When I came to Atlantic Southeast Airlines 15 years ago, I was anticipating a move into an exciting new career, surrounded by men and women with long aviation backgrounds. I chose Atlantic Southeast because it had one of the strongest, most secure track records in the industry. What I found when I got here was all of that and more.
The first Captain I flew with was also the mayor pro tem of one of the small towns outside Atlanta. The next Captain was a retired Florida State Trooper. More and more I discovered an incredibly diverse group of men and women who had chosen to add “professional aviator” to their curriculum vitae. My colleagues boast backgrounds as cabinet makers, registered nurses, doctors, lawyers, electricians, farmers, ranchers, carpenters. In short, an incredibly talented group of people.
This was brought home once more when our LIFT program announced that we would, as a company, have a chance to be involved in a Habitat for Humanity build in the Atlanta area. If you have never been on a Habitat build, it is a truly amazing event. Habitat has the system nailed. It is a perfect way for responsible first-time home owners to get their first home at a very reduced price. The homeowners-to-be have to qualify financially and contribute to the construction of their home. Wall sections are pre-built at a central location and trucked to the construction site to be erected. That’s where the volunteers come in. The goal is to utilize volunteers and a few licensed professionals to build the entire home in seven days.
When our company group of volunteers showed up at 8 a.m., we were looking at a shell with windows, drywall, siding and roofing in place. Once again I saw the diversity of my co-workers. Some in the group had little to no construction experience but quickly learned how to throw a little paint, a few had just enough experience to be entertaining with a hammer, while others demonstrated a strong construction background and moved quickly through some of the more complex projects. We all worked side by side with the homeowners and Habitat construction managers. When we left at 5 p.m., the house had exterior trim, patio railings, doors, kitchen cabinets, and complete paint inside and out! We made absolutely amazing progress and had a great time!
My co-workers proved to be a great group of aviation professionals doing great things for the community.
