skydive team, and author of the upcoming book Burn Your Boats.
Frequently asked questions
What does Josh Schirard fly?
He flies the Hawker 800 and Lear 60 as a corporate pilot.
Can you build flight time without becoming a CFI?
Josh built time as a jump pilot instead of instructing.
Is it too late to become a pilot after another career?
Josh changed careers after 20 years in law enforcement and now flies corporate jets.
