An experienced major airline pilot, Gary Tromer prepared for his career with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aircraft Engineering Technology from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. While also there as student, Gary Tromer also earned an Aviation Maintenance Technician Federal A&P (airframe and powerplant) license.
Gary first became interested in flying from his father, who was a World War II 8th Air Force B-24 Bomber command pilot. His father would describe in fascinating detail his arduous Army Air Corps indoctrination, then advanced flight training, all the way to his 35 harrowing missions over Nazi Germany. Instilled at an early age was a the goal to become a pilot and progress. So at age 15, he joined the Civil Air Patrol as a cadet. Similar to the Boy Scouts, but with a flying motif. He then secured his first job after school and weekends as a dishwasher, then a grocery store stock clerk. His goal was to save and pay entirely for his flying lessons. So he would work, and on Sunday would expend his entire week's earnings on a single one hour lesson. Right age 16, the minimum regulatory age to solo (signed off by the instructor to make some flights alone), he made his first ever solo flight at Republic Airport, Farmingdale, NY. Then at the minimum age for earning an FAA Private Pilot's license at age 17, he also accomplished this. Whatever earnings remained he used to get his NASDS Scuba Diver certification. Gary also had a keen interest in all things mechanical, which began at age 12, in Westbury, NY. His neighborhood best friend and him began tinkering with motor-bikes. Bicycles with converted lawnmower engines attached to a pulley drive. In his senior year of high school, he applied to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. The premiere aviation university at that time, which fulfilled all of his interests; flying and mechanics. The third, scuba, was right there as it was a Florida located school. Gary never lost sight of his goals as a young teen, and was determined from that early age to progress in the aviation field.