High flying Bermudian Kyle Cantarella was just 17 when he obtained his pilot’s licence, fulfilling a dream that was sparked by the decision to confront his fear of flying.

“I was only scared for about ten seconds,” the Southampton teen recalled of his first flight lesson in a Cessna 172.

“I knew instantly what I wanted to do with my life — an instant career pathway. The only way I can explain it is it was a feeling of clarity, of just knowing what I wanted to do.”

That first experience of taking to the sky occurred when he was 15, at Virginia’s Randolph-Macon Academy, where he enrolled after a stint at Warwick Academy.

Once back on the ground, Kyle’s first reaction was to schedule more classes.

A summer programme at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University partially explains why he was able to get his private licence at a comparatively young age — 17 being the minimum.

“I had my pilot’s licence before I had my driver’s licence,” said Kyle, now 18. “I was the only cadet in my school for that year.” He qualified in January, 2013.

After his graduation from Admiral Farragut Academy in Florida, Kyle embarked on a gap year largely devoted to “flying around and having fun”.

Starting today, however, Kyle heads off to pursue the next phase of his training: a return to Embry Riddle, this time for a diploma in aeronautical science from its branch at Florida’s Daytona Beach.

It’s a return to a state he knows well: in between high school classes at Farragut, Kyle took a rented aircraft all over Florida.

“I upgraded from a Cessna 172 to a 182, which is a quicker aeroplane. I’d ask the principal and then fly for days and days. I think I’ve been to most cities in Florida that have an airport — every day I’d just fly to a new airport.”

Other trips included a jaunt to the Bahamas and a flight over Alabama, watching out for unusual weather phenomena — and, at one point, getting to fly in pattern with a passing Good Year blimp.

“The qualifications are tiered,” Kyle said. “You start off with a private pilot licence, which means you can’t get paid for flying but you can fly.

“Next is the instrument licence, which enables you to fly through clouds and do more advanced stuff. A commercial licence allows you to fly for compensation. Then there’s ATP, the Airline Transport Pilot licence.”

A high performance rating allows pilots to fly planes with a horsepower greater than 200. Kyle has also acquired a seaplane rating.

“I can go in any airspace, other than 18,000 feet and above,” he said.

The support of Bermudian parents Gwen and Sal has enabled him to follow his dream.

Kyle added: “My family’s supported me all the way. I would like to say that’s normal, but I’m very lucky — with them it’s no questions asked. It’s about following your dreams.”

His younger brother Ryan, 17, has hopes of being a footballer, while 15-year-old sister Haley has aspirations of being a dancer, he said — “so my family don’t have any problem with supporting dreams”.

For Kyle, dream aircraft to fly range from the giant C130 Hercules, to older planes such as a Boeing 727.

“I’d be happy flying anything with wings and an engine,” he said, “but I’d really like to fly for aid — helping people, turning my dreams into help for a group like the Red Cross, being able to help after hurricanes or natural disasters.”

Three or four years of schooling come first, with possible further qualifications or pursuing a career.

Another dream, he said, would be to open a flight school here on the Island — get an aircraft and some space to take off, and start teaching others Bermudians how to fly.

“If I ever had the means — if they’d allow it, if I could get the money to open, I’d definitely come back and set my mind to that,” he said. “You only need one plane.”

For others with aspirations of taking to the skies, Kyle advised: “You just need to start off with a flight lesson. If you’re away somewhere, find a place and pop in and try it. If you like it, just follow your dreams. Don’t let anyone hold you back — just do it.”