Page 12 - mmopaMJ21

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Meet MMOPA Member
Muna Vienna
Aircraft: 2016 M600
Home Base: KSNA
Career: ER Physician & COO of an international manufacturing company
MMOPA Magazine: How did you get into flying?
Muna: I remember when I was young, in grade school, and I looked up because I heard a small plane overhead. I decided I wanted to be in a plane and definitely flying it. I just knew I wanted to fly. I found an introductory flight lesson at my hometown airport when I was in high school, but it wasn’t until several years later that I got the money together to start taking lessons regularly. Flying has been every bit as exciting as I thought it would be. It combines physics, meteorology, airspace, safety, mechanics, physical skills (stick and rudder), etc.
I got my ASEL in 2003 and my instrument in 2005. I was halfway to my multi when my pregnant belly got in the way! I hadn’t flown as PIC in recent years because I got busy with kids and work. Then when the pandemic started my 13-year- old son was playing electronic games, all of them flight- related. So, I bought him a simulator to keep busy, along with ground school online. He was obsessed. He wore me down convincing me to get my license current again, and then he was showing me planes on Controller all the time. Owning
a plane was always a dream of mine, so it didn’t take much convincing. There’s been a lot of heartbreak for many people during the pandemic. This is definitely a highlight during an overall difficult time.
MMOPA Magazine: Tell us about your career.
Muna: I studied chemistry, then Emergency Medicine at UCLA. After spending a few years as an ER physician, I left
to run the family business called Merrick for around 15 years. We make plastic hangers and home goods in three locations: California, Texas, and West Virginia. Today, I am semi-retired since my kids need me around a lot for a few more years. I used a lot of my training in the business, things like checklists, or improved communication, even a “plate” on proper assembly of each of our products.
MMOPA Magazine: Did you own any aircraft before the M600?
Muna: I only rented before and my fastest plane was the Cessna T182. The first plane I owned is this M600, or as I like to call him Mike (N7828M). Why should all planes be referred to by the pronoun “she”?
12 MMOPA MAGAZINE MAY / JUNE 2021