Flight Team to the Flight Deck: Ismael Jimenez – Captain, Ameriflight
Ismael serves as a Captain for Ameriflight – the nation’s largest Part 135 operator – flying the SA227 Metroliner. In March, he’ll begin flying the Embraer 120 Brasilia as a Captain. Ismael is part of the UPS FlightPath program, which sends the brightest aviators to UPS Airlines through Ameriflight.
He originally joined the program as a Flight Operations Technical & Safety intern at the UPS Worldport in Louisville, Kentucky from 2019-20. He enjoys the opportunity Ameriflight provides him to fly all over the United States and South America. He is currently based in Dallas, Texas at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
Originally from Naguabo, Puerto Rico 
, Ismael earned his bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Sciences from Polk State College in 2020. He served as the First Officer – Flight for our team during the 2017-18 competition season. He shared that training & instructing in the Polk State College – Aerospace program & competing for the Flight Team set him up for success as a cargo pilot.
“The Aerospace program at Polk State in conjunction with the Polk State Flight Team prepared me for my current role as a Captain at the nation’s largest Part 135 airline,” he said. “From the instructors and professors to Coach Carl and the Flight Team they all helped me and encouraged me to develop my skills as a pilot and as a team player in the cockpit. The camaraderie at Polk State motivated me to study hard and hone my skills to become the best pilot I can be.”
