Move over, helicopter parents. One mother and daughter prove that working as a pilot team is key to flying high.
On a flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta last March 17, a woman asked a flight attendant if her two kids could go to the flight deck. The flight attendant allowed it and told her they would be surprised, the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University said in a March 21 statement.
Dr. John R. Watret, the university chancellor, found his interest piqued when he overheard the kids mention a mother-and-daughter flight crew when they returned.
He asked if he could visit, and discovered that the pilots were Capt. Wendy and First Officer Kelly Rexon.
He tweeted a picture of the Rexons and wrote, “Just flew from LAX to ATL on Delta piloted by this mother daughter flight crew. Great flight. Inspiring for [young] women.”
Just flew with this mother daughter flight crew on Delta from LAX to ATL. Awesome. @Delta @EmbryRiddle #erau pic.twitter.com/HYLl65H5p1
— John R. Watret (@ERAUWatret) March 17, 2019
Kelly’s sister is a pilot as well, as per the university’s statement.
The tweet has since gone viral, with over 51,000 likes as of writing.
It was an inspiring moment for Watret too, who advocates for more diversity in aeronautics. Female pilots certificated by the United States Federal Aviation Administration account for about 7 percent of over 600,000 pilots, as per the 2018 Active Civil Airmen Statistics.
“The first officer had a great role model for becoming a pilot – her mother,” he said. “It’s good for aviation and inspiring for all of us.” JB
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