Soon after Hurricane Helene rolled through the Florida panhandle, Georgia, and the Carolinas, I was relieved to see pilots along the east coast rush to the rescue. I am quite privileged to be in an industry filled with people so willing and ready to donate significant time, resources, energy, and talent to helping people in need after major disasters, during medical treatments, or in times of crisis.
Aviation is unique in that the shared experiences of people who fly push them to be present for others no matter the circumstances. I have routinely seen pilots, aviators, ground crew, etc. rush to others’ aid to lift them up and support them in one way or another, whether it be donating flight time, contributing to fundraisers, or spreading the word on safety practices and procedural changes that emerge for the betterment of our profession and industry.
The freedom to fly is a privilege that I too often underestimate. While on an IFR-training flight, my student remarked on how few people alive today–and over the course of history, for that matter–have seen the tops of clouds. In an undeniable way, flying helps me appreciate the beauty of life, the world around me, and the relationships I hold dear.
This appreciation is expanded greatly by my interactions with the aviation professionals around me. I am consistently impressed by the smiling faces of FBO linemen when I come through on training flights, the grace and flexibility of pilot examiners, and the welcoming hands of people from desk workers to professional pilots flying multimillion-dollar jets.
I think part of the reason all this is true is that understanding the implications of what aviation professionals do on a daily basis force everyone to appreciate the beauty of the world around them, too. I have yet to meet a single pilot for whom the risk of flying does not instill a deep, fundamental respect for and love of life, thereby inspiring a strong desire to love and support other people in a deeper, more enlightened sense. The same is said for appreciating natural beauties and wonders—the privilege of seeing the world from a new perspective in many cases challenges pilots to protect and nurture their environments and beloved spaces.
I am very glad I have the resources and skills to participate in this culture. It is not often people get to use their passions to make the world a better place, and I am very lucky to have the ability to do so.
Equally, aviation has introduced me to a variety of people, all of whom have unique perspectives and skills, furthering the wide reach I see regularly in aviation. I find that my colleagues tend to take their skills far beyond the purview of flying; not only do people use their flying to help others, but they also seek additional opportunities outside of the aviation world to continue their commitment to others.
Whether or not flying and aviation are involved in the support that aviators and aviation professionals provide others, I find that flying has a material benefit to how people see the world around them and how they use their skills and tools. I am greatly inspired by the genuine care I see people offer others, and I am looking forward to supporting those around me in greater ways throughout my life.
