Being ExpressJet

When Captain Paul Koziol is not flying an Embraer 145 jet, you can find him in his personal plane.

Captain Paul Koziol loves flying. In his spare time, he shares that love with children, adults and aviation students through his work with aviation organizations across his home state of Ohio.

“I organize several events each year that offer children and adults a chance to ride in an airplane for free, talk with pilots and help them learn about all aspects of aviation,” Paul said.

Paul is involved with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the EAA Young Eagles program, the FAA Safety team, and the Commemorative Air Force. He also coordinates “International Learn the Fly Day” in Ohio. These organizations and events aim to introduce children and teenagers to the field of aviation, educate them about various careers and to encourage a love of flying in both kids and adults.

Paul shared stories of former Young Eagles he mentored as teenagers who are now beginning their careers as pilots. He says it makes him proud to see these kids pursuing their dreams of flying airplanes and maybe one day working in the aviation industry.

“These kids may not have ever been inside an airplane before or had only seen them from a distance. Now they are pursuing their pilot’s license after being introduced to aviation through our programs. It’s great to see the impact we have on these kids. Being able to share something you love with other people is so rewarding.”

It’s not just kids that aviation organizations focus on.  International Learn to Fly Day is designed to be a family event where parents and their kids can talk with professional and recreational pilots, tour local airports and learn about building and flying various types of aircraft. At last year’s event, ExpressJet was the only commercial airline to have a jet on display for attendees to tour.

“Last year’s event was hugely successful. Everyone loved being able to walk through the Embraer 145 we had on display. Next year’s International Learn to Fly Day will be even bigger and able to reach more people.”

Paul has been with ExpressJet for 13 years. He is involved on many levels within the company as an EMB145 captain, a line check airman and a crew resource management facilitator.  Aviation is Paul’s second career, and he says he made the right choice this time. He and his wife even own two private planes – that’s how much Paul loves flying.

Later this month, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet will be attending the Regional Airline Pilot Career Fair in Chicago. We’ll have several of our pilot recruiters there to answer questions and to talk one-on-one about opportunities with our company. The fair is hosted by FltOps Jobs and is being held at the Chicago O’Hare Marriott on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 1 to 6 p.m.

Events like this one typically attract hundreds of attendees and are a great setting for future aviators to begin building relationships with airlines. For info about tickets and pricing, visit the FltOps website below.

Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet have been welcoming pilots onboard since last fall, and right now our recruitment efforts are focused on hiring for our ExpressJet operation. As you may have heard, Atlantic Southeast and ExpressJet are in the process of merging our operations, and until we reach a single operating certificate from the FAA later this year, we will continue hiring for separately for each airline.

Check out the FltOps Jobs website for more info about the Chicago career fair.

When Doug Helms joined Atlantic Southeast Airlines as a pilot in 1979, the newly founded airline had just one plane – a 19-seat DeHavilland Twin Otter – and one route – Atlanta-Columbus, Ga. Capt. Helms, Atlantic Southeast’s most senior pilot, has been here for nearly every milestone in our company’s history, flown the captain’s seat of nine aircraft, and spent 14 years in leadership positions, some of which overlapped his 10 years spent in our Flight Operations Training department.

Today, 32 years after flying his first Atlantic Southeast flight, Capt. Helms completed his final flight before starting his retirement. As Capt. Helms and his crew taxied to the gate in Atlanta, the CRJ900 aircraft in his command was met with a water cannon salute, an honor bestowed by the City of Atlanta Department of Fire Rescue. And as he exited the aircraft, he was greeted by a group of his peers, some of whom he has worked with since the “early days” of Atlantic Southeast, gathered to celebrate this milestone in his life.

One of those peers is Chief Pilot Randy Cash, who said, “Doug is the epitome of what a captain should be.”

Randy’s feeling about Capt. Helms is echoed by countless others at our airline, and for many, he has served as a role model for developing aviation professionals.

“He inspires me to be a great captain,” said Josh Laminack, who served as the first officer on Capt. Helm’s final flight.

As Capt. Helms departs for his next endeavor, we want to congratulate and thank him for his 32 years of service and dedication to Atlantic Southeast!

Below are just a few of the kind words our people had to say about Capt. Helms in response to a story posted about his retirement on our company intranet:

“Thanks for passing along wisdom from all your experiences. You’ve been a great example for the pilots of the next generation to follow.”

“Atlantic Southeast has been incredibly fortunate that you not only chose to come work here, but to make a career here.”

“You have given all of us many fond memories, education and stories to share for years to come.”

“You always come to mind when someone asks what it is to be a true professional.”

“You sir, have held command, and responsibility that goes with it, in the highest regard.”

“It has been a great pleasure knowing and flying with you all these years.”

“We are a better airline because of your qualities as a human being.”

Fun-loving, trustworthy and kind are three words to describe flight attendant Tezona Ledbetter. Every day she gives back to the community whether she is helping a passenger find his connecting flight, teaching recovering addicts ways to help themselves, or hosting a dinner party for friends and family.

Before joining us as a flight attendant at Atlantic Southeast, Tezona spent 17 years as a professional counselor working with people overcoming addictions. Her ability to empathize with her patients and her vow to never judge a book by its cover helped her be successful as a counselor.

“Understanding what people go through has helped me to become a better counselor. Many people say they ‘can’t quit’ or ‘don’t know how.’ I show them there is a way.”

When Tezona decided it was time to put herself first, she pursued her lifelong aspiration of becoming a flight attendant so she could see the world.

“I had always wanted to be a flight attendant. It was a dream of mine that came true. I’m so lucky that I actually want to go to work every day!”

Her five years as a flight attendant have taught her invaluable skills that she says make her a better counselor and a better person.

“Being a flight attendant has given me a good background in learning how to read people. It has taught me compassion and sympathy. I’ve learned to make friends easily and the importance of being genuine. I feel that I am prepared for any situation thrown at me.”

Tezona continues to counsel recovering addicts today as a volunteer and is affiliated with several programs in Atlanta and Los Angeles. She participates in interventions, meets one-on-one with patients and acts as a resource and sponsor to those enrolled in addiction recovery programs.

“I feel that I was called to do this and I’m so grateful I can give back.”

ACE students on the tour of Atlantic Southeast's A-Tech Center

Atlantic Southeast recently hosted a group of 45 students, ages 14-18, attending the Aviation Career Education (ACE) camp. This wasn’t the average tour and these aren’t your average youngsters – these kids are the future of aviation.

“Our professionals were impressed with the knowledge these children had –already! I am confident each of these students will work in the aviation industry in the future,” said Sharon Robinson, our employee relations coordinator who led the tour group.

The annual aviation camp addresses all areas of the industry from Maintenance to Inflight Services and Flight Ops to engineering. Attendees’ interests ranged the gamut – they hoped to become pilots, dispatchers and one student even plans to work in marketing for an airline.

The tour began with a lesson on the safety and security programs we use. Then it was on to the Ground Equipment Maintenance  shop, aircraft wheel shop and engine shop where they got a hands-on guide to what it takes to get a plane in the air.

The 30-minute tour of our aircraft became an hour-long affair with the kids waiting patiently to ask dozens of insightful questions and answering the trivia questions posed by our tour guides.

A tour of the hangar and our Operations Control Center was also met with excitement, questions and avid note-taking. Future engineers tried their hand at the intense mathematics involved in dispatch and mechanic-hopefuls got to look inside the body of the plane to see how it works.

A breakdown of what to expect in Inflight Services and Flight Operations training rounded out the day. The students were given a summary of what training covers, what it is like and how to get there, and even got a quick look at a flight simulator.

The Aviation Career Education (ACE) camp is an outreach program of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP). Sponsored by Delta, ACE aims to introduce interested youth to the world of aviation by exposing them to the many careers and opportunities the aviation industry has to offer.