As a new year begins, many of us reflect on where we’ve been and who we want to become next. Career paths don’t always follow straight lines, sometimes they weave through unexpected opportunities, long-held passions, and the occasional scenic flight over the Hudson River.
For Envoy First Officer Myung Kil and Captain Jeff Katten, the journey from a major newsroom to the flight deck at Envoy is a story of parallel paths, lasting friendship, and a shared love of aviation discovered long before either imagined a career in it.
A Shared Passion
Years before they ever wore pilot uniforms, Myung and Jeff worked together at a major U.S. newsroom, supporting and covering financial markets around the world. Myung served as a Senior Software Engineer, later leading teams and managing complex product releases. Jeff managed technical support and risk oversight teams, often collaborating directly with engineering on complicated customer issues.
It was during this collaboration that they uncovered something unexpected: both were already licensed private pilots.
What started as a casual workplace conversation soon led to their first flight together in February 2010. On a snowy New York morning, they departed to fly the Hudson River corridor (pictured), taking in views of Manhattan before heading to Morristown to practice landing. The experience left a lasting impression and planted the first seeds of a friendship that would eventually lead them back to the flight deck more than a decade later.
Two Careers, Two Turning Points
Over 25 years, Myung steadily earned additional ratings. He became a flight instructor and, after completing his Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certification, began to consider an airline career — something he once believed was out of reach. A LinkedIn post revealing Jeff’s role as a Captain at Envoy helped spark that possibility.
Jeff’s career changed direction after a relocation to Seattle. While navigating new roles outside finance, news of the need for regional and mainline airlines for high-quality pilots reached his feed. With his early flight training still calling to him, Jeff made the bold decision to switch careers and pursue flying full time. That leap led him to Envoy, where he built a new path as a professional pilot.
Stepping Outside the Comfort Zone
Transitioning mid-career wasn’t easy for either pilot.
For Myung, the challenge was becoming a student again after decades of leadership. For Jeff, the biggest adjustment was the lifestyle change, moving from a Monday-to-Friday office role to a schedule defined month by month, with time away from home.
Yet both found that their shared experience prepared them well. Skills in communication, risk management, customer service, and high-pressure decision-making translated naturally to the flight deck.
When Myung joined Envoy, he found the training demanding but deeply rewarding. The fast-paced curriculum felt like “drinking from a firehose,” he says, but the camaraderie within his class made the challenge meaningful.
Jeff, now a Line Check Pilot, helps transition new pilots from training to flying passengers. The opportunity to conduct Myung’s Initial Operating Experience (IOE), he says, would be symbolic.
“It’s a full-circle moment,” said Jeff. “Myung was someone I admired working with before. To now help welcome him into airline flying is incredibly rewarding.”
Looking Ahead
Jeff plans to continue mentoring new hire pilots and new captains while building toward his eventual flow-through to American Airlines, while Myung is focused on growing his experience in Part 121 operations and continuing to learn every day. When asked their best advice for aspiring pilots, they both shared the same sentiment: “Just go for it.”
“It’s rewarding to be in a field where the attention to detail and focus on doing the right thing is paramount,” said Jeff. Myung added, “The path may be long, but the journey is thrilling!”
From financial market support to the flight decks of Envoy Air, Myung and Jeff’s story shows that it’s never too late to rediscover a passion, change direction, and take flight.
Want to learn more about joining the Envoy team? Visit envoypilots.com today.