Getting to fly in a plane isn’t something most of us can say we do on a daily basis. But for Drew Tatum, flying is a part of his everyday life.

Tatum, senior at Auburn University majoring in Professional Flight Management, is a flight instructor at the Auburn University Regional Airport.

Tatum’s job includes the training of private, instrument, commercial and multi-engine pilots wishing to receive their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot’s certificate.

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Tatum says that the best part of his job is being able to get a different perspective on how everything looks in the air.

“Being able to fly somewhere and get there in an hour instead of driving four hours to get lunch down at the beach is also a great perk,” said Tatum. “And being able to travel all around the nation by air is something everyone does not get to do often."

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According to Tatum, being a flight instructor enables him to learn something new every day. He says it’s also a good feeling to know that he is trusted with a half million to a million dollar machine.

Tatum says another great part of his job is getting to know people and spending a lot of time with them.

“Most people are very appreciative of everything you do for them,” said Tatum. “It can be very rewarding when the student passes their FAA check ride and receives their license and knowing it is because of you they were able to accomplish that task.”

Tatum is responsible for teaching all of the ground-based knowledge that every pilot is required to know, as well as flying techniques. He must make sure the pilot is able to perform all maneuvers safely and to a passing standard. He is also required to teach them about the systems of aircraft, the aerodynamics of aircraft, different types of airspace, how to read and interpret weather and how to read aviation maps.

“All of the FAA rules and regulations are an important, if not most important, part of learning to fly,” said Tatum. “You break any of them, and you can lose your license.”

Once a pilot is taught most everything on the ground and in flight, Tatum says his job becomes relatively boring. From then on, he sits in the right seat and can only critique on how the student can improve flying a particular maneuver of the aircraft.

“As a flight instructor, basically, I am more at risk of potentially losing my license,” said Tatum. “I am the pilot in command when I go up with anyone and am responsible for the safety and well-being of all students. If any accident were to occur, it would be my fault.”

According to Tatum, training new pilots can be dangerous, especially when teaching them to land.

“At any time, they could over control the plane and either make a destructive landing or worst case, crash,” said Tatum. “It is definitely a job where you have to pay attention to everything 100 percent of the time.”

On average, getting a pilot’s license costs between $7,000 and $10,000. The first step is to go to a certified Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) to obtain a medical certificate. To get a private pilot’s license, trainees must pass a written test and oral exam. They must also pass a flight test with an FAA examiner.

For more information, visit the Auburn University Regional Airport website at http://www.auburn.edu/administration/airport/.