Marissa Colclasure – The sky is not the limit, it is the beginning
Marissa is a mom, pilot, sky-diver and co-founder of Wings over Hawaii
What were you dreaming of becoming when you were a kid?
I dreamt of flying. In some form or fashion. I’ve never said I wanted to fly for the airlines or flight instruct , just I wanted to be happy flying.
What moved you to become part of the aviation family?
Oh I was bit from the bug early on, my father was a pilot. He was one of those dads that had 5 odd ball jobs to support my mom being a stay at home mom of five kids. I am the second in the lineup. I would tag along to anywhere my dad would go. Especially the airport. He was a flight instructor and jump pilot.
What were the most significant sideways jumps in your professional life?
Sideways jumps would have to be my pin pong like career. I know a little about a lot in aviation. FBOs, corporate flying , airline dispatcher, flight instructor, jump pilot, international trip planner I’ve sought out a lot of different jobs, just to know, and learn. What has brought me back to the beginning is that while I could do quite well at those things, there was always something more to my being.
What were the most significant event(s) that influenced your professional life?
My dad was piloting a Twin Otter on April 22, 1992… that’s the first man I loved and first person I had to give back to the sky. The accident impacted my life on so many levels. Emotional ..for the obvious reasons, but as anyone who has been touched by losing someone in aviation, or been in an accident…you become engrossed in the details. Go over the what ifs so many times to play out in your mind what could have happened. Haunting…that may be an appropriate word. I’ve been a very whimsical pilot…and yet through my giggles and laughter I’ve always stressed and taught how flying can kill you. Parts of me still thinks a career in the NTSB would be amazing but in my heart I know its not the path for me right now.
Was there a person who had a profound influence on your professional life?
Other than my dad, my mom…she is an amazingly strong woman. Back in the 1980s I would beg my dad to take me to air-shows so I could meet “Zar” it was a character the late Jim Franklin flew an act as. My head was always in the clouds.
Was there a company which had a profound influence on your professional life?
I don’t know the name of the company but my dad had these VHS tapes of these amazing helicopter tours… one about “rainbow bridge”… I remember the visuals being amazing. I can’t remember where it was at, I googled it and it came up as Utah. I thought it was Australia or new Zealand even… kid memories can be blurred
Was there a “Darth Vader” in your life that you needed to conquer?
Yes…getting over my own hidden fears and attachments to my dads accident. I “pinked” my multi check ride the first time. I wasn’t ready completely to let it go. Sometimes I thought I started flying to be close to my dad again…but over time I learned it was because I felt like I was returning home each time I left this earth.
If you had a second chance, would you try to avoid aviation as a career?
I have still yet to avoid it as a career and would do so over and over again like the plague.
I have never “logged time” I have joyfully earned it and embraced ever tick on the HOBBS meter.
Would you recommend aviation as a career to young people to-day?
I would recommend following their heart. Most people dream of flight. I think there are many amazing positions out there that would give people a path to make an amazing living.
What personal traits should they develop first and foremost?
Dedication, learning to let go…aviation has always been feast or famine. To be honest, hard working, passionate.
What was the funniest, aviation related situation you can recall having been in?
Ahhh yes back in the day I was flying a Caravan on the north shore of Hawaii and it was Christmas time so I decided to fly in a Santa get up. Needless to say no one believed I was the pilot.
In conclusion?
Don’t run in the race or be focused on climbing some ladder to achieve your dreams. When all is said and done it is the journey. I have yet to lose that giggle when I drive to an airport even to board a plane as a passenger. I love it. I love teaching kids about aviation and helping them realize there is no box. I am sure you have heard the quote “For those that fly the sky is the limit” or maybe it is home, I cant remember… that quote never sat well with me.
For those that fly, the sky is not the limit, but only the beginning…. You can be anything you can dream of even past your line of sight, past the horizon.
