Trent Vick, 2017 Appareo Pilot of the Year Award recipient, first dreamed of becoming a helicopter pilot after seeing an emergency medical services (EMS) helicopter at a high school event. This encounter left him wanting to join the world of aviation, and he later enrolled at Hillsboro Aero Academy. He completed the Professional Pilot Program and worked as a CFI to build his hours and is now using that experience to fly real-world helicopter operations.