I’m Andrea Arena, born in ’71 and raised near Catania. My journey took off in 1989 when I joined the Air Force Academy. I earned my wings in the U.S., got my degree, and spent years as a fighter pilot and instructor—flying the legendary F-104 and the F-16, mostly based out of Trapani.
In 2006, I decided it was time for a "second act." I traded the cockpit of a fighter jet for a Boeing 737 with Air One, and later moved to the Airbus fleet with Alitalia. By 2014, the itch for adventure struck again, leading me to Abu Dhabi to fly the "Triple Seven" (Boeing 777) for Etihad.
Fast forward to 2018: I’m back in Italy, having left the airlines to train the next generation of military pilots on cutting-edge simulators. And knowing me, there's plenty more to come!
With over 11,000 combined hours in the air and at the sim as an instructor, I’ve flown almost everything—from paragliders to supersonic jets. When I’m not in the clouds, you’ll find me sailing, diving, tinkering with electronics, or outdoors testing my limits. I’m a fan of travel, music, and great books, though I always seem to have more projects than hours in the day. To be honest, I still haven't decided what I want to be when I grow up!
I started this blog to share my experiences. Whether you're here to conquer a fear of flying or just to have a look around, I hope you enjoy the stories.
Happy reading!
