Ep 347 Developing Aviation Professionals at Kansas State University with Ty Pina
Ready 4 Pushback
Nik Fialka
5.0 • 797 Ratings
🗓️ 11 May 2026
⏱️ 64 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode, Nik sits down with Ty Pina, Aviation Department Head at Kansas State University. Drawing on 21 years of service in the Air Force, Ty reflects on his journey leading K-State's aviation program and shares his perspective on mentorship, networking, and cultivating a strong culture of professionalism and safety.
With an emphasis on CRM, soft skills, and student motivation, he is dedicated to developing well-rounded pilots prepared for diverse career paths - from the airlines and business aviation to NOAA and aerial firefighting. To learn more, connect with Tysen on LinkedIn or visit K-State Salina online at www.salina.k-state.edu.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, pilot, welcome to Ready for Pushback. |
| 0:04.8 | I'm Nick Fialca and you found Ready for Pushback, which I think is the best podcast. |
| 0:10.9 | Today's conversation is with a gentleman named Tyson Pina, who is the boss, the department head, |
| 0:18.5 | the guy in charge at Kansas State University's aviation department. |
| 0:24.9 | I love this conversation. |
| 0:29.0 | This conversation is not just about Kansas State flying. |
| 0:34.0 | It's not. |
| 0:35.2 | Most of this is about developing as a leader and being a better leader and how to do |
| 0:43.7 | that and how difficult it can be it's also about kansas state university and all the cool stuff |
| 0:51.3 | they're doing all the growth that they're having, having. |
| 0:59.4 | And maybe you know somebody who's got a kid that lives in the Midwest and wants to go fly. |
| 1:00.5 | This is a great school. |
| 1:05.5 | Maybe you know somebody who has been there and done that. |
| 1:08.9 | And as a wildcat, you should pass this on to them. |
| 1:28.2 | Anyway, great chat, great conversation. I probably could have chatted for two more hours i actually had to like find a way to get the off ramp to end the episode because we were it was just such a good conversation could have just kept going so anyway i hope you like it. Sit back, relax. |
| 1:30.4 | Let's get ready for pushback. |
| 1:34.2 | It all started as a spark. |
| 1:38.1 | Maybe it was the sound of jets racing across the sky. |
| 1:44.1 | Or the feeling of your heart racing as you watch Crop Duster flying low and slow. |
| 1:45.0 | Even then, you knew you were meant to fly. |
| 1:49.0 | For pilots, it's more than just a job. It's a calling. |
| 1:53.0 | The early mornings, the long hours, the relentless training, you didn't do it for the money. |
... |
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