Fly Allyssa: Commercial Pilot Certificate Leads to New Opportunities

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience celebrates the people of Midwest Aviation who achieve their aviation ambitions and inspire others to do so as well. We recently visited with Allyssa VanMeter, known to many as Fly Allyssa, on the occasion of her successful Commercial Pilot checkride at St. Charles Flying Service on June 26. With her new certificate in hand, and over 500 hours of flight time logged, she is now taking her flying career to new heights.     

The White Hall, IL native took interest in aviation following a helicopter tour over the Lake of the Ozarks in 2010. After enjoying an aerial view of the lakes and coves, Allyssa at first wanted to become a helicopter pilot. Then she saw the cost.

Fast forward to 2016 during a Christmas vacation in Mexico, a family member suggested they make a dreams list, and her dream once again was to become a helicopter pilot. The following April, she flew with a family friend in a Cessna 150 from Alton to Mattoon for lunch and back. The next week, Allyssa took a discovery flight out of the nearby Jacksonville, IL Municipal Airport with a CFI, and six months later she earned her Private Pilot Certificate. She received her Instrument Rating in December 2021. 

“You make friends along the way, and I was flying their airplanes for a while," she told The Aero Experience. "Father’s Day of 2018 I bought a half share of an airplane based at Alton, then after that I joined a club because it was the most affordable way to fly.” If you see a red and white Piper Archer from the Flying 20 Club out of Springfield, IL, it may be that Allyssa is in town.

Allyssa preferred to take her flight training in concentrated sessions to fit in with her work at the salon she owns. As she approached her Commercial Pilot checkride, Allyssa was already planning her next flying goal. Just last week, she completed training for the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan at FlightSafety International's Wichita, KS facility and recently flew her first mission with Costar Field Research out of KOSU in Columbus, OH. Her schedule of on 12 days, off 8 days, with rotating bases of operation, provides the flexibility she seeks in managing her active life. (Fly Allyssa photos below).

Along with living her dream of becoming a commercial pilot, Allyssa continues to be an ambassador for aviation wherever she goes. Her frequent social media posts encourage us to pursue our dreams and follow through with a plan for success, and in doing so herself she leads by example. We have enjoyed working with Allyssa at events around the Midwest, and we look forward to seeing her again in our future travels.