Could You Fly a Plane?
Patrick Chovanec never imagined he could, until the Covid-19 pandemic pushed him in an unexpected direction. Climb into the cockpit with him and find out what it’s like to go, step by step, from passenger to pilot.
Travel and history are two of my favorite things in life. Here you'll find links to my travel stories from around the world, as well as in-depth perspectives on historical events such as World War I and the Apollo Moon Landing.
About
Patrick Chovanec is an economic advisor and former chief strategist at Silvercrest Asset Managment, based in New York City. He has spent much of his life in China, and taught at Tsinghua University in Beijing and at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). He has appeared regularly in the media on these topics. Patrick began learning to fly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and earned his Private Pilot's License in September 2021. He wrote Cleared for the Option for readers who share the curiosity he had – about what pilots actually learn and do to become pilots.