With the ink not yet dry on his high school diploma, Freudy Gonzalez Castillo enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Little did he know that that decision would take him to far off tropical lands and friendly foreign nations. It would also lead him to the cockpit of an airplane as a professional pilot.
When a freshly enlisted Marine receives their orders, they could be sent to almost any corner of the globe. When Freudy read that he was to be stationed in Hawaii, he almost cried tears of joy. Stationed there for four-years Freudy was able to take advantage of island living, and the bustling economy that revolves around tourism. One of those activities was skydiving, something Freudy always wanted to try. It became his new passion, and he has to-date completed 300 jumps.
Still, skydiving only satisfied part of his fascination with the sky. As a young boy he scratch built airplanes out of cardboard, all of which would “faceplant into the ground.” The desire to fly was always present. As soon as his tour in the USMC was complete, Freudy returned home to MA (a decision he still questions having spent four years living in a tropical paradise) and signed up for flight lessons at his local airport. From the outset, he had professional ambitions in mind. As soon as he had his Private Pilot completed, he enrolled in a full-time flight training program. He completed all of his training at a blistering pace and is now a CFI, CFII, and even an MEI.
His credits his time in the USMC for enabling him to train so quickly for his pilot certificates. The discipline, sense of responsibility, and ability to focus on a singular task for hours on end all contributed to his success to date, and should no doubt play a role in his future as well.
That fast paced training environment has inspired Freudy to take a slightly different approach with his students. “When you fly with an instructor that is just focused on getting the hours and getting you through, with an attitude of pushing, pushing, pushing, it can suck the fun out of flying.” He wants his students to progress and realize their goals but also be able to look around, take in the sights, and enjoy the process of becoming a pilot. “The more fun you have, the more you will learn.”
Welcome, Freudy to Horizon. We are lucky to have you with us!