Fascinated with planes as a child, Kevin Kern, senior vice president, marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc., fulfilled a childhood dream to become a pilot, earning his pilot’s license about 12 years ago. As kid he had the opportunity to travel, which opened his eyes to flying as a sport. Since then Kern has been flying on and off, sometimes with friends and family, exploring different places in the United States.
The furthest he’s flown is northern Maine, which is about 3 hours each way, and has taken family and friends to Cape Cod where he would drop them off to visit family. Some of his memorable flights include renting a plane while in Las Vegas and flying over the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam, lending a completely different perspective of the canyon and incredible engineering of the dam. Returning from that flight, Kern experienced unusual high winds and the airplane was almost standing still over the runway when it landed.
“Learning to fly taught me many lessons that now help me in everyday life,” he says. “First, never stop learning as earning your license is only really a license to learn. Second, planning and discipline are important to a successful flight, but you always have to be ready to adapt to changing circumstances. Third, most students tend to grip the yoke or stick very tightly when first learning to fly, which causes you to over control the airplane. In reality, loosening the grip gives you better control which is an insight I apply to my business and personal life.”
Kevin Kern
His training began at a flight school training facility at Barnes Field in Western Massachusetts, which is a combination of military and a commercial aircraft field. The school’s teaching techniques integrated ground and flight training. The ground school focused on an aspect of flight from aircraft systems, flight planning, weather and navigation to airspace and a myriad of FAA regulations. The air work focused on all aspects of flight from different types of stalls, emergency procedures, navigation, engine and fuel management and operating out of many different types of airports from short runways to commercial airports both in daylight and night.
After passing the FAA written test, undergoing various stage checks where different instructors evaluate a student’s progress, and about 50 hours of instruction, Kern was ready to take the FAA checkride test. He earned his license after passing the test and remains proficient by performing a minimum number of takeoffs and landings every three months. Every two years he takes a flight review with an instructor and renews his FAA medical.
Kern stays safe by following procedures and confirming checklists, however the practice drills keep him confident in the air because “you never know, things could still happen,” he says. He learned to always have a checklist, aside from what the manuals explain, for pre-landing, take off, landing, and procedures. In case something goes awry, he would need to know what to do in a particular situation. He’s memorized many procedures over time because everything must be second nature. Reactions need to be automatic and without hesitation.
Always keeping things in perspective, Kern assures that “if you really know what a plane can do it’s not that bad. Keeping to procedures means keeping the flight safe.”
His passion for flying might have also inspired his youngest child to attend the Air Force Academy, although Kern will humbly not take the credit.
Although life can be a bit demanding and has kept him from flying as often as he would like, Kern admits he is glad to have lived out his childhood dream and has been able to expose his kids to the world of flight. He is also looking forward to viewing many more sights by flying around the U.S.
