No Degree, $250K Salary: The Aviation Careers Nobody Talks About | The Lou Review Podcast

Meet Ebony Bartee, co-owner and Senior VP of Equus Flight Academy, and one of fewer than 12 Black women in the U.S. to have ever owned a Part 141 flight school. In this episode of The Lou Review, host Rosa Hart talks with Ebony about her unexpected path into aviation, what it takes to build a flight school empire across five states, and why her real passion isn't just making pilots; it's changing lives. From kindergarten coloring books about planes to dual credit high school programs, Ebony is on a mission to make aviation accessible to every community. She breaks down the FULL spectrum of aviation careers: pilots, drone operators, flight nurses, engineers, attorneys, IT, and more. She explains why you don't need a college degree to earn a quarter-million dollar salary in this industry. What You'll Learn: ✅ The difference between Part 141 and Part 61 flight schools ✅ Why students can fly a plane before they drive a car (logging hours starts at 14!) ✅ How to become a FAA-certified commercial drone pilot at 17 ✅ Scholarships sitting unclaimed — and how to find them ✅ The aviation pipeline from zero to hero: student → private pilot → commercial pilot → charter ✅ How drones are being used in emergency services RIGHT NOW Connect with Equus Flight Academy: 🌐 Website: equusflightacademy.com 📸 Instagram: @Equus.FlightAcademy For college scholarships in Aviation see: ⁠https://www.aviationstart.org/⁠ ⁠https://aopa.org/⁠ ⁠https://www.eaa.org/eaa/learn-to-fly/... ⁠https://nbaa.org/professional-develop... Subscribe to The Lou Review for more stories about Louisville locals making a difference. Know someone doing amazing things in the Louisville area? Send them our way! Learn more about The Lou Review Foundation Inc at ⁠LouReview.com⁠ Connect with host, Rosa Hart on Instagram ⁠@RosaRaves⁠ This podcast highlights powerful conversations around business, branding, entrepreneurship, and community stories from Louisville and beyond. We feature inspiring founders, creatives, and leaders sharing real insights, growth strategies, and behind-the-scenes journeys. 🔹 Topics Covered: Business Growth & Marketing Branding & Creative Strategy Entrepreneurship & Startups Local Louisville Stories & Culture Subscribe for weekly podcast episodes and real conversations that matter. #Podcast #BusinessPodcast #Branding #Entrepreneurship #Louisville