Airline Industry Advisory Board
Our mission is to provide the best pilots our airline partners will hire.
The Thrust Industry Advisory Board is a group of active senior airline pilots, from check airmen to DPEs, who advise Thrust students. Graduating students can meet a board member to review their resume and get time-building advice.
In order to accomplish this, Thrust developed our Industry Advisory Board, consisting of active senior airline pilots currently working in the industry. Ranging from check airmen to DPEs, these airline pilots are some of the best in the industry, and their experience and advice is available to all Thrust students.
At any point when a student is about to graduate from Thrust, they have the option to schedule a meeting with one of our board members and go over their resume, receive best practices to implement during time building, and exchange contact information to stay in touch during their time building.
Students that go on to instruct with Thrust have access to this resource throughout their time-building.
Patrick Arnzen
Patrick Arnzen is the CEO and founder of Thrust and the only advisory board member not currently flying for an airline. Patrick flew as an airline pilot until 2010, holds an A&P with IA, is a DPE, and started Thrust in 2012.
As the CEO and founder of Thrust, Patrick is the only member of our Industry Advisory Board that is not a current pilot active in the airlines. Patrick flew as an airline pilot until 2010, is an A&P with IA and a DPE.
In 2012 Patrick started Thrust, accomplishing his long-time goal of opening a flight school. Patrick continues to fuel his passion for teaching at Thrust.
Joe Johnson
Joe is a DPE and a senior captain at a legacy airline. Joe conducts many checkrides at Thrust and works with our Chief Flight Instructors to continually refine our curriculum, helping us make small adjustments to improve results. Joe often spends time teaching and advising students of Thrust about current industry trends and status.
Bill Peterson
Bill Peterson is a former check airman and senior captain for a legacy airline and a Designated Pilot Examiner. Bill has worked with Thrust students for several years, and many of his former students have reached the airlines.
Bill was a check airman and senior captain for a legacy airline and a Designated Pilot Examiner.
Bill has been working with Thrust’s students for several years and has seen many of his previous students make their way to the airlines.
Tres Cushing
Tres is a senior captain at a legacy airline and has been involved with Thrust for over 5 years. Tres works with students from Thrust’s CFI Academy and is our multi-engine assistant chief instructor.
Wally Pitts
Wally Pitts is a former Senior Captain, Aircrew Program Designee, and Check Airman who flew B787s worldwide during 45 years of flying. Wally works part time in the Thrust CFI and CFII programs and mentors students and instructors.
Wally had been flying for 45 years and was a Senior Captain, Aircrew Program Designee and Check Airman flying B787’s worldwide. Wally is entering his third year of affiliation with Thrust.
He works part time in the CFI and CFII programs as well as advising and mentoring students and instructors at Thrust to help them achieve their career goals.
Talk to someone who has flown it.
An admissions advisor can answer the questions this page did not, and tell you which start date is realistic.
Talk to an advisor→