FINNIE Holder is a high flier ? literally as well as figuratively.

From being a pupil at Mount St. Agnes Academy, Mr. Holder always wanted to be a pilot.

Now his dream has come true and he is encouraging other Bermudian youngsters to aim high and consider a career in flying.

Florida-based Mr. Holder is back on the island for a few days to celebrate his brother's wedding.

Having started flying lessons in Florida at the age of 17, Mr. Holder developed his airmanship skills between doing other things ? for some time he worked as a bank manager.

Now, at the age of 29, he has been a fully qualified pilot for three-and-half years and is first officer for the company which trained him, TAB Express International. TAB has graduated more than 500 pilots to European and US airlines. And now Mr. Holder, who originates from Pembroke, is in the process of interviewing for a job with a major US airline.

"Any young Bermudian who is interested in becoming an airline pilot, I'd be happy to help with some advice," Mr. Holder said.

"You have to have the will and the drive to do it and you have to be prepared to study a lot. But flying lessons are expensive, so you need strong financial support from your family."

But all the effort and determination to get qualified had been worth it, he added.

"One of the things I enjoy about flying is the complexity of it and the fact that very few people in the world can actually do the job," Mr. Holder said.

"The safety and technical aspects are very interesting and there are lots of travel benefits. It's enjoyable seeing different cities from day to day."

Already Mr. Holder's work has taken him to Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, most of the Caribbean islands and many parts of the US and Canada.

But there is one place in particular he would love to fly to one day ? Bermuda.