16 year-old pilot flies home to Marina Airport for her birthday

MARINA, Calif. (KION) While many teens are finishing up their finals, Riley Speidel's plans were up in the air this week... literally. Speidel flew from Los Angeles to Marina Airport today to earn her pilot's license, a day after her sixteenth birthday.

“I feel really excited because I’ve been looking forward to getting my glider’s license since I started flying when I was 12, so 4 years,” Riley said. “I was training and I finally got to put it to the test and I passed.” 

According to FAA rules, you have to be at least 16 years old to get a pilot's license and fly solo on a conventional airplane. 

However, you only need to be 14 years-old to get your student pilot license. Which is exactly what Speidel did in 2019 becoming the youngest pilot to fly coast-to-coast from California to Maine. 

“She’s flying planes before she’s driving cars, so that’s a little nerve racking," said her mom Alexis Speidel jokingly. "It's amazing seeing your little baby flying up there by herself, but she’s doing a good job.”

She's landed at 1 p.m. in Marina Airport where the Marina fire department will give her a water salute to recognize Riley's achievements as a young pilot. She flew with none other than her own grandmother who was previously a pilot. 

Jake Speidel “My mom rode with her and she said, really good.” said Riley’s father Jake Speidel who got his pilot’s license at 17 years-old. “She did fine. The weather was good. It was a great day to fly.”

Riley comes from a family of pilots. Her father and her grandfather flew for United Airlines. The next person in line to get his license is her younger brother Dash Speidel who was also inspired to start taking lessons only three months ago at 12 years old.

"It’s made me start flying planes too," Dash said. "I really like watching her progress."

Riley is currently finishing up her sophomore year at Carmel High School. According to her dad, she hopes to join the Airforce before someday flying commercially.