The union representing Alaska Airlines pilots – the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) – conducted a ‘strike-authorization ballot’ this month. Today, ALPA released the result of that vote. As expected, pilots approved the measure.
Here’s what you need to know:
Alaska Airlines pilots are not on strike.
As ALPA said this morning, a strike can only occur after a specific, multi-step process involving the federal government and National Mediation Board.
Our guests and operation are not impacted by this vote.
We remain committed to reaching a deal to provide an updated contract that is good for Alaska’s pilots.
Marshalling the Pope’s plane, working with family: Alaska technicians reminisce on Aviation Maintenance Technician Day
Louie K. (far right) poses for a photo with colleagues in Fairbanks. From L to R: technician Tom C., technician Jim T., ramp service agent Keith V. and technician Larry M.. Jim and Larry were both in Louie’s A&P class!
Today is Aviation Maintenance Technician Day, a day that recognizes Charles Taylor, the Wright Brothers’ mechanic and father of aviation maintenance. It also celebrates all Aviation Maintenance Technicians and the hard work, dedication and commitment to safely keeping aircraft airworthy every day.
At Alaska, we have six technicians who’ve been here for 40 years or more! We spoke with Louie K., a Seattle-based line aircraft technician and John B., a Juneau-based line avionics technician, to reflect on their career and memorable moments.
Louie K., Seattle-based line aircraft technician — joined Alaska on June 1, 1979
Louie smiles for the camera next to an aircraft.
Louie was only 18 years old when he joined Alaska in Fairbanks. His stepfather was the head of the Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) School at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and many of the technicians in that part of Alaska went through that school, including those at Alaska Airlines. A&P licenses are the two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificates required to become an aviation maintenance technician.
“Several students from my class were hired at Alaska – Kim H., a Seattle line aircraft technician, went through the school a year or two after I did with my younger brother,” said Louie. “I’ve known and worked with Kim for more than four decades now!”
The first aircraft he ever worked on was a Piper Super Cub, but for Alaska, it was the Boeing 727-100. Over his four decades with Alaska, he’s worked full-time at the Seattle and Fairbanks stations, had a temporary stint in Anchorage [while based in Fairbanks] and worked vacation relief for Prudhoe Bay.
In 1984, Louie transferred to Seattle working the heavy check, then the flight line. That year was memorable for Louie – in May, he did the ground handling and marshaled in Air Force 1, Air Force 2 and Pope John Paul II’s aircraft in Fairbanks.
“The Alitalia DC-10 was the Pope’s aircraft,” said Louie. “I took the pictures with just an old pocket camera, but you’d never get that close today. Of course, we were screened to be working on the airfield that day for sure!”
Nearly 15 years later, he helped organize the drive for AMFA representation for technicians and related crafts and served in various local officer positions before being elected to the National Executive Council and climbing the ranks.
But of all the moments during his career, the biggest highlight came on June 1, 2019. Exactly 40 years to the day when Louie started at Alaska, his son Forrest K. worked his very first day as an A&P technician after getting awarded the bid a couple of days prior. “How cool is that?” said Louie. “We couldn’t have planned that if we’d tried.”
In 1984, Louie transferred to Seattle working the heavy check, then the flight line. That year was memorable for Louie – in May, he did the ground handling and marshaled in Air Force 1, Air Force 2 and Pope John Paul II’s aircraft in Fairbanks.
Today, Louie works in the Interior Shop in the Seattle hangar and is nearing 43 years with the company. When asked if he was aiming for the 50-year milestone pin, he smiled and said, “There are far too many adventures to be had! I’m fortunate to have started my career young and looking forward to the next adventure with my wife Debbie, who is a retired Alaska Airlines flight attendant of 34 years.”
1987: Louie, pictured with his wife Debbie, now a retired Alaska Airlines flight attendant.
John B. — Juneau Line Avionics Technician, joined Alaska in January 1982
Before John B. was hired by Alaska in January 1982 as a Line Avionics Technician on the graveyard shift in Anchorage, he had been working on avionics systems for the Air Force at Elmendorf AFB. When he was hired, he was in aircraft maintenance school to obtain his A&P license.
The first aircraft John worked on was a 727-200, and while in Anchorage, he worked on the 737-200, MD-80’s, 707’s and a Russian Aeroflot aircraft. Throughout his career, John has maintained aircraft for American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Continental Airlines and Aeroflot Airlines.
After 13 years in Anchorage, John moved to Juneau for a change and to be closer to the wealth of outdoor activities the Southeast has to offer. In Juneau, John not only handled avionics but took on many duties alongside his team.
I like doing it all, and the technicians in Juneau are a great bunch to work with. We’re like a big family here, and I mean that in more ways than one!” said John. “In fact, my son received his A&P license and became part of the Juneau maintenance team.”
Eight years later, his family headed to sunnier skies in Phoenix but the shift in climates took John a while to get used to. “I was on graveyard shift for a few years and it was difficult to sleep during the day with so much sunlight and heat, but it was a bit more manageable when I moved to swing shift (still hot though!).”
John and his family spent 12 years in Phoenix before the pull of grandkids drew him back to Juneau. Today, he works with his son on dayshift handling avionics and general maintenance duties. He says he wouldn’t have it any other way (except he wishes Juneau had a Taco Bell).
Plan your global getaway this summer with Alaska’s 20+ international airline partners
Discover the world with our oneworld® Alliance members and Global Partner airlines, all while earning or redeeming Alaska Mileage Plan™ miles for traveling to your favorite destinations.
As our guests travel the world again, Alaska Mileage Plan members can earn and redeem miles with some of the world’s best airlines.
As the newest member of the oneworldⓇ Alliance, Alaska and its Global Partners are proud to help you safely reach more than 1,000* destinations in more than 170 countries and territories, including amazing destinations like the Maldives, Helsinki, London and beyond!
Here are a few of the possibilities of where Mileage Plan members can fly internationally:
AER LINGUS
146 destinations With gateways in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, New York and more, Mileage Plan members can earn miles travelling to Ireland, Rome, Amsterdam and other spectacular places throughout Europe.
AIR TAHITI
9 countries/territories Who hasn’t dreamed of visiting Bora Bora? With gateways in Seattle and Los Angeles, Mileage Plan members earn miles traveling to French Polynesia, Paris and more.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
350 destinations 50 countries/territories We’vWith gateways in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., members earn Mileage Plan miles traveling to Madrid, Dublin, Prague and more.
BRITISH AIRWAYS
200 destinations 80 countries/territories West Coast gateways through Seattle, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Vancouver B.C. (and soon Portland!) provide Mileage Plan members with connections throughout Europe and beyond via London.
CATHAY PACIFIC
90 destinations 35 countries/territories West Coast gateways in San Francisco, Vancouver and Los Angeles give Mileage Plan members connections throughout Asia via Hong Kong, with Cathay Pacific.
CONDOR AIRLINES
726 destinations Through gateways in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Portland, Phoenix, Seattle, Las Vegas, and Vancouver, Mileage Plan members can travel to Germany and connect to over 60 destinations throughout Europe.
EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES
With U.S. gateways such as Los Angeles, members earn Mileage Plan miles flying nonstop to Tel Aviv.
FIJI AIRWAYS
21 destinations 13 countries/territories Gateways in San Francisco and Los Angeles will take you to Fiji and beyond with connections to New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific.
FINNAIR
150 destinations 45 countries/territories Earn and Redeem your Mileage Plan miles on Finnair including non-stop service from Los Angeles to Helsinki and beginning on June 1, 2022, Seattle to Helsinki.
HAINAN AIRLINES
51 destinations 28 countries/territories Plan a visit to an unrestored section of the Great Wall of China or take a short train ride to peaceful Suzhou offers a welcome respite from busy Shanghai.
IBERIA
135 destinations 47 countries/territories Discover an ensemble of historic capitals and exceptional beaches earning Alaska Mileage Plan miles along the way from gateways in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
ICELANDAIR
Through gateways in Portland and Seattle, Mileage Plan members can travel to Iceland and connect to over 20 destinations throughout Europe.
JAPAN AIRLINES
80 destinations 20 countries/territories West Coast gateways in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego bring you to Tokyo (Haneda and Narita) as well as Los Angeles to Osaka, with connections throughout Japan and Asia.
KOREAN AIR
Mileage Plan members can connect with Korean Air in Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
LATAM AIRLINES
LATAM Airlines serves destinations throughout South America, including Chile, Peru, Colombia and Argentina.
MALAYSIA AIRLINES
55 destinations 17 countries/territories Experience the rich diversity of Southern Asia and earn Alaska Mileage Plan miles along the way.
QANTAS
80 destinations 20 countries/territories Mileage Plan members can book Qantas flights to visit places like Australia and New Zealand from Dallas, Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco and more.
QATAR AIRWAYS
200 destinations 100 countries/territories From the West Coast, fly with our partner Qatar Airways and enjoy nonstop service from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. From the East Coast, fly to Doha from Atlanta, Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington D.C., and more.
RAVN ALASKA
12 destinations Ravn brings you the rugged beauty of the great state of Alaska.
ROYAL AIR MORAC
105 destinations 51 countries/territories From New York or Washington D.C., explore the ancient beauty of Casablanca and endless souks of Marrakech while earning miles through Alaska Mileage Plan.
ROYAL JORDANIAN
45 destinations 30 countries/territories Take in the marvel of Petra and other jewels of the Middle East while earning miles with Alaska Mileage Plan.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES
62 destinations 32 countries/territories West Coast gateways San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle give Mileage Plan members connections throughout Asia with Singapore Airlines.
SRILANKAN AIRLINES
111 destinations 48 countries/territories Experience Sri Lanka through its majestic wildlife and serene tea estates while earning Alaska Mileage Plan miles.
It’s not often we get a love letter like this. We just had to share.
For Carrie, a long-time guest, Alaska Airlines was more than just a way to work. Our airline was a means for her to continue her career, after moving to Idaho. A way to create family memories with her kids’ first flights. And a way to stay connected with her family, attending weddings, graduations and funerals.
Creating meaningful connections and fond memories is what we strive for every day. For Carrie, we created a lifetime of them. Read her letter below:
Alaska Airlines names 30-year industry veteran new senior vice president of airport operations
Alaska Airlines’ board of directors has promoted 30-year airline veteran Wayne Newton to senior vice president of airport operations and customer services. In addition to overseeing airport and cargo operations across 125 locations and a team of employees and contractors, Newton will now lead Alaska’s largest hub in Seattle. He has also been named the chairman of the McGee Air Services board of directors, an Alaska Airlines subsidiary that provides ground services.
Since joining Alaska in 1988 as a ramp service agent, Newton has served the airline’s airport operations team in a variety of roles, including as managing director of airport operations at Sea-Tac International Airport. He is currently the vice president of airport operations and customer services, where he is responsible for over 3,200 airport and air cargo employees.
Wayne is an exceptional leader with a strong understanding of Alaska’s culture and operations,” said Constance von Muehlen, Alaska’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Since joining Alaska in 1988, Wayne’s mastery of the business and people-focused leadership has played a critical role in growing our company to where we are today.”
Newton earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Washington and has his private pilot’s license. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Alaska Air Cargo delivers season’s first Copper River Salmon to Seattle
A sign for many that summer has o-fish-cially begun!
Straight from the frigid waters of the Copper River in Alaska, the first delivery of fresh salmon arrived today at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Nearly 17,200 pounds of wild Alaska Copper River Salmon was flown by Alaska Air Cargo — the first of many shipments expected this season, which runs now through September.
The celebratory “first fish,” sponsored this year by Copper River Seafoods, weighed in at 30 lbs.
Greg McDole, Copper River Seafoods, with the celebratory first fish in Seattle.Greg McDole and Jim Kostko, Copper River Seafoods.
Fast facts about Copper River Salmon:
Copper River Salmon shipped on Alaska Air Cargo arrive as fresh as possible to grocery stores and restaurants across the nation, thanks in part to a cool chain training program required of all airline employees who handle perishables.
Our employees follow strict seafood quality standards and pass an annual food quality course. The goal is to keep seafood moving rapidly throughout its journey on Alaska Airlines and maintain a consistent temperature range from the time it leaves the water to when it arrives at stores and restaurants.
The Copper River Salmon season usually runs from mid-May through June.
A Copper River Salmon can grow up to 50 pounds or more, according to the Copper River Marketing Association.
Copper River salmon must travel 300 miles from the ocean, where they have spent their adult lives, through rugged terrain and icy waters to reach their spawning grounds, a journey that requires extra stores of energy in the form of fat, according to the Copper River Marketing Association. It is this fat that not only creates the exceptional flavor and texture of Copper River salmon, but also the high levels of omega-3 fatty acids that make it so healthy to eat.
Be sure to check out your local grocer or restaurants to get a taste of the excellent fish!
Captain Kevin with his family after arriving safely in Seattle with the special shipment.
A message from Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci: Getting back on track
Running a great operation is part of what makes Alaska Airlines who we are, but at the moment, we’re not living up to that commitment. CEO Ben Minicucci apologizes for the impact and shares how we’re getting back to being the airline you know and trust.
To hear why this happened and the actions we’re taking to make it right, please watch this two-minute video message.
Read Ben’s letter to employees about returning to operational excellence and our commitment to them and our guests.
Full video transcript:
Hi everyone, I’m Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines. For many years we’ve taken pride in running a strong operation. However, we aren’t living up to that commitment right now, and for that, I’m deeply sorry.
I hear every day from friends, neighbors and guests about how disruptive our flight cancellations have been. Everybody wants to know, “What happened? And what are you doing about it?”
Simply put, we had 63 fewer pilots than what we planned for when we built our schedule. By the time we caught this error, April and May schedules were bid on by our pilots and flight attendants, making it impossible to sufficiently adjust schedules to avoid cancellations.
This error is having a continued ripple effect for May. Of the 1,200 flights that we operate every day, we’ve been canceling about 50 of them, that’s about 4%. A canceled flight is frustrating enough, but then you often face long hold times when you try to reach someone in Reservations. This is coming at a time when flights are already full, so rebooking options are limited.
Even though we made immediate changes, it takes some time for a complex operation to turn the corner. The month of May will continue to be choppy and we’re doing everything we can to minimize the impact on you.
For June and beyond, we’ve made significant changes to ensure a high degree of reliability.
This includes hiring and training: 150 new pilots, 200 additional reservations agents. And 1,100 new flight attendants.
This, along with the reductions we’ve made to our schedule, will ensure we run an operation that you can count on.
I’m grateful for the people at Alaska and Horizon who are working long hours to take care of you and make the best of this tough situation.
The foundation of our airline is strong. Long term, Alaska is a resilient airline with 90 years of history – and through it all, you’ve helped shape our airline and make us better. I’m committed to you, to our people, and to our communities. We’ll get this right and return to being the Alaska you can count on. Thank you.
Aircraft technicians at Horizon Air ratify new two-year contract
Horizon Air aircraft technicians and fleet service agents, who are represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), have ratified a new two-year contract. The contract was approved by 91% of those employees who voted. The new contract includes increases to the wage scale, retroactive pay to January 2022 and other compensation increases.
Horizon’s aircraft technicians are responsible for the maintenance of the carrier’s fleet of Embraer 175s and Bombardier Q400s aircraft.
Our technicians and fleet services employees play a critical role in our operation, keeping our aircraft safe, reliable and clean,” said Gavin Jones, vice president of maintenance and engineering for Horizon Air. “We are grateful to the AMFA negotiating team for working with us to find solutions that work for our technicians and position Horizon for the future.”
Contracts in the airline industry do not expire. Once they become amendable, the current contract remains in effect until a new agreement is ratified.
With bases in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska, Horizon serves more than 45 cities throughout the Pacific Northwest, California, the Midwest, and British Columbia and Alberta in Canada.
I would like to thank the management of Horizon Air for recognizing the value of all our members,” said AMFA Local 14 Representative Bobby Shipman. “Thanks to all the negotiating committee members for the dedicated service to resolving this contract in a small amount of time.”
Letter from CEO: Returning to operational excellence; our commitment to you and our guests
I’m writing today to give you an update on where we are and where we’re going since you last heard from me at the Q1 all-employee webcast.
Since April, we have canceled too many flights, disrupted too many plans, stretched our teams too far and haven’t taken care of you or our guests in the way we intend.
Our operational challenges come down to not having enough pilots to fly our spring schedule.
There are no excuses. The leadership team and I take responsibility and we’re executing a plan to get this right and ensure it doesn’t happen again.
How did we get here?
We started April and May with 63 fewer Alaska pilots than we needed to fly our schedule. By the time we recognized we would be short, April and May schedules were already bid by our pilots and flight attendants. So, even though we cut block hours, which is the metric we use to calculate how many pilots we need, there was no way to completely close the gap between the number of block hours on the schedule compared to pilots available to fly.
This shortage is having a continued ripple effect. Of the 1,200 flights that we operate every day, we’ve been canceling about 50 of them, roughly 4%. This is coming at a time when flights are already full, so rebooking options are limited and many of our guests have experienced extraordinarily long hold times to get the help they need, putting strain on literally every team in the organization.
We will continue to see these cancels through June 1st. We are working to manage these to reduce the impact as much as possible on you and our guests.
What’s the plan?
To get this right, we must get staffing right. This is critical. We recently centralized staff planning under one team to ensure that with the complexity of staffing in this post-COVID world, we have the right number of fully trained people in all workgroups to meet our schedule. We’ve also prioritized hiring, training and recruiting across every workgroup to ensure we have the right number of people to support our operations.
Even with these changes, it takes some time for a complex operation to turn the corner. Here’s what you can expect through the end of summer:
June – Relief in sight
For June, we have reduced block hours to 70k, which is about what we flew in April and less than what we flew in May.
Meanwhile, an additional 114 pilots will be available to fly the line in June.
We will also continue to graduate new flight attendants. This will enable us to reduce the line average for flight attendants to ensure greater flexibility and better schedules. For June, the line average will be 75 TFP, with a 25% reserve ratio, compared to 82.77 in April and 82.1 in May.
July and August – Back on track
By July and through the rest of the summer travel season, we should be back to flying a reliable and well-staffed operation. An additional 50 pilots, 400 flight attendants and 200 reservations agents will have joined our ranks. This will allow us to increase block hours to 76k in July and August, which is still less than what we originally planned to fly this summer.
While we have reduced our flight volumes for this summer, we are not reducing our hiring plans. Our goal is to have significantly more staff on board before we look to accelerate growth again.
My commitment to you and our guests
Returning to operational excellence is imperative, and I am dedicated to making sure we accomplish that goal. Here are my top priorities:
Getting back to running the safe, reliable schedule for which we are known and trusted.
Ensuring a successful transition to single Boeing and Embraer fleets for our mainline and regional operations.
Setting the company up for sustainable growth in 2023 and beyond.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me personally. I hear every day from employees, friends, neighbors and guests about how disruptive this has been. Just like all of you, I feel this deeply, and I am committed to getting this right.
I’m grateful for each of you who are working so hard to take care of our guests and our operation through this incredibly tough situation. We have the knowledge, the people and the experience to get back on track to realize the bright future ahead of us.
Thank you.
Ben
International arriving gets a world-class upgrade at Alaska’s hometown airport in Seattle
As our guests travel the world again, Mileage Plan members can earn and redeem mileswith more than 20 airlines that are oneworld members and additional global partners.
Alaska Airlines, our fellow oneworld members and our additional global airline partners are celebrating a new era at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport: all of our arriving international guests who need customs clearance now make their way through the new, state-of-the-art International Arrivals Facility (IAF). It’s a faster, modernized, more efficient way to arrive back into the Pacific Northwest from points around the globe.
A world-class International Arrivals Facility at our hometown airport provides tremendous economic and strategic opportunities for Alaska as we continue to grow our airline and our partnerships,” said Nat Pieper, senior vice president of fleet, finance and alliances at Alaska Airlines. “We’re proud of our membership in the oneworld alliance and our array of additional international partner airlines. With our worldwide reach of more than 1,000 destinations, Alaska is a global airline that can take our guests nearly anywhere they want to go – near and far.”
The opening of the IAF comes just as many of us are ready for worldwide travel adventures again. Maybe let loose on that epic hiking trip through the Alps, a deep dive into royal history in London or a food marathon of sushi bars and ramen stands across Tokyo – the sky’s the limit.
Altogether, oneworld airlines offer the most nonstop flights to international destinations from SEA this summer – an average of 20 daily international flights in June, which includes Alaska’s nonstop flights to Canada and Mexico. From oneworld global hubs, guests can connect to hundreds of other cities.
Seattle’s newest nonstop international service will be on oneworld member Finnair starting June 1. Members of Alaska’s award-winning Mileage Plan program can earn double miles between Seattle and Helsinki from June 1-Oct. 28, 2022. Register by June 30 to take advantage of this promotion.
With Mileage Plan, our guests can earn and redeem miles on more than 20 airlines that are oneworld members and our additional global partners. Here are a few of the possibilities of one-way, main cabin Mileage Plan redemptions that are available in July and August:
SEA to London: Starting at 32,500 miles on British Airways
SEA to Tokyo: Starting at 35,000 miles on Japan Airlines
SEA to Maldives: Starting at 42,500 miles on Qatar
SEA to Iceland: Starting at 30,000 miles on Icelandair
Nonstop international flights on oneworld member airlines and additional partners from SEA for June 2022. oneworld members are in bold:
Aspiring pilots and the mentors who take them under their wing
Austen Pyle was 13 when he knew he wanted to fly — it was his first brush with the sky in a glider. Today, less than 10 years after that first flight, he’s starting his pilot training with Horizon Air, Alaska’s regional airline in the Pacific Northwest. Within a few months, he’ll be a first officer – following in his mentor’s flight path.
Lawrence and Austen at Aviation Day, 2015
Lawrence and Austen at Aviation Day, 2022
Like many pilots, it took just one flight to inspire a career. Lawrence Pavlinovic, then a Horizon Air captain and now an Alaska captain, was the glider flight instructor that auspicious day. He saw Pyle’s passion for flight immediately and took him under his wing – inviting him to Aviation Day, an annual event hosted by Alaska and Horizon to inspire careers in aviation.
“Lawrence really pushed me to explore aviation as an option,” says Pyle. “He opened my eyes, and I’m so glad he did.”
Pyle, once the mentee attending Aviation Day, became the mentor over the weekend, discussing the journey to becoming a pilot.
Now’s the best time to become a pilot
The need for the next generation of pilots is greater than ever. Alaska and Horizon expect to hire more than 900 pilots by the end of 2022 to replace thousands of pilots who retired during the pandemic or are approaching the mandatory retirement age of 65. Across the industry, mainline airlines are hiring about 10,000 pilots this year alone.
Alaska Airlines First Officer Mallory C
But in between the moment a love of flying is sparked and a career, aspiring pilots like Pyle face a journey that requires a daunting investment of time and money. On average, it can cost around $90,000 for education, flight training and certifications, and pilots must log hundreds of flying hours before they can fly for commercial airlines. However, the opportunities for financial and other support while navigating this journey are growing.
Alaska has launched several pilot-development programs – including most recently True North, a partnership with two historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and Ascend Pilot Academy, a partnership with Hillsboro Aero Academy in Oregon – to encourage aspiring pilots from diverse backgrounds to follow their dream.
“If you’re going to do this, do it 100 percent,” – Austen Pyle at Alaska Airlines Aviation Day May 2022
Want to fly? Here are some tips and resources to get you off the ground:
Find your passion: Take a discovery flight
Flight schools and many flying clubs offer an hour with a flight instructor who includes an introduction to ground school as well as time at the controls in the air. Pilots say this is the best way to determine if a curiosity about flying will transform into a passion and commitment to do the work.
“Do one flight. That’s all it will take for you to decide if you want to become a pilot or not,” says Pyle.
Alaska’s annual Aviation Day events in Seattle and Portland also provide an opportunity for young people to explore careers across the industry. Seattle’s event was May 7, but there’s still time to attend the event in Portland, coming up Saturday, May 21. Learn more about registering.
Plan your pathway: Explore Alaska’s pilot-development programs
Pyle started out at the Evergreen Soaring Club and worked toward his pilot’s license while still in high school. “I actually got my private pilot’s license before my driver’s license,” he said.
When he started Central Washington University’s aviation program, Pyle interviewed right away for the Horizon Air Pilot Development Program, which partners with universities while providing a stipend, mentorship and a pathway to a future job at Horizon.
“That was really special for me as a freshman in college to know that I had an airline job waiting for me when I was ready,” said Pyle.
And Alaska’s newest pilot-development programs are designed to recruit students with diverse backgrounds, part of our commitment to increase the diversity of our workforce at all levels by 2025.
The True North pilot-development program was launched in fall 2021 in partnership with Delaware State University and University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, two historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). True North’s goal is to recruit and support BIPOC pilots on their journeys, and students receive guaranteed first officer positions at Horizon upon graduation, along with a confirmed path to Alaska.
Ascend Pilot Academy launched in March in partnership with Hillsboro Aero Academy in Oregon to provide resources and a career path for aspiring pilots, including those who don’t yet have flight experience. Once accepted, cadets receive a stipend and financial assistance for training, as well as a confirmed job with Horizon once qualified. “Aviation is for everyone,” says Carlos Zendejas, vice president of flight operations for Horizon Air. “Our programs help navigate the how-to of becoming a pilot, and we know that finances are a barrier, so our programs have stipends to help with that as well.”
We need to find the young pilots and we’ve got to grow them. That’s where True North came from.” – Captain Ron Limes, one of the founders of True North and Alaska’s director base chief pilot in Seattle.
Captain Limes loved planes as a child, but knew as a teen he was destined to fly them when he took a discovery flight over the New York City skyline.
Seek out support through pilot associations and flying clubs
Aerospace associations and flying clubs offer a wealth of resources – from scholarships to assistance in sorting through education options, to job opportunities. For example, Alaska Airlines Captain JP Wilson found a job at Horizon Air through a career fair sponsored by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals.
Captain Wilson knew he wanted to fly planes from the time he was a kid angling for the window seat while tagging along on his dad’s business trips.
Limes says associations provide vital guidance from mentors who have already navigated the journey to becoming a pilot, which is especially valuable for diverse students who are entering a field long dominated by white male pilots.
“You can find a group where somebody has already broken the barrier for you. I’m so thankful for the generations ahead of me who made the way smoother for me,” says Limes.
A few of the associations and clubs with Alaska and Horizon members:
As a young man, Pavlinovic chased his aviation dreams for years, but kept running into roadblocks – from his parents, who initially pushed him to be a doctor or lawyer instead of a pilot, to the Air Force recruiter who told him he couldn’t fly because he wore glasses (not true). He credits a naval aviator who was a flight instructor in the Civil Air Patrol for encouraging him to not give up. It took many years, along with money from the veterans’ benefits he earned through 21 years of service in the Marines and Army, to achieve his dream of becoming a commercial pilot.
Now when he meets young people like Pyle who have a passion for flying, he’s eager to help them on their way. “Because of my experience in the military and the civilian world, which is where I did all my flying, I can tailor my mentorship to a young man or woman and talk through the different ways they can pursue this,” says Pavlinovic.
Across Alaska and Horizon, pilots take mentorship to heart, and veteran pilots are matched with students in all our associated pilot-development programs.
We look for pilots who want to be mentors, who want to give back. We ask about it in interviews. A lot of our pilots love to give back.” – Captain JP Wilson
Pyle has already found ways to mentor up-and-coming pilots. While still in high school, he put together a presentation on aviation careers for a class of fifth graders – complete with metal wings donated from Alaska and Horizon. And as a flight instructor, he would tell his students: “If you’re going to do this, do it 100 percent until you are done and nothing less.”
Now that he’s achieved one goal, Pyle has his sights set on another: “I’ve told Lawrence, ‘On your retirement flight, I want to be your first officer.’”
Photos by Joe Nicholson
Alaska’s new Star Wars-themed aircraft celebrates adventures to “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” at Disneyland Resort
Alaska Airlines joined forces with Disneyland Resort today, May the Fourth, to unveil a new, one-of-its-kind Star Wars-themed aircraft that even Chewbacca would be proud of! The plane, painted space black with the iconic Millennium Falcon emblazoned on the tail chased by TIE fighters, celebrates Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the newest land of adventure inside Disneyland park. The plane is now flying on routes across Alaska’s network for the universe to enjoy!
For this latest collaboration – Alaska’s seventh painted plane for the Disneyland Resort – no Jedi mind tricks were needed: the force was strong for a Star Wars livery to finally enter Alaska’s fleet. The aircraft’s official name is “Star Wars Transport to the Disneyland Resort” with a tail number of N538AS. After the big reveal and celebration at the gate in the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the plane made its inaugural flight today and ultimate arrival at John Wayne Airport in Orange County.
The unique design of the Star Wars-inspired plane is a collaboration among teams at Alaska, Disneyland Resort and Lucasfilm. Familiar spacecraft span each side of the plane with hand painted, detailed imagery: the Millennium Falcon and four TIE fighters. Designers at Disneyland Resort focused on the incredibly identifiable, widely recognized Millennium Falcon for the spotlight, in addition to the well-traveled spaceship being the focal point at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a 14-acre land in Disneyland park.
The Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Disneyland Resort logos are featured in the center of the fuselage. For a lighthearted touch, porgs (the cute avian creatures that lived on Luke Skywalker’s remote island) look back at passengers from both winglets, as another porg greets guests at the boarding door.
To bring the imagery to life, the plane’s exterior required 228 gallons of paint applied during 540 work hours over 27 days. For the painting, 23 base colors were used with numerous custom colors mixed onsite for the detailed airbrushing of the Millennium Falcon and the TIE fighters.
Watch how this Alaska Airlines plane was transformed!
“Star Wars Transport to Disneyland Resort” is scheduled to fly in the Alaska fleet and throughout Alaska’s network. You can also spot “Friendship and Beyond at Disneyland Resort” at airports and in the skies with a whimsical tribute to Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure Park – our last Disneyland Resort-themed aircraft that began service in October 2019.
