Meet Dillon Jackson, the 23-year-old Bajan pilot who followed his aviation dream as a child and is now fully living out what once was just a childhood fantasy. The Barbados native takes us on a journey through what sparked his initial interest in the career, and how his passion has manifested today. With COVID-19 changing life as we know it, Jackson shares some of what’s going on behind the scenes of his “essential service” job. If you’re questioning a dream or your current career, this interview may provide some incentive.
CARIB VOXX: You once stated in a heart-warming post on Instagram that it was a simple visit to the flight deck as a child that made you want to become a pilot. How old were you at the time?
JACKSON: I remember it like it was yesterday, I was 4 years old and we were on our way to Disney World for a family vacation. As we got on board, I was looking at all the buttons; full of intrigue when I managed to capture the Captain’s attention, he was a fairly charismatic guy. After conversing with me a bit about the controls, he allowed me to sit in his seat. As I sat there in total awe, I knew from that very moment what I wanted to do. It was an American Airlines 757 aircraft.
CARIB VOXX: How important is it to have courage as a pilot right now in the midst of a pandemic?
JACKSON: A genuine love for my job is one of the main reasons I show up to work, not just throughout this pandemic but every single day. Staying home is not an option for me especially since we’ve been deemed an essential service. Medical personnel & equipment need to be transported to battle the pandemic and they’re relying on us to be there and do our part. As crazy as it sounds, it’s the fulfilment of knowing that I am playing my small part in helping others gain accessibility, whether it be to a person or a piece of equipment to battle this pandemic.
CARIB VOXX: What encouragement would you give to the young pilots that have never had the opportunity to fly professionally; and are now seeing the volatility of the industry due to the global pandemic?
JACKSON: Currently, in the aviation industry, there is no doubt that we are facing unprecedented times. Statistically, we are seeing that this pandemic is worse than the 2008 recession & 9/11 combined but sadly not just this industry, almost every other industry is going through the same crisis. If you take a quick look at the recent history of aviation within the last two decades, it appears that on average of every 7-10 years, the industry takes a fall primarily due to some economic impact but it always comes back stronger with exponential growth and hopefully, this time will be no different. Needless to say, with the interdependence of industry there’s no such thing as indefinite job security so if being a pilot is genuinely what you want to pursue as a career, my advice would be to stay grounded and pursue it – follow your dreams. Do so however not with tunnel vision but be aware of what can happen in the mere blink of an eye. You can deal with the uncertain times in the moment.
CARIB VOXX: Being from Barbados, did you feel like the dream of flying professionally was a distant aspiration?
JACKSON: Initially I did but I’ve always had unwavering familial support and have always been encouraged to follow my dream. I can remember my first flight and the feeling of achievement it brought and amongst the many other emotions, the encouragement of my instructor. The harder I worked the more attainable I realized my dream could be. Not really having much advice/insight on a way to pursue this goal, I conducted research of my own, applied to an aeronautical University in Florida (Florida Institute of Technology) and looking back, I’d personally say It was one of the best decisions of my life.
CARIB VOXX: How has your culture equipped you with the discipline to fly professionally?
JACKSON: Culture is everything. Most people know the Caribbean culture to be very relaxed and laid back, that is until it’s time to commit and get something done. That’s honestly the most admirable characteristic of my culture; the simple ability to play hard, but when necessary, work even harder to achieve your objective. This concept is exactly what I apply to my work life. When I go to work, I understand there is no room for carelessness and error. I realize the company is entrusting me with a forty-million-dollar airplane capable of travelling at 500+ Mph with one main goal, that of getting passengers from point A to B as safely as possible. It is usually the balance between the stresses of work and my social life that allows me to maintain equilibrium to fly professionally.
CARIB VOXX: What can the Barbadian Government do to encourage more of their youth to explore the field of aviation as a career?
JACKSON: The first step would be to broaden the marketing of the career field to the youth. It’s time to break the old mold and try new, different and exciting fields. We’ve been encouraging the same careers in a quickly changing world for as long as I can remember.
The next crucial step would be to offer a financial assistance program to those students who are interested. The Aviation field is exciting and broad-based and not just limited to being a Pilot, they’re loads of other related employment opportunities which pay well.
Other than the above, I believe our aviation club (Barbados Light Aeroplane Club) could benefit from an injection of finance or equipment. It is already very modern and offers the youth a lot of opportunities such as discovery (introductory) flights, aviation open days which allow the youth to use simulators and lastly; experienced pilots giving modern advice on the industry and the correct steps in becoming an airline pilot.
To close, I believe the foundation is already in place, all that’s left is to build on it, and aviation in Barbados will soar to new levels.
