Roger Gross:
CLASS OF 1989
Stratford High SchoolClass of 1989
Houston, TX
Embry - Riddle Aeronautical UniversityClass of 1993
Daytona beach, FL
Roger's Story
Life
Our son Jackson was born on August 30, 2005.
School
I wasn't crazy about High School. My mother died of cancer in 1986 and I had a difficult adjustment period.
I worked at West Houston Airport after school and had the all-night shift on weekends, so it was tough to stay awake in class.
College
Graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1993 w/ a B.S. in Aeronautical Studies concentrating in Aviation Maintenance Technology. Pledged Sigma Chi Fraternity and initiated in 1990.
Workplace
Started Aviation Career after college by throwing baggage for Continental Airlines in Houston. The glamour of that job got old, so I moved up into management as an Analyst in Aircraft Component Vendor Administration.
I didn't enjoy flying a desk, so I applied and was accepted into the Air Force as a Pilot in 1995. Completed Flight Screening and most of Officer Training School. Tore up my knees in OTS. Honorably Discharged.
Worked as an Aircraft Mechanic in Conroe then moved to California as a Jet Engine Technician for Pratt & Whitney.
California was too expensive, so I accepted a job as a Pilot/Mechanic with Rowan Drilling Co. at Hobby Airport.
Gained flying experience in some great aircraft, including a Douglas DC-3, Convair 580, Learjet 35 and a Gu...Expand for more
lfstream II.
Built up about 1200 hours flight time and started applying to the airlines.
Times were good in 2000; I was hired by Comair, a subsidiary of Delta Airlines to fly the Embraer Brasilia Turboprop out of Orlando International Airport. The Brasilia was phased out quickly. Three months of fun n' sun down in Florida and I was displaced to First Officer on the 50-seat Canadair Regional Jet, based at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Int'l.
The twice-a-week commute from Houston to Cincinnati got old after 2 years, so I upgraded to Captain on the Canadair Regional Jet and we moved to the Cincinnati area.
Due to Delta Airlines/Comair bankruptcy I started applying to better airlines. I was hired at AirTran Airways in Atlanta in May 2007. We moved back to Houston at the same time.
I'm a 737-700 First Officer and am having lots of fun.
As of this writing (July 2007), I have about 5200 hours of flight time, and an FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate with type ratings on the Canadair Regional Jet and the Boeing 737. I also have an FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic certificate with Inspection Authorization.
I love my chosen career, and wouldn't want to do anything else!
My wife Marci, also from Houston, is a Social Worker at Hermann Children's Hospital.
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