On a cool, pastel-gray morning that was typical for the city of Syracuse, New York, a wide-eyed 6-year-old boy clambered up the stairs that led to the entry door of a Lockheed Electra. With Mom at his side, the boy was given a tour of the cockpit by the crew. At the completion of the tour, the open-mouthed 6-year-old was presented with a certificate. The certificate entitled him to a pilot interview 20 years later.
Despite the fact that more than 500 pilots were on furlough, the boy marched through the doors of the airline flight academy 20 years from the date of his childhood visit to the cockpit. The interview that was granted was more of a public relations discussion than an opportunity for employment. It wouldn’t matter. A little more than a year later, the boy was invited to participate in a real interview process. He was hired. A passion realized. A dream fulfilled.
