Chris Rose Since 1979, Popovich and his team have repossessed 1,986 planes and helicopters. This is what his job is like, as told to freelance writer Jenny Powers. Growing up in Northwest Indiana, I never took my father's advice — except once. I was 16 years old when he told me to get my pilot's license because it might come in handy one day. I did. After graduating from high school, I went to Indiana University for a semester, but school wasn't for me. Instead, I started flying for Braniff International Airways. It turned out that wasn't for me either. I hated wearing a jacket and tie, and I felt more like a bus driver than a commercial pilot. When I got the chance to become a partner in a small Caribbean charter operation in St. Kitts, I jumped on it.