Student pilot navigating career change receives $2,500 award
Brett Belingheri is the latest recipient of Sporty’s $2,500 Pilot Training+ Scholarship—an award he intends to apply toward completing his private pilot training as he navigates a career change to a professional pilot path. Belingheri grew up listening to stories of airplanes, told by his grandfather, who flew the B-24 Liberator in WWII. His interest in learning to fly was further inspired by his growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, near Nellis Air Force Base, where he attended air shows.
After Belingheri and his wife achieved success as small business owners in the Salt Lake City area, he began to question what the next chapter in his life might bring. With a helpful nudge from his friend, a pilot for Alaska Airlines, and with the support of his family, Belingheri made the decision to pursue a career as a professional pilot. He continues to balance his job in the family bakery business with attending flight school and managing his family responsibilities. Learning from his friend, a flight instructor at Ascend Aviation located at Skypark Airport (BTF) in Salt Lake City, Belingheri has accumulated more than 10 hours of training in the Cessna 152 and is headed toward the first-solo milestone.
“With a wife and three young children, making this kind of career change is a little scary. But after a lot of research and introspection, I think it will be worth it,” said Belingheri. “To make this happen, I'm planning on trying to get through flight training as quickly as possible, while staying out of debt and providing for my family.”
Belingheri is utilizing Sporty’s online Learn to Fly Course to complete his ground training and FAA knowledge test. He intends to transition into Sporty’s Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot Training Course as he progresses through his certifications. Ultimately, Belingheri wants to help others by becoming a certified flight instructor and sharing his passion for flying with his students.
Sporty’s Pilot Training+ is an all-inclusive membership that unlocks Sporty’s complete library of award-winning, video-based courses for one annual fee. Membership also includes the opportunity to apply for three $2,500 scholarships, awarded annually.
Subscribe to Sporty’s Pilot Training+ by visiting Sportys.com/PilotTraining.
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Brett Belingheri is the latest recipient of Sporty’s $2,500 Pilot Training+ Scholarship.
