From the Flight Deck

Riley McDonnell knew he wanted to be a pilot ever since kindergarten. And now, at 24, he flies jets.

“In middle school I took an introductory flight, and that was it; I knew I wanted to do that,” Riley said. “The 13-year-old me could hardly see over the windshield, but I was loving every second of it.”

At first, he loved building and flying remote-control planes. He was also busy in high school learning conversational German and traveling to Germany four times, twice as an exchange student. “I really like Cologne Cathedral,” he said. “It’s quite stunning.”

Then in 2018 he began flying lessons and earned his private pilot’s license in 2019. He did his training through Bridgewater State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Aviation Science degree, and that summer was taking family and friends flying.

Riley took instrument flying lessons that fall but couldn’t get his certification before COVID 19 hit.

“The pandemic threw a wrench into my training,” he said. “But I was able to finish it in 2021. Then I worked on my commercial license, which I got in the spring of 2022.”

That allowed him to fly skydivers as a jump pilot, and tow banners. But he decided, instead, to keep moving and get his instructor’s license. He instructed initially at the East Coast Aero Club at Norwood Memorial Airport, just right for the Canton resident.

But Riley knew he wanted still more. The opportunity to fly charter brought him to Shoreline Aviation, fixed base operator of Marshfield Municipal Airport, in July 2024. “This was my chance to do charter flying,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to do charter or the military. I like charter quite a bit.”

Calm and confident, Riley now flies Shoreline’s Citation 560XL line of jets. He is qualified as pilot in command; so far at Shoreline he’s flying second in command while continuing to learn and gain experience. And he’s still training flight students.

Riley McDonnell flies Citation charter jets and also teaches flight training for Shoreline Aviation.

“I’ve taught quite a few students, over 20 since July,” he said shortly before Christmas. “I’ve done a lot of introductory flights; a lot of kids are into it. One student got his license a couple months ago; two are getting close to their licenses.”

Students come from around the South Shore, especially Duxbury and Hingham, Riley said. “One is from South Africa. He’s a riot.”

Riley started flying in the popular Cessna 172 single prop plane, and he’s taught in the 172 and at Shoreline in the company’s also popular Piper Warriors.

He’s the first pilot in his close-knit family. His parents work in the medical field, and he has an older and younger sister. He recalls taking his parents up for the first time.

“My mom was super nervous first time up, so I made sure to pick the perfect day. My dad loves it; I’ve taken him a few times. We flew all around, especially in the autumn and all the fall colors. We even did a touch-and-go at Providence airport.” His girlfriend, Amelia, has also flown with Riley a few times.

But it’s flying charter jets that floats his boat. He’s flown with some of Shoreline’s senior pilots, traveling to Charleston, Kansas City, and Naples, Florida, among other destinations.

“My most exciting time was flying with Keith (Shoreline President Keith Douglass),” Riley said. “It was a super cool experience. He taught me a lot. I felt I was in the big leagues. My hard work tangibly paid off.”

So, what’s next for this 24-year-old jet pilot?

“I want to keep flying charter,” he said. “I never had much interest in the airlines.”