This is one of a continuing series of profiles featuring members of the Texas Aviation Advisory Committee. The six members are appointed by the Texas Transportation Commission for six-year terms and assist the Texas Department of Transportation with its aviation development programs. Committee members also work with the legislature on various aviation issues. Members must have at least five years of experience in the field of aviation and a strong interest in supporting Texas’ general aviation program.
In this issue, we profile Committee Member Mike Collier, who was appointed to the committee in 2009.
Like most pilots, Mike Collier’s interest in aviation started early. He was six-years old when the 1949 movie about World War II pilots, called 12 O’Clock High, inspired him to fly one day. But, becoming a pilot seemed unlikely. He was growing up in the small Texas town of Marlin, and no one he knew was a pilot.
Fast forward to 1984.
Collier just took off from Andrau Airpark in Houston in an F4 U Corsair. He was climbing, but under 300-feet of altitude, when the vintage World War II era, single-engine lost power. For the first time in 19 years of flying, Collier was forced to look for a soft place for an emergency landing. Luckily, no homes were built yet in the planned housing development below him. Upon impact in a muddy field, the plane broke in two. Collier required surgery, but it was successful in stopping the internal bleeding. For the next two weeks, he called a Houston hospital home. Thirty days later, he was bock in the cockpit – of all things – performing acrobatics.
“Yes it was a serious ‘close call,’ but it didn’t keep me from flying,” Collier said. “I never had anything like that happen before that time or after. It was just one of those things.”
Collier began taking flying lessons while attending Baylor University in the 1960’s while he earned his bachelor of business administration degree. He and his parents – Melvin and Mildred Collier – had to scrimp and save for the lessons, because all the funds were going towards educational expenses.
After graduation, he joined the Army National Guard and eventually became a company commander of an Airborne Infantry Unit before retiring. Collier also spent 24 years working in real estate. During that time he married school teacher, Joan Wright, and had two children. (Despite his successes, Collier says his family is the most important part of his life: son and daughter-in law, Ryan and Andrea Collier and daughter and son-in law, Courtney and Chris Steele; and grandson Collier Michael Steele.)
It was in 1983 that Collier became very active in air shows. He was assigned a Bell P-63 King Cobra owned by the Confederate Air Force (CAF}, which is currently being restored. He and a fellow pilot founded the very successful ‘Wings Over Houston Air Show” on behalf of the CAF. He’s a current member of the Lakeway Airpark Board of Directors. Collier holds an “All Makes and Models High Performance Piston” rating and owns an L-19 Birddog.
“I will continue flying until it’s not fun anymore,” Collier says. “But right now, I can’t imagine that happening.” Collier still thinks back to the days of 12 O’Clock High and how it changed his life. “You should rent the movie …. it’s on DVD.”
Wingtips: How important is aviation to you?
Collier: Aviation has been the third most important thing in my life, next to my family and my-career. Some people play golf, travel, race cars or other things for a pastime. Mine has always been aviation. It’s the feeling of freedom that is the key for my love of flying. The warbird flying is especially important so that I might help the world see a part of history that few know about or have experienced. I have also been fortunate to meet many of the people who flew these machines.
Wingtips: What was your motivation in accepting the appointment on the Texas Aviation Advisory Commission?
Collier: My motivation for accepting the appointment is really very simple. Not many people get the chance to do something really important and make a real difference in something. I see that opportunity here. I especially am interested in educating our youth about aviation.
Wingtips: Was there a memorable experience that you can share that has occurred during your term?
Collier: Since I have only been on the Board for a short time, the realization of the many things that it is involved in has been a real eye opener for me. I guess I always thought that they just flew airplanes. I am also very impressed with the other Board members and their aviation backgrounds. I am just excited to be a part of this.
Wingtips: What are the biggest challenges you see for general aviation going forward?
Collier: The list of challenges is probably too long to name them all here. The top ones on my list for general aviation probably include availability of avgas in the future, insurance costs and availability of general aviation airports and facilities.
Wingtips: What would you like the public to know about general aviation in Texas and why non-pilots should care about it?
Collier: Every Texan should be interested in general aviation in Texas. It plays an important part in all our lives. The size of Texas alone dictates how import aviation is in travel and commerce in our state. The old saying of “time is money” is especially important in our state where people or products may need to leave El Paso and be in Texarkana the same day when commercial aviation is not available. Only aviation can make that happen. If you ever had the experience of driving from one end of the state to the other, one would never ask how important aviation is .
