Kel flies Piper Cherokees and Cessna 172s around Kansas City, Missouri. She's a content creator, a brand ambassador for SkyWatch, and a pilot who came to aviation later than she expected. She didn't grow up around airplanes. Movies planted the seed. Flight training changed everything.
She's been with SkyWatch for two years. This is why.
She didn't grow up in aviation, and that's kind of the point
Kel is honest about her path.
"I honestly feel like I was a little late to the game. I didn't grow up around airplanes or knowing much about aviation, but movies like Top Gun definitely planted the seed."
She started flight training with a goal: give herself a better shot at flying for the Air Force or Navy. But somewhere along the way, she fell in love with general aviation and the community around it. Now she flies cross-country trips, proficiency flights, and sometimes just heads somewhere new because she wants to.
That last part matters. Flying for the fun of it, in aircraft you don't own, on a schedule that fits your life, is exactly the kind of flying SkyWatch was built for.
What she looks for in insurance
Kel doesn't fly on a fixed schedule.
"It depends on weather, work, and life, but I try to fly a few hours every couple weeks."
That's a real answer from a real pilot. Not everyone flies 200 hours a year. Not everyone owns their aircraft. A lot of pilots rent, fly when they can, and need coverage that fits that reality, not a policy written for someone with a hangar and a set weekly flight.
That's the gap aircraft renters insurance fills. And it's why Kel chose SkyWatch.
"I chose SkyWatch because it just makes sense for the way a lot of pilots actually fly. It's simple, flexible, and doesn't feel overwhelming, especially when you're still learning how to navigate everything in aviation."
Why it works for students and CFIs too
Kel speaks directly to the experience of newer pilots: there's already a lot to manage. Studying, training, checkrides, learning airspace, building hours. Adding a complicated insurance process on top of that doesn't help anyone.
"Students and CFIs already have so much to think about. SkyWatch makes insurance feel less complicated and more accessible, especially for pilots like me who may not own an aircraft or fly the same airplane every time."
Student pilot insurance doesn't have to be a whole project. It should take minutes, not days. And CFI insurance should be just as straightforward for instructors who need flexible coverage across multiple aircraft.
What SkyWatch actually gives her
Kel doesn't talk about SkyWatch in technical terms. She talks about focus.
"SkyWatch is perfect for me because it gives me peace of mind without making the process harder than it needs to be. I can put my focus on flying and learning without stressing over the administrative side of aviation."
That's the thing about aviation insurance that often gets missed: the best version of it is the one you don't have to think about. You get covered, you go fly, and the paperwork isn't the story.
The community keeps her here
When asked about the best thing about flying, Kel didn't say the views or the freedom. She said the people.
"The friends you make along the way. Flying is what got me into aviation, but the people are what made me stay. Some of my closest friendships have come from aviation, and there's something special about being part of a community that's always willing to help, teach, and cheer each other on."
Her advice to newer pilots:
"Aviation can feel intimidating at first, but everyone starts somewhere. Ask questions, make connections, and don't compare your timeline to anyone else's. Every flight teaches you something, be open to learning."
Two years in
Kel has been flying with SkyWatch coverage for two years. She rents different aircraft, flies when her schedule allows, and doesn't stress about the insurance side of it.
That's exactly what SkyWatch is built to do.
If you're a renter pilot, a student, or a CFI looking for coverage that works the way you actually fly, start here.
