From his early fascination with toy airplanes at county fairs to becoming a veteran Citation X Captain, Jet Linx Pilot Rob Kolar’s story is one of passion, dedication, and continuous learning. 

In this installment of “Interview with an Aviator,” we sat down with Kolar, a seasoned pilot whose aviation journey spans nearly two decades and includes flying for a range of operators, both large and small. Kolar shares memories of an unforgettable encounter with basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, and what it takes to find success in the dynamic world of professional aviation.

Join us as we explore the life of a pilot who transforms the challenging and impossible into extraordinary flight experiences for our clients.

tell us about your background.

I was born in Morristown, NJ, and lived there until I was about eight-years old. Due to family events, we moved multiple times, living in the Phoenix area and then just north of Orlando where we stayed put for a while. After high school, I attended the Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) where I earned my degree and stayed on as a flight instructor for two years. I then moved to eastern Mississippi for a year, where I worked as a flight instructor and at a pool construction and supply store.

I left Mississippi in 2005 when I was able to get my foot in the door with my first professional flying position on a Falcon 20 in Las Vegas, NV, with a company called Vision Airlines. Around this time, it was difficult to find a job as a pilot in the post-9/11 era, so I was thrilled to be employed and doing what I loved. Between 2007 and 2011, I flew for another local operator and managed their Safety Management System (SMS). I learned a lot in that role, both what to do and what not to do. After four years there, I progressed to XO Jet, where I stayed for 13 years until I decided to come to Jet Linx in April 2023. I’ve been flying the Citation X for a total of 14 years.

when did your interest in aviation begin? why did you want to become a pilot?

When I was very young and living in New Jersey, I loved going to the county fair and getting the blow-up airplanes, or the small foam airplanes that were popular back in the day at gas stations and toy stores. Since then, anything airplane-related has held my interest. 

One moment that stands out was when I took my first small airplane ride in a Republic SeaBee. That was in middle school on a trip to Alaska, and that flight was so fun that I paid for a second flight with my allowance. After that, I started taking flying lessons at Orlando Executive Airport. However, due to school, sports, and social life, those lessons were sporadic. In high school, I had to decide on a path, and luckily, I attended a college fair and found a school where I could study aviation. The rest is history.

why did you choose a career in general aviation, as opposed to going the commercial airline route?

Many of my friends in college wanted to be airline pilots and I never had interest in that. I know the benefits of working for a major airline, but I also feel that it’s a lot of repetition and I enjoy waking up and doing something different every day, not just flying the same routes. With general aviation, there’s always something new to learn – a new flight path, a new type rating, or even a new client’s preferences. It just offers me a bit more excitement with the added challenges and the customer interface. I enjoy learning and continuously improving, so flying in the general aviation sector has been a great fit for me.

what are your thoughts on the safety culture at jet linx?

Jet Linx has a great safety culture, both in terms of investment and personnel. Early in my career, I worked for a small Part 135 operator that never truly understood safety and many flights were last-minute and at ridiculously late hours of the night. I eventually became the Director of Safety there once an SMS was put into place, but when there is no management supporting the policies and programs and everything is viewed through a financial lens, it’s not an environment that’s conducive to safety. 

On the contrary, Jet Linx is home to a fantastic safety culture, not only for aircraft operations but also from a culture standpoint – the whole team really buys in and believes in the safety apparatus. Safety starts with everyone’s personal operations between their ears. If that isn’t safe, then nothing is.

what do you enjoy most about your job?

Making the difficult and the impossible realistic for our clients. In my experience at both XO Jet and Jet Linx, there’s a whole extra challenge of surprising and delighting our clients. Beyond flying them safely, the job is about forming relationships and operating within this invisible line of being polite and friendly, while also being professional and authentic. It can be difficult, but it is rewarding when we receive positive feedback from clients.

what would you like people to know or better understand about being a pilot?

It takes constant work and continued education to be successful. We are always on our toes and must be flexible – adapting to changing situations and must be prepared for anything. When we’re not flying, we’re practicing or learning about flying. The cockpit is only one small part of our job. 

do you have a favorite flight route or any favorite destinations?

My favorite destination is always my hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. Go, Vols!

what aircraft are you typed on and how many flight hours do you have?

I’ve accumulated about 10,000 hours, with most of my time spent in the Citation X.  I’m typed on the CE650 (Citation III), Citation 750 (Citation X), DA20 (Falcon 20), EMB500 (Embraer Phenom 100) and LR-JET (31, 35 and 55). I have flown other types including the Dornier 228 and the LR60. 

do you have a favorite aircraft to fly? or have you ever flown any unique or experimental models?

My favorite aircraft have been the Lear 31 and the Citation X. My flight in a Republic SeaBee during a trip to Alaska back in middle school was fantastic, even though it was for just a minute or two.

what is your best aviation story?

I have two great stories. Growing up in Orlando in the early 90s, I loved basketball and the Orlando Magic – Shaquille O’Neal was a huge deal. I was lucky enough to attend his inaugural basketball camp, but due to an injury on the day he came to take pictures and sign autographs, I was going to miss out on meeting him. However, in a weird turn of events, they let me hang out with him while he waited to talk to the rest of the camp. I got my photo with him and had my camp shirt signed. I had that photo and shirt framed and kept them for years. Fast forward to 2016, Shaquille was one of my first passengers as a Captain with XO Jet. I had my wife text me a picture of the framed shirt and photo from 25 years prior. I showed it to Shaquille and he remembered me. He wanted me to fly him on all his flights going forward. Unfortunately, that couldn’t happen due to staffing, but he recognized me the other two times I flew him.

The second great story happened while here at Jet Linx. I was assigned to fly our Denver Citation X for another very high-profile sports athlete who just so happened to play for the Tennessee Volunteers college football team. While it was a long day with our out-and-back flight, he was gracious enough to take a picture with me – the only picture I’ve ever taken with a client in my career. He knew I was a fan and even gave a “Go Vols” chant as he walked out the door to his car at 2 a.m.

what is something that people may not know about you? or do you have any hobbies you’d like to share?

I’m an avid University of Tennessee Volunteers fan and most Saturdays in the fall I’m either at a game or if I’m working – probably yelling at the play-by-play. 

what advice would you share with a younger pilot or someone interested in getting into the aviation industry?

Be prepared to work hard and continue learning. Learn with your eyes and ears first. Student pilots should focus on instrument skills and cross-country flights to prepare them for any aviation path going forward. In this industry, there is no easy route.