About Me

Commercial pilot, flight instructor, and definitely an airplane nerd.

I’m Ellen Quist

A Minnesota native, I grew up in Ramsey and still reside in the Twin Cities. I graduated from Vassar College in 2017 with a BA in Biochemistry and returned to the Midwest to follow my real passion: aviation.

I worked at the local FBO as a line service technician and customer service representative while completing my flight training. Both roles gave me excellent insight into the world of private aviation, including aircraft maintenance, ground handling, and management, as well as an appreciation for the importance of good accounting.

I love learning new airplanes and visiting places I’ve never been before, whether that’s a small airport in rural Wisconsin or the hectic international airports in downtown Chicago. The best view of anywhere is from an airplane.

“There’s a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician, the other is an artist in love with flight.” -Elrey B. Jeppesen

My Experience

I started my flying journey in 2018, and learn more every time I fly. I have been a full-time contract pilot and flight instructor since 2021, following my passion and pursuing a career dedicated to professionalism and safety. 

I have logged hours in more than 30 different airframes. In addition to flying for fun or as a contract pilot, I have logged hundreds of hours of flight instruction towards private pilot, commercial pilot, and flight instructor certificates, instrument and seaplane ratings, and complex or high-performance endorsements.

While I specialize in single-engine Cessnas, Pipers, and Cirrus models, I love the challenge of learning something new.

One mile of highway will take you one mile. One mile of runway will take you anywhere in the world. Where do you want to go?