We recently shared a nice little story about Shana Bartell, a young lady bitten by the aviation bug. She also happens to be a divorcee with five kids.
And many – but not all – in the crowd on Facebook and our website feel it appropriate to tear her apart. After all, they know better.
Mind you, not all the comments are negative. But those that are — to be honest make me feel sad.
A few examples from Facebook:
“Her poor ex, whom I am sure is footing a large portion of her lifestyle here as well as what seems to be a very nice home. Not impressed,” says Reagon Moon.
“What financial plan are you using? 5 kids x 5 daddies equals 50k of free money…” chimes in Travis Duane Hinson.
“From the looks of the big house and well dressed kids and able to do all this she must’ve gotten a good divorce lawyer and lots of child support,” offers Brian Gokey.
There are plenty more, but I’m sure you get the idea.
I have one daughter in college and another starting in the fall. As a result, I’m keenly aware of the cost of school, as well as some of the options available to pay for that education.
With a few minutes of digging on the Southern Utah University (SUU) website, the school Shana is attending, I find that tuition and fees total $3,385 per semester for Utah residents. Those fees jump to $10,293 for non-Utah residents.
Shana moved to Cedar City, Utah (home to SUU) in 2014 with her then-husband. So she is likely a resident and enjoys the in-state tuition, which appears to me to be a bargain.
By the way, a quick look at Zillow shows an inventory of nice homes priced below $250,000. Using that measuring stick alone, Cedar City appears to be one of the more affordable places to call home.
Specific to learning to fly, SUU’s Fixed-Wing Pilot Specialization pricing sheet details the cost of learning to fly.
- Semester 1, SEL Solo, 18 flight hours, $5,908
- Semester 2, SEL Private Pilot Certificate, 32 flight hours, $11,373
- Semester 3, SEL Instrument, 36 flight and 14 sim hours, $15,419
- Semester 4, SEL Commercial Phase 1, 52.5 flight and 17.5 sim hours, $18,840
- Semester 5, SEL Commercial Phase 2, 43.5 flight and 6.5 sim hours, $15,765
- Semester 6, SEL CFI, 20 flight hours, $8,905 and SEL CFII, 6 flight and 4 sim hours, $4,488.
That total is $80,698. Of course, for an aspiring professional pilot, a student will need to add on multi-engine training as well. So the final price will be higher.
And for all those fees, there are any number of scholarships available. And for the balance not paid by scholarships, any number of lenders are happy to step in to finance a dream.
I haven’t asked SUU or Shana Bartell how she’s doing it. To be honest, it is none of my business. I’m sure it is a combination of income from a job, scholarships, loans, perhaps alimony.
Is Shana’s path easy? Hardly. Few, if any people, enjoy an easy path in life. Regardless, I fail to understand the need for people to tear into her.
I’m sorry so many have forgotten the age old lesson, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”
Chin up Shana. May you find blue skies and tailwinds. Not to mention a few more pilots following in your footsteps.
my first line instructor at the airline when I was a newbie said…”take your job seriously, but not yourself, things will go a lot better for you”, she said lots of other stuff as well, but best left to the imagination.
Don’t lose sight on the fact that if this was about a single father, the article would have never been written.
If this were a single father with sole responsibility for children pursuing a career in aviation while working, I think that story would also have been written (I believe that is a rare bird, as Shana, if you will allow the pun).
What likely would not have happened are the disparaging remarks on Facebook.
You said it best Ben. Cudos for being the adult in the conversation.
Good luck, Shana!
Screw the criticism, full speed ahead!
I agree with you we need to be reminded of the need to be nice. I see on fb all the time pilots slamming on other pilots with comments like “reckless” and “I would never do something stupid like that”.
We should come together and strengthen each other not tear eachother down. None of us have flown every mission type, aircraft, region etc; different doesn’t mean wrong. Plus every pilot at one time has an “oh crap moment” that we learn from; its what we do afterwards thats important. We need to learn from eachother; I heard a comment once stating that we have to learn from the mistakes of others because we don’t live long enough to make them all our selves. We should all be learning from eachother not tearing eachother down.
In regards to this lady if someone is jealous don’t try to tear her down but figure out what she did and copy it so you too can reach your dreams.
Life is about learning not judging.
Thanks for the article reminding us to be nice!
I think everyone’s skin is a bit too thin. If you aren’t willing to listen to someone else, why should anyone listen to you?
Are we too politically correct or thin-skinned as you suggest? I think we should realize comments made on social media and forums such as this target, eventually reach and affect an individual with feelings and emotions. Listening respectfully or constructive criticism is much different then the bullying comments hurled at Shana. Whatever happened to being a good human? Are those hateful comments helping anyone besides those that utter them to boost themselves?
There is no requirement that there be a comment section. It is a very bad practice to have one and then only allow opinions that you agree with. I guess it does work in China. Maybe it will work here.
Seriously…? Your post implies there’s no difference between malice and knowledgeable discussion representative of a civilized nation and people. I find your post and attitude disturbing and not one indicative of a pilot-mentality.
You prove the point that I’m trying to make. Everyone thinks they are right in their own eyes. While I personally applaud the gal in the original article and I would never do anything to discourage her, I think that pointing the finger only brings unnecessary attention to discouraging comments. The mindset of the article is to bully those that have made the comments into never making them again. Perhaps they would be better not having a comment section at all. There is a difference between malice and discussion, and that is not the issue. The issue is who gets to determine what is and isn’t. By the way, your post is a personal attack of me (not indicative of a pilot mentality, whatever that is) is what was objected to in this article.
Nah… i didn’t attack you as a person… I simply provided my feedback and thoughts on the single thoughts/attitude you *seemed* to be portraying. Big difference there. And one I’m not entirely sure you are grasping (based on your reply).
It is much like a flight instructor telling me my practice approach is sub-par. I can either tell him he just made a personal attack on me, or think about his words, my approach, and what I can improve.
At any rate, you are right. My responses to you are most certainly based on a different mind-set. Good luck with whatever you work towards. Take care.
That’s our sad society today unfortunately. And social media makes it easier for the haters to come out with uncalled for comments. I was greatly impressed by what she is doing while balancing all her other responsibilities. I sent the article to a couple of female student pilots of mine for encouragement. They likewise were impressed and appreciative. Fly on Shana, ignore the detractors and you’ll achieve your goals.
It just seems like any forum you go to you always have that person having rude or dumb comments.
To all the haters out there that’s none of your damn business how she’s paying for her training! Here’s a lady that has a passion and a goal in life and wants a better life for her five children and all you can do is shame her? How sad and pathetic of you. Go Shana! I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Your kids will be proud of you!
I do not see the need to outline the potential cost (or savings) of her education as justification for her pursuing her goals because she is divorced, with children: it is no one’s business.
The original story was well worth publishing.
Many people face challenges in the pursuit of their goals. There exists a good number of us who enjoy stories of their hopes and accomplishments as they pursue their goals. Those stories must contain some details we can connect with in order to find common ground and relate to the people in the story.
It is well-known that learning to fly is costly. That alone is a challenge many of us can relate to.
Parenting while pursuing an education is another part of the story some of us can relate to. Being a divorced parent with primary responsibility for children while learning to fly AND working in aircraft maintenance? That is a story I want to read! Even if she had won the lottery, this is not a cakewalk.
Keep going Shana.
To Shana I say cheers to you. Ignore the trolls. Their static can’t compare to your engines.
Great article Ben. Even better….. all the positive responses that followed.
It’s great reminder that the anonymous haters on the Internet really aren’t the majority, most people are better then that.
Hang in there Shana, pilots that achieve their goals despite any obstacles in the way tend to be amongst the best.
Sadly there are just too many people who will loudly proclaim how much they love this country, then turn around and reveal that they hate half the people who live here.
Kinda sad that you even have to write an article like this to outline how she’s doing it. Everyone travels different roads in life. When people say flying costs a lot, I acknowledge that, but say it also depends upon how badly you want to do it. If you want it bad, you will find a way to make it work.
Good one Ben.
Thank you for this article! I was appalled by the comments on FB. There are just to many people these days willing to tear people apart, even in the aviation community. I wish her the best and hope she succeeds!
Ben: One of the better positive stories recently. You seem to always find a positive element in all your articles while many accentuate the negative. Keeps me reading and admiring your site. Thanks!
Ben’s outlook on life was undoubtedly formed from his great parents’ guidance. And Shana, ‘Go girl, ever higher.’
I never comment on articles, no matter how good or bad. However, this makes me crazy that people would be so negatively judgmental. This young lady is trying to place herself in a position to make a good living for herself and her children. She is definitely trying to place herself in a position of self reliance for the future. Thank you for defending her position Ben. It can not be easy to go to school (two majors) and still take care of children, no matter how much money you have. Hey, those children looked pretty happy to me, and isn’t that important too. I’ve been a pilot since 1968 and most of my fellow pilots are very positive and supportive of other pilots. Keep going Shana, don’t ever give up on your dreams for you and your children.
SO nice to hear about a lady and mother of five getting it on with life. She’s not laying on the couch, in abject misery, complaining..she’s out getting it done. Hurray for her. Wish there were more people like her. I suspect her kids are learning about hard work, goals, and team play. We are woefully short of folks who refuse to give up on their dreams and push hard to realize them.
Thank you, Ben, for speaking up about this.
Thanks for your wonderful words, Ben. She deserves nothing but high praise!!
No need to defend her, her success speak for itself. Online trolls use anonymity to make nasty comments due to their own failures and bigotry. Anyone not celebrating the effort of this young woman is a horses-A…ignore them.
I admire Shana, also. It’s become absurd how negativity with no understanding (i.e. ignorance) has really taken off. These people are simply guessing at her situation and focusing on an imaginary situation based on their own cynical life experiences (or worse; the latest in TV nonsensical drama).
They don’t understand that no matter what was spent, becoming an aviator is a mind-opening and growth experience well worth it.
I recall getting my training on one credit card and one loan with an income that barely paid my rent. Since then, I have had blessings of monetary success that include my own aircraft.
I wish the same and more for Shana.
As is typical with aviation, negative rumors along with character attacks abound everywhere.
I am in favor of any person who tries to climb the aviation mountain, Hopefully the good side of hanger groups will open a go fund me account for the lady. Personally I would deposit into the account.
GOOD LUCK LADY dream on!
It’s not just aviation, Randy.
Watch Fox, CNN, CNBC etc….they are all full of critical idiots.
Good call. I’m glad you wrote this. Cruel, gross, snide, catty remarks from the holier-than-thou all-knowing jacktards out there have become so expected anymore it has gotten to where we just accept them as the background noise for anything civil that is put up online. A response such as yours was certainly in order. Us quieter less critical types understand from personal experience that maybe life isn’t lived in some fairy tail linear fashion that meets everybody else’s standards. It is OK to celebrate somebody else grabbing a dream in order to run with it. And it is OK to keep your mouth and your keyboard silent when all you have to add is a negative uninformed slice of pointless baseless snark.
Fantastic article Ben !! Shana’s got millions of us admiring and cheering her on !! GO GIRL !!
A shame people judge others without knowing the full facts, which as you said are not our business anyway. It is sadly a sign of the times and a reflection of how social media allows people to say things without regard for feelings, civility, and accountability.
Good for her if she can pursue her dream and the potential to improve her’s and her children’s lives, and still raise her kids.
I am glad you spoke out about the rude comments, one of which was really out of bounds and extremely judgmental beyond belief.
I’m with you here, Ben. Maybe they’re jealous that she’s able to do all of this and they’re too lazy to even try, so they’re resorting to Internet comments?
I’m really admirative of Shana. Working and managing two kids is already hard enough with my wife to share the load, can’t imagine doing what she’s doing!