I’m writing this as the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin kicks off. Planes are just starting to arrive to make Whitman Regional Airport the “busiest in the world” for a week; pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and the rest of the community are gearing up for what many consider to be aviation’s Mecca.
This much-anticipated annual event is perhaps the most notable week of the year in aviation in the United States, if not in the world. The fly-in/show has been going on for decades and seems to grow in size and popularity every year. This is where exhibitions, unique aircraft, educational seminars, and usually some big announcement by a major aviation company are featured. All of this is punctuated by a daily airshow spectacle of a grand scale.
Of the thousands of aviation enthusiasts who attend year after year, each might give you a unique reason for going. Some look forward to cool airplanes, some want to check out the exhibitors or meet their favorite aviation influencer.
Many however, use attending AirVenture as a way to catch up with old friends—with people they haven’t seen in a while, maybe since last year’s airshow—serving as a venue they share. Going with friends, after all, makes any airshow more meaningful, memorable and enjoyable.
This can be said for a lot of things in aviation. I have had the pleasure of meeting many wonderful people in this industry, some of whom have become lifelong friends. Experiencing flight is always more enjoyable, fulfilling, and rewarding with a strong community surrounding you. I have had the privilege of getting to know people in every stage of their aviation journeys: student pilots, instructors, and commercial airline pilots as well as mechanics, ground crews, and more.
My first aviation job was working ramp and customer service for a commuter airline at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. For one summer during college, I did everything from helping passengers check in, to marshalling planes, driving a van around ORD’s expansive service roads, and transferring bags between our plane, baggage claim and other airlines.
That job provided me with a tightly knit group of coworkers with whom I enjoyed working. Between shifts, we regularly went on adventures around the airport, whether for breakfast or to try to take a peek from our van at Air Force One landing. Such a solid community made the job immeasurably more enjoyable and manageable, especially for a teenager just starting his aviation journey.
As an instructor, I’ve had the privilege of working with people who have become close friends. When we weren’t goofing off as we waited for the next student to show up, from time to time, we would trade instruction time. I gave multiple Instrument Proficiency Checks to my fellow CFIs, and I earned my tailwheel endorsement from one of my colleagues.
Even just flying through various airports has exposed me to lovely people whom otherwise, I would not have met. From FBO agents at a small airport in Kentucky, to classmates attending various instructor academies, simply encountering people is often a joy that I relish.
Being able to share my journey with others makes aviation considerably easier and more enjoyable. Despite all the ups and downs this industry brings, having a community does wonders to help us push through whatever volatility comes our way.
It is the case, of course, that some pilots rely on community more than I do. Indeed, for some, the communal aspect of aviation makes up most of their experience with the industry. Outside the realm of professional flight are private pilots who spend much of their time attending EAA meetings, AOPA seminars, going to airport restaurants, aviation museums, and airshows; and taking friends and family flying either to practice landings or to stop by a niche airport or attraction.
Others use aviation as a means to get to their communities by flying to work, flying to family, or shuttling back and forth between their properties. Oftentimes, people get into flying specifically because it makes it easier to maintain connections with people in hard-to-reach places or to fly themselves long distances instead of relying on someone else.
Experiencing flight is much more enjoyable and meaningful with people to enjoy it with. It brings people together and makes the world a little smaller. Ultimately, I am grateful for the people I have been able to share aviation with and for those whom I will encounter in the future—I look forward to growing my aviation circle in the coming years.
