Started flying while in college at age 18 (1984). Worked full time job and a part time one to pay for flight training. Left school, moved to LA and started flight instructing. At 1900TT, I got my first FAR 135 cargo job flying single engine planes. Got hired on at Ameriflight after four months. Did a short stint flying air ambulance. Got hired on, as a direct entry captain, at a Eastern Airlines commuter and flew until both went out of business. I was then hired on, again as a captain, at a Northwest Airlink commuter out of Boston. After they shut down, I did a "pay per view" DC-8 training program and was hired by a DC-8 operator out of Kansas City. After they had trouble paying payroll, I applied to and was hired on at my present employer in 1996.