Flight Paths

TWO PLANES CIRCLE the runway. While one takes off and soars into the atmosphere, the other slowly descends and touches down. Brielle might not have an international airport, but it’s the shared hometown of two extraordinary pilots who are currently on different paths in their remarkable journeys across the sky.

At 19 years old, Brielle’s Sophia Mechler is one of the few local women actively pursuing flight training and aspiring to a career in commercial aviation. This fall, she begins her sophomore year at the University of North Dakota’s highly ranked John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, where she is majoring in commercial aviation, the second-ranked program of its kind in the country.

Ever since she was a little girl, Sophia knew that she belonged in the sky. “I spent my childhood frequently traveling to Florida to visit family. As I got older, I realized I enjoyed flying more than the actual destination or vacation.”

Her love of flying took off in high school, when she would look into the clouds to escape the stress of everyday life. “Every day after school when the bell rang, I’d make the hour drive to Newark Airport just to sit in the parking lot and watch the planes take off and land. It helped to clear my mind and calm me down. Or, when I was working at Manasquan beach as a badge checker, I would look up and see the planes flying overhead, wishing I was the one in the cockpit.”

While still in high school, Sophia began taking flight lessons through a private aviation program. In 2022, she piloted a plane for the very first time. Today, she flies regularly as part of her training. She is currently working toward her next set of certifications, including instrument and commercial ratings.

While most of her peers have only recently passed their driving test, Sophia has already flown a Piper Archer and a Cessna 172.

“My favorite is a Piper Archer because of the way it flies due to its low wing. It’s smoother to land and easier to control.”

THE VIEW FROM ABOVE

At UND, Sophia takes courses that focus on the technical aspects of flight and also gets lots of hands-on experience. “We take physical tests regarding cockpit instruments and how they work, and then I actually get to fly using that knowledge.” She attends ground school, where students receive in-depth instruction on aircraft systems, regulations, safety procedures and navigation. She takes meteorology as an elective to better understand natural forces like the moon and the tides. She also studies Air Traffic Control, where she learns how to coordinate with controllers during flights.

Even while juggling classes, Sophia has logged dozens of hours in the sky. She’s flown to places like Fargo, North Dakota and Allentown, Pennsylvania. “Looking down and seeing all of the towns and people below me—and even my own house—is indescribable. It’s something you can only understand once you’ve experienced it.”

This summer, while millions of college students came home to relax, Sophia stayed in North Dakota to log more hours. She believes that North Dakota’s aviation program makes the distance from home and the brutal winters all worth it. “The opportunities are endless. I was surprised by how often we actually get to fly. I thought it would be only once or twice a week, but in actuality it’s around five or six times a week.”

To date, Sophia’s furthest flight was over 250 miles and lasted 6 hours. After college, she hopes to fly for United or Delta as a commercial pilot. “It’s surreal to be able to land in a new destination and say ‘I flew myself here.’ It’s an adrenaline rush. Feelings of happiness and relaxation course through my body. I never think about anything else besides me and the plane when I’m flying.”

THE FINAL DESCENT

While Sophia’s journey is just beginning, Brielle’s Mike Schwarz is coming in for a final landing. His wheels will touch down for the last time on August 16, as his 43-year-long aviation career officially concludes on his 65th birthday. (Commercial pilots are required to retire at 65, a law mandated by Congress and enforced by the FAA.)

Mike was always interested in planes, even as an undergrad at South Carolina’s Furman University. But ironically, his aviation journey began on the ground, as an armor officer in the Army, from ages 22 to 25. He was initially assigned to lead tank operations, but a visit to an Army National Guard camp changed his life.

“When I got my assignment, I was supposed to be in tanks for three years. But I was amazed by the pilots. That’s what inspired the idea to fly.”

On the heels of that visit, Mike immediately applied to flight school, where he learned to fly both helicopters and airplanes.

He served on active duty from 1982 to 1991, including five years supporting the first Gulf War. He continued his service in the Army Reserve and National Guard until 2005 and made frequent flights over Germany.

In 1992, Mike transitioned into commercial aviation, beginning his career with American Airlines. “American’s medical evaluation was extremely intensive,” he says. “But I appreciated the thoroughness. It showed they valued safety and professionalism.”

Mike spent the first half of his career based in New York, flying out of LaGuardia, which remains one of his favorite airports. “LaGuardia is surrounded by water and has short runways, which makes it both challenging and exciting.”

For the last seven years, Mike has served as a captain based in Philadelphia and also worked as a check pilot. He’s trained new captains and first officers on the Airbus A320, a narrow body aircraft. He’s flown both domestic and international routes, frequently landing in the Caribbean. “There’s no set route. I’d do one- to three-day trips all over the U.S. and Caribbean. Grand Cayman was definitely a favorite.”

His career has been filled with memorable moments and high-altitude stories. “Flights from JFK to LAX or to London were constantly packed with celebrities, making for exciting and unpredictable trips.” He’s piloted some flights that saw medical emergencies in mid-air, but thankfully, he’s never had to divert, a testament to calm professionalism and experience in the cockpit.

“One of my favorite memories is flying the former CEO of American Airlines when I was just starting out. When he boarded the plane he was applauded like a rock star. After landing, I thanked him for flying with me, and he sat down with me in the cockpit. He actually wanted to hear my thoughts and ideas.”

PREPARE FOR LANDING

Although his career with American Airlines is soon ending, Mike isn’t ready to leave the skies. He plans to explore teaching opportunities as a flight instructor, where he can pass on a lifetime of skills as well as a deep love for aviation.

As retirement nears, Mike plans to mark the occasion with one final and meaningful flight. On August 16, after a quick visit to Mike’s youngest son in St. Louis, the whole Schwarz family will board their return flight, and Mike will fly from St. Louis to Philadelphia one last time. “I’ve flown with my family before, but my retirement trip with them will be special,” says Mike. “The celebration is set to begin as soon as we touch down.”

As one plane takes off and another lands, pilots like Sophia Mechler and Mike Schwarz remind us that every flight holds a story. Sometimes, that story is just beginning, like Sophia chasing her dreams. And sometimes that story is concluding, like Mike wrapping up a storied career. The next time you spot a plane in the sky, keep an eye out—it could be someone from our own backyard at the controls.

BY MORGAN MECHLER