Someday, Episode #15: Joel Van Brunt, Helicopter Pilot

Welcome to Someday, where we interview interesting people from around the world to learn about how they make a living.  We call it Someday because one day our curious kids may elect to pursue a career in one of these fields.  In the upcoming months, we’ll learn: How to become a Clown, the best thing about being an Artist and the most challenging thing about being a Orthopedic Surgeon.  Who knows…we might even talk a little ice cream as well.  We hope you enjoy!

In episode #15, we sat down with Helicopter Pilot, Joel Van Brunt.  Joel grew up in Rochester, New York and completed a college degree in engineering in Evanston, Illinois before joining the Marine Corps and becoming a pilot. With the Marines, Joel flew airplanes and helicopters and served in far away places like Japan and Iraq. After leaving the active duty Marines, Joel spent time in Los Angeles and Boston pursuing dreams in the arts, academia, and business before moving to Hawaii to fly helicopters with Paradise Helicopters. Joel is married to Charmaine from and they have a son, Gabriel Asher, who will be 2 years old this September.  They are expecting a 2nd child in the near future.

Some of the resources Joel mentions are as follows:

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Mauna Loa Helicopter Pilot School