Five questions: Mike McCoy

"I'm definitely surrounded by awesome people," McCoy said, taking a few minutes out of his shift at Classic Jet Center at Lake County Executive Airport to answer five questions in a phone call. The airport, which survived a closure threat just over a decade ago, is a 20-minute drive from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. While McCoy is by no measure famous, his story offers at least anecdotal evidence that there's still a way into aviation for ordinary people with passion and determination. Because it is never truly easy, and we could all use a little help from friends.

What moved you to start a career in aviation?

"I guess it started out from me being at a young age, I would say six or eight. My dad was in the Marines, stationed in Parris Island. I got the bug from being so close to the air station that was there … miliary jets flying in and out. To be in the sky was something I just wanted to shoot for. Ever since then, anything to do with airplanes, I was all there.

"Once we moved to Florida, my dad noticed how much I was interested in aviation. For my twelfth birthday, he arranged for me to take a ride in his friend's J–3 Cub…that solidified the thought of, 'I really just want to fly.' It's something I've always wanted to do since then."

The family moved to Ohio, to a home down the road from the airport where he works today, then known as Willoughby Lost Nation Municipal Airport. The year 2014 is significant to the airport's history, because it might have ended there. After the airport spent a decade facing a threat of closure, the city reversed course. AOPA spent years rallying local advocates and volunteers to persuade community leaders that the economic benefits the airport provided far outweighed the cost, and it became a case study in how airport advocacy can flip the script.

McCoy was a senior in high school in 2014, and his dad suggested he go to an open house at Vector Aviation, the local flight school. He attended with his cousin and signed up for an introductory flight. The rest, he said, is history, though it would take a few more years for McCoy to earn his certificate.

What was the most difficult challenge you had to overcome?

"Getting into aviation was really easy. The timing of it was almost perfect," McCoy recalled. "I was working at a car dealership, and they had me out on the front lot scrubbing wheels. I realized that this is kind of not my thing anymore … at that time I had taken my first few lessons with Vector Aviation."

He sent a text to the FBO manager to inquire about job openings, filled out an application the next day, and was hired. "Ten years later, I'm still here."

"I guess, work-wise, it wasn't a challenge. Getting the, doing most of the pilot training was probably the biggest challenge. Everyone's problem is funding, really. You start, you stop, you start, you stop. You wind up doing a lot of repeat lessons … finding the funds to continue through with flying."

McCoy stuck with it and earned a private pilot certificate November 12, 2024.

Was it easy or difficult to find mentors?

"As far as mentors go, I've kind of learned a lot throughout the years through various people. A guy here, he helped me change out one of the cylinders on my airplane, Joe Mattz," an A&P/IA, who invited McCoy to watch and learn how the work is done. "Seeing him do all that sort of stuff, that’s pretty cool."

Wait, your airplane?

"My boss Mike Toman, he showed me so many things. Pretty much got me into the position I am at now with owning the [Cessna] 140."

Like many (if not most) young pilots who earn their certificates in rented airplanes, the successful checkride led to looking at classified ads, casually at first. "You just kind of start looking around. 'I'm just going to look, I'm not going to do anything too crazy, I'm just going to look.'"

McCoy's employer caught wind of his interest and pointed out an Aeronca Chief for sale. McCoy "rented a school plane to fly out there… just kind of look at it, we really didn't get any details."

That one didn't pan out, but then a Cessna 140 came on the market in Mansfield, Ohio, that happened to be owned by a contract pilot who flew Learjets for Classic Jet Center customers. Toman knew the owner well, and "from there it was pretty much a done deal… I'm kind of glad it did. Everything just kind of fell into place."

McCoy purchased the airplane in April 2025, and he has about 150 hours of total time to date.

If flying is not your full-time job, how do your skills and knowledge as a pilot help you in your work?

"I would say it does. I see how people are, some people might be more particular about their airplane." As an aircraft owner who fuels and services other people's airplanes, "I know how they would like things done with their airplane."

Do you have a long-term plan that includes other roles in aviation?

"Working line service is a good steppingstone. Ultimately, I would like to fly charter, being a charter pilot would be cool."

He reckons he could build the time and pay for the training, and eventually be able to work as a ferry pilot. Meanwhile, he said, being part of the aviation community has a way of creating opportunities.

"I'm definitely surrounded by awesome people."