I'm taking a break from flying

Summary

In this Mentour video, the host celebrates reaching two million subscribers and shares the journey from a hobby to a full-time job. He explains his decision to leave flying to focus on YouTube, aiming to serve the aviation community. The host introduces his team, discusses the challenges of content creation funded by ads, and invites viewers to support the channel through Patreon to ensure future production and help make aviation safer.

Takeaways

• 🎉 The Mentour channel has reached 2 million subscribers, a significant milestone that the creator is grateful for.
• 🛫 The channel has transitioned from a hobby to a full-time job for the creator and a team of five professionals.
• ✈️ The creator's passion for aviation began at a young age and led to a career as a pilot, flying Boeing 737s.
• 📈 The creator left his airline job to focus on the channel, believing it's the best way to serve the aviation community.
• 👥 The team behind Mentour includes professionals specializing in editing, 3D animation, research, and graphic design.
• 🕒 Each Mentour Pilot video requires approximately 500 hours of work, reflecting the high production standards.
• 🔍 The channel's content aims to highlight the safety and professionalism in aviation, often by examining incidents and near misses.
• 📊 The channel's funding primarily comes from YouTube advertising, but the revenue model can be challenging for high-cost productions.
• 💼 The creator is asking for support on Patreon to help sustain the channel and enable the production of more complex videos.
• 🌟 Patreon supporters get early access to videos and participate in regular hangouts with the creator, contributing to the community.
• 🚀 The goal is to double the Patreon membership to 4,000 to expand the team and continue producing high-quality aviation content.

Q & A

Why did the Mentour channel creator decide to make YouTube his full-time job?

The Mentour channel creator decided to make YouTube his full-time job because he believes it is the best way he can serve the aviation community and reach a large audience to highlight the industry's safety and the efforts of its professionals.

What was the creator's initial career before focusing on YouTube?

Before focusing on YouTube, the creator had a career as a pilot, flying the Boeing 737 and later becoming a captain, line training captain, type rating instructor, and examiner.

How did the creator's passion for aviation begin?

The creator's passion for aviation began when his parents gifted him a test lesson for his 14th birthday, which ignited his interest and led him to excel academically to pursue a career in aviation.

What is the significance of the 2 million subscribers milestone for Mentour?

Reaching 2 million subscribers signifies a major achievement for Mentour, reflecting the channel's growth and the substantial audience it has garnered, which the creator is deeply grateful for.

Why is the creator asking viewers to support the channel on Patreon?

The creator is asking viewers to support the channel on Patreon to help sustain the production of high-quality content, as the costs of creating such detailed videos can exceed the ad revenue, and to allow for the planning of long-term and complex projects.

What is the role of Dominic on the Mentour team?

Dominic serves as the chief editor and graphic design wizard on the Mentour team, and he was the first team member to join back in 2019.

How does the creator describe the safety of aviation?

The creator describes aviation as one of the safest methods of transportation, attributing this safety level to the countless daily decisions made by aviation professionals worldwide.

What is the average time spent on producing a Mentour Pilot video?

Each Mentour Pilot video takes approximately 500 hours to produce, which is nearly 10 hours of work for every minute of content.

How does the creator view the role of Patreon supporters in the channel's future?

The creator sees Patreon supporters as fundamental and critical parts of the channel, enabling future production and allowing for more ambitious projects through their support.

What are the challenges faced by the Mentour team in producing content on YouTube?

The Mentour team faces challenges such as the uncertainty of ad revenue, which may not cover the extensive production costs, and the need to balance sponsorships with audience expectations.

What is the creator's goal for Patreon membership to support the channel's growth?

The creator aims to double the Patreon membership to 4,000 members to expand the team and increase the channel's ambitions for new projects, ensuring the sustainability of Mentour.