Meet Patrick Arnzen | CEO/Founder, Thrust Flight

We had the good fortune of connecting with Patrick Arnzen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Patrick, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
From a very young age, I knew exactly what I wanted to do, I was going to be in aviation. That part was never in question. But the path to getting there wasn’t easy.
I became an airline pilot right around the time of September 11th, which, as you can imagine, was an incredibly tough time for the aviation industry. Jobs were scarce, the industry was shaken, and like many others, I had to find my own way forward. I started a small flight school in southeast Georgia, nothing fancy, just a few airplanes, a bit of maintenance work, and a skydiving operation. It wasn’t glamorous, but it kept me flying and put food on the table.
A few years later, I saw an opportunity to build a flight school around a specific aircraft type. I started by acquiring a piece of that business, and by 2012, I had taken over the company entirely. We built it from the ground up, literally. In the beginning, it was just me: I cleaned the bathrooms, maintained the planes, and trained the students. Thankfully, I’m also a certified aircraft mechanic, so I could do just about everything myself. And I did it all without taking on debt, which made those early years tough, but sustainable.
What I’m most proud of is that we grew organically, with grit and persistence. What started as a one-person operation has become a thriving flight school that’s helping change lives every day. That journey means everything to me.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
At Thrust Flight, we focus on two things, and we do them exceptionally well: training airline pilots and aircraft mechanics. What sets us apart is how focused, immersive, and supportive our programs are. We don’t try to be everything to everyone. Our students come here with a mission, and we give them the structure, intensity, and support to accomplish it, fast.
In our pilot program, students sign a contract committing to full-time, accelerated training. We fly seven days a week. It’s challenging, probably the hardest thing many of our students have ever done, but also one of the most rewarding. And they don’t go through it alone. We’ve built a culture where staff support students, and students support each other. Our goal isn’t just to produce licensed pilots, we’re here to help people change their lives.
I care deeply about every student who walks through our doors. That means celebrating their progress, but also having honest conversations when they fall short of expectations. And my team shares that same level of commitment. That culture of accountability and care is what sets us apart, and it’s what students remember.
Of course, the path to building this business hasn’t been easy. There were setbacks, industry disruptions, financial hurdles, even a personal health scare that derailed me for a year. But I learned to adapt, to pivot, and to keep going. We’ve grown from a one-person operation into a multi-campus school with a thriving community of students and staff.
What do I want people to know? That this isn’t just a business. It’s a mission. We’re not just training pilots and mechanics, we’re helping people reach goals they once thought were out of reach. Watching a student go from never having touched a yoke to sitting in the left seat of a commercial aircraft, that’s what makes it all worth it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to town, we’d kick things off with a flight out of Addison Airport—seeing the area from the air is always a highlight. We’d spend time in Fort Worth for the Stockyards and live music, take a day out on Lake Texoma, and explore the food scene in Plano and McKinney. I’d mix in a few hours at a shooting range or golf course, and wrap it up with some quiet time outdoors. Just a solid week of flying, food, and Texas at its best.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My father wasn’t a professional aviator, but he was a passionate aviation enthusiast. He owned a few aircraft, he actually had one when I was born, but life, as it often does, got in the way and he eventually had to sell them. Still, he never lost his love for flying and did everything he could to pass that passion on to me. He supported me every step of the way as I pursued my dream of becoming a pilot.
My grandfather also played a role. He was a recreational pilot, and I had the chance to fly with him a bit when I was young. I probably started formal flight training around the age of 12 or 13.
That early exposure, thanks to both of them, shaped the course of my life. Their influence lit the spark that grew into a lifelong commitment to aviation.

Website: https://www.thrustflight.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrustflight/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thrust-flight/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkM9Q2yMZh6ix7TeVy0VH7A

Other: Spotify:

Tiktok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@thrustflight?lang=en

Image Credits
Thrust Flight