Lindsay Fox, Author at Atlas Air Worldwide

Just in time for Mother’s Day, a mother and daughter have joined the Atlas Air and Flight Services International family.

Sunnye Nowlin recently started training at the Miami Training Center with the FSI Flight Attendant team. She has spent the last 29 years in elementary education, 11 years as a teacher and the last 18 years as an Assistant Principal.

Her daughter, Skye Nowlin completed Atlas’ Pilot Pathway program in Arizona and and is also in Miami for 737 pilot training. Skye began her aviation career in 2020, graduating from Embry Riddle in April 2023.

“I’m so proud to see my daughter flying,” said Sunnye. “I would always tell her growing up that the ‘Skye’s the Limit’ and I knew she was destined to do amazing things.”

Sunnye continued, “This is the best encore career ever. I get to serve others, travel to exciting destinations and also see all of Skye’s hard work and dreams of being a pilot come true. What a treat to be able to run into her daily in the halls of the Miami Training Center while we were both there for training.”

“My mother has always been my biggest fan,” said Skye. “She is a ray of sunshine, her name fits her quite well. When I realized that I wanted to be a pilot, she came with me to the airport to watch me go on my first discovery flight. She has been my number one supporter during flight training and throughout the last three years of my aviation journey.”

Skye continued, “My mom is one of the hardest working people I know. She is someone I continue to look up to when it comes to determination. Through every goal in my life my mom has been my cheerleader and this time we have been each other’s cheerleaders. I hope in the future to be able to fly with her one day too.”

Both Sunnye and Skye were referred by James Hock, Atlas Manager, Inflight Operations and Flight Attendant Fatigue Risk Management Program.

“With names like, Sunnye, and Skye, I would say they were destined to be a part of the aviation industry,” said James. “They’ll be great additions to our team, and we are glad to have them.”

If you’re interested in joining Team Atlas, check out our open career opportunities here.

In honor of Military Month, we are profiling employees who have either served or are currently serving in the military. This week, we meet Air Force Veteran and Retired Atlas Captain Todd Peckman. Todd has been part of the Atlas family for decades, first as a pilot for 19 years and now as an Atlas 747 Flight Instructor and Tech Panel Lead. As a 747 Flight Instructor, he trains pilots in the Sim in the Miami Training Center and as Tech Panel Lead, he helps the HR department develop technical interview questions for prospective pilots.

Growing up, I was always building military airplane models, taking after my lifelong role model – my father. He had a highly successful career as a United Stated Air Force (USAF) pilot and flew a lot of what we consider “warbirds” today: the T-6, B-25, C-54, C-119, DC-6 and later, the C-130. Over the course of his career, he was hand-picked for some highly complicated missions, including one that was assigned directly by President John F. Kennedy. In October 1962, he received a call from Kennedy’s office asking him to fly a sensitive and dangerous C-130 mission during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

In 1974, when the energy crisis and associated recession hit, I was well on my way to becoming a professional college student at the University of Pittsburgh, but money was becoming scarce. My dad pointed out that the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program was paying $100 per month, so I signed up. Despite massive military cutbacks in 1975 and 1976, due to the Vietnam drawdown, three fellow college classmates and I were awarded pilot slots.

I was surprised and had some doubts – would I succeed? But I decided to try. When I finally arrived at USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) in 1978, I started to get an idea of the incredible opportunity I had received, but I was still undecided about a career as a pilot. UPT was difficult but failure was not an option, so I hammered through with the goal of a C-130 assignment because my dad had enjoyed flying it.

I successfully completed UPT and found myself in the C-130 training school, learning low-altitude flying, short-field landings, airdrop of equipment and paratroopers and formation flying at high and low altitudes. But even then, to me, flying was just another job; it wasn’t fulfilling.

After C-130 school, my first assignment was to Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage, and that’s where I really learned to fly. We flew to mountaintop sites in the middle of the Alaskan winter and landed on isolated, icy dirt and gravel runways. We had to fly in food and equipment every 4-5 days to resupply the personnel at those sites. It was then, experiencing the challenges and seeing the importance of those missions that I realized I loved flying and it’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

There are many moments. I feel extremely blessed in aviation. First was the moment my dad, the retired Colonel, pinned my USAF Pilot Wings on my uniform at graduation from Air Force Pilot Training. His tears said it all.

There was also the time when I was selected with three other C-130 pilots from my squadron in West Germany to fly then-Vice President George H. W. Bush into remote hunger camps in Sudan. My call sign was, “Air Force Two!”

Much later, I was selected to the C-17 Initial Cadre at Charleston, SC. The C-17 was new then, and my memorable times in it included flying the brand-new C-17’s out of the McDonnell Douglas Factory where they were manufactured.

Another key memory was when I was teaching at the first C-17 Formal School. I trained new C-17 pilots at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma and commanded that unit, the 58th Airlift Squadron, as we grew to 8 C-17’s and 260 personnel. What a blessing to be a part of that history!

After I retired from the USAF in 1997, I sought out Atlas for my next flying career. Many of my retired military friends preceded me here. They reported so many good things about flying with Atlas. I loved fleet of brand-new 747-400 jets and the high quality and quantity of international flying.

One of my favorite Atlas memories was my first flight on the line while training with Line Check Captain Ollie Weller. We took off in a snowstorm from Newark, New Jersey to land on a spring-like day in Paris, France. He was the quintessential international 747 Captain: tall, dapper, his full head of hair combed straight back with that touch of grey at the temples. I thought he was a Sky God!

In the years after, the 747 Fleet Captains I worked for were very supportive. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunities they gave me!

In 1994, while flying the C-17, I once landed at an airstrip in the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada as part of a congressionally mandated test of the aircraft. We immediately loaded, with our engines still running, a combat-ready, 60-ton M1 Abrams Battle Tank into the hold. Only 21 minutes after landing, we lifted off with the tank and 20 Army Troops on board. I had nine minutes of legal fuel remaining to spiral up to a KC-135 tanker, which was spiraling down to me, so we could link up and air-refuel with enough fuel to fly back to the East Coast. The C-17 is so incredible, it all went without a hitch.

At Atlas, it amazes me the variety of cargo we haul. I’ve flown fresh salmon from Santiago, car parts to Guadalajara, and fresh flowers from Bogota. The variety of cargo and destinations is mind-boggling! But, to me, the best “cargo” I ever flew was people, the men and women of the armed services and their families. What a privilege!

Traveling internationally to so many major cities was definitely a nice perk, but my favorite part about being an Atlas pilot has been the opportunity to train other pilots. I love it when a student has “The Aha!” moment. From developing 747-8 curriculum early on, to teaching new hires on the line and in simulators, Atlas helped me realize that teaching is my true passion.

Another memorable moment was being selected to the 747-8 Initial Cadre. I remember my first flight in a 747-8 like it was yesterday. It was the second flight of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Proving Runs for the aircraft certification at Atlas. We flew from Luxembourg to Huntsville, Alabama.

Finally, I relish the memory of being Atlas Initial Cadre on the Boeing Large Cargo Freighter, or LCF. The first time I walked up to that jet, I wondered how a monster like that could fly. Well of course, it flies beautifully — even though it looks like a propane tank with wings!

I was so grateful that the Flight Ops Team invited me to stay and continue teaching simulator sessions after retirement. My favorite part of my job is teaching in the Sim. Following my retirement, the Atlas Human Resources Team reached out to me through one of our Chief Pilots and allowed me to join their pilot hiring process as a technical interviewer. I am so proud of that association, especially being involved in the behind-the-scenes HR and Flight Ops interface, successfully hiring new pilots. My contribution to that process, developing fair and appropriately targeted flight-related technical question banks for pilot candidate interviews, has also been very satisfying.

I think they would be surprised at one of the many ways I celebrate Christmas. I set up five HO scale (HO is a rail transport modelling scale using a 1:87 scale) electric train sets on the floor around our Christmas tree every year. Complete with towns, roads, vintage cars, mountains and even a complete small-town airport with HO scale airplanes. Three of the five sets are models of trains I have traveled on with my family: The Alaskan Railroad, complete with Vista-View cars, The Durango-Silverton Express (Colorado, the train of 1960’s “Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid” fame) and the Atlanta Zoo People Mover.

On April 23, Martin Drew, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, took center stage to deliver the keynote address at this year’s Nordic Air Cargo Symposium in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Symposium connects shippers and major industry players to meet, learn and network. It is the only regional event focusing on the North European air cargo market, bringing together cargo operators, forwarders, integrators, shippers, airlines, airports, investors, entrepreneurs, suppliers and many more.

Martin’s keynote, titled “Global Market Outlook & The Importance of Freighters,” focused on supply and demand dynamics. Martin touched on how demand growth is expected to exceed capacity growth, leading to a significant supply and demand imbalance which will support a strong pricing environment over the long-term.

Martin went on to say, “The combination of production capacity coupled with the lowest level of freighter retirements in twenty years will lead to slow intercontinental freighter fleet growth.” Martin also stated that the eighteen-month-old market downturn is starting to show signs of improvement in line with historical cycles, before highlighting how Chinese e-commerce is taking over airfreight.

Other sessions during the symposium highlighted current air cargo market trends in the Nordic region and globally. Others discussed Norwegian seafood exports, sustainability and why air cargo matters for the local economies.

The aviation industry is poised for significant growth. According to a report published by Boeing, long-term demand for newly qualified aviation personnel is strong: 649,000 new pilots, 690,000 new maintenance technicians and 938,000 new cabin crew members will be needed to fly and maintain the global commercial aviation fleet over the next 20 years.

In response to this demand, Atlas’ Workforce Development team has built important partnerships and participated in a variety of events around the country with universities to recruit our future workforce.

“Spring and fall are the seasons for heavy recruiting,” said Leisa Spears Snyder, Director of Workforce Development. “In addition to looking for talent to fill our Pathway to Success program, we are also looking for candidates for our summer internship program.”

“As two of our core values, Safety and Innovation naturally play a large role in everything we do at Atlas.” Leisa noted, “We need to think innovatively about pathway development with an eye on safety and these schools boast strong aviation programs with a concentration of safety-related curriculum. We also work with the schools to provide experiential learning for students that engages them in real world industry experience.”

On March 13, the Atlas team attended a career fair at Vaughn College in New York. Along with Lesia, Atlas Chief Pilot and 767 Captain Oscar Mendoza and Talent Acquisition Crew Specialist Karina Guevara were on hand to provide information about the Company and answer questions from students.

“We are fortunate to have hundreds of Vaughn graduates among our workforce,” said Leisa. “Vaughn College and Atlas also share a common commitment to diversity. Vaughn serves a diverse student body of about 1,300 students who are 80% minority, consisting mostly of first-generation Americans and first-generation college students. The Vaughn College team does a phenomenal job of removing barriers for students and creating equitable access to education.”

In May 2023, Vaughn joined Atlas’ University Pipeline Program, where Atlas Air recruits, trains and hires qualified graduates of Vaughn College.

The following week, the Atlas team headed to Florida for the Embry Riddle Spring Career Expo to meet and recruit future pilots.

747 Captain Robert Scheulen, 737 First Officer Wes Atteberry and 737 First Officer Cade Kennemer represented Atlas at a pilot networking event where they connected with students.

The pilots offered a unique perspective as Captain Scheulen and FO Atteberry are Embry Riddle alums. First Officers Atteberry and Kennemer are also both recent graduates of the Atlas Air University Pilot Pathway to Success program.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to get to talk with so many people who are enthusiastic about the aviation,” industry said Captain Scheulen. “We have grown so much since our early days of just one or two people standing at a small table representing Atlas. We have representatives from across the Company – including senior leaders – actively engaging with the Embry Riddle student body. This bolsters our recruiting efforts significantly. Atlas offers so many career paths within aviation and we are focused on communicating that to the students.”

In addition to the pilot event, Atlas hosted a table at the career expo, staffed by Travis Hall, Director, Tech Ops; Jeff Taylor, Talent Acquisition Specialist and Leisa Spears Snyder.

Atlas was a proud sponsor of Purdue Aviation Day (PAD), which took place on April 13. Organized exclusively by student leaders within Purdue University’s School of Aviation & Transportation Technology, PAD brings the industry and the community together in one big celebration of aviation.

The career expo, where Atlas was an exhibitor, provided students and local community members the chance to engage with industry professionals, gaining valuable insights into various career paths within aviation.

The event included numerous static aircraft displays, offering an up-close look at commercial, general aviation and military aircraft.

On site for Purdue Aviation Day were Atlas team members Brad Hubbard, Senior Structures Engineer; Chris Grable, Chief Pilot; Leisa Spears Snyder; First Officer and Purdue Alum Lauren Purnell; Sermo Barracks, Senior Manager of Reliability and Chris Jarvis, Talent Acquisition Specialist.

As the largest provider of military passenger and cargo airlift globally to U.S. service members, our commitment to the military extends beyond the missions Atlas Air operates. We actively recruit and are a significant employer of former members of the military, including many of our pilots, logistics team, ground crew personnel and members of our management team.

The DAV is dedicated to empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. Its Patriot Employer Program celebrates those employers who demonstrate by their employment policies, hiring practices and community outreach a “commitment to helping disabled veterans, military members and their families find meaningful employment opportunities.”

Evaluation criteria includes the strength of the company’s veteran recruiting and hiring efforts, retention and career-building initiatives, and company policies toward disabled veteran employees. Patriot Employers receive a digital badge to signal to clients, employees and potential hires that they value America’s veterans and what they bring to the workplace.

“The DAV is recognized widely throughout the military and veteran communities for the work they do and the services they provide,” said Chris. “I am confident that our selection as a Patriot Employer will further strengthen our reputation among service members, an important talent demographic.”

Michael Steen was a featured guest on Bloomberg Asia this week while in Hong Kong for the World Cargo Symposium, IATA’s largest event ever with 1,900 executives in attendance. Michael spoke with Bloomberg News reporters Annabelle Droulers and Haidi Stroud-Watts live from the Bloomberg studio for this robust interview about the recovery of air freight. See full interview here.

Michael provided expert commentary on macro environment topics ranging from air freight market growth, rise in cross-border eCommerce, and supply chain disruptions (Suez Canal). Throughout the interview, Michael delivered excellent message points about Atlas, including our robust customer mix, diversified business model, joint ventures with DHL (Polar) and Bain (Titan), fleet strategy and general growth plans.

Michael noted that “after a very turbulent 2023 when demand dropped significantly, the market has bounced back, and we’re basically year over year 20% better.”

Driving the demand, according to Michael, is the structural change in demand with e-commerce – the shift from B2B to B2C. And particularly in China.

“China itself represents about 30% of global air freight, so that shows the importance that China has on the global economy.”

Michael also addressed questions on the impact of geopolitical tensions. He explained that with operations in around the world, there will always be some kind of disruptions to navigate yet Atlas has remained resilient and well-positioned due to diversification – both geographically and service-wise.

Michael also spoke with Bloomberg’s print editor Danny Lee, and that coverage can be found here. (Bloomberg subscription needed to access article)

The World Cargo Symposium has provided the ideal platform to share our Atlas story and build our reputation as a leader in outsourced aviation logistics, with both the industry audience as well as the broader global audience.

Captain Bob Chisholm has worked with Atlas for over 30 years. After retiring from flying in 2014, he joined Atlas’ Miami Training Center as an instructor. Bob is now part of the HR team and interviews prospective new pilots.

I started with Atlas in June of 1993 and was one of Atlas’ first pilots. I was hired to fly the first aircraft Atlas had at the time, the 747-200 “Classic,” along with retired Captain Grant Kasischke, who now works on the Support Flight Ops team in the Chief Pilot’s office.

As a child, my father worked in the oil industry and spent a lot of time traveling abroad. At seven years old, I accompanied him on a business trip and flew on a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser for the first time. The plane had a spiral staircase that led to a lower bar and lounge. I snuck down and could see my dad singing songs with passengers as the blue of the Pacific Ocean showed through a window. This moment had a profound impact on me and I knew immediately I wanted to have a career in aviation.

My parents lived all over the world due to my father’s job – Japan, Pakistan and Sweden. My brother and I remained in the States to attend school, but traveled back and forth every Christmas vacation and during the summer. Flying was a luxury and I loved every moment of those flights.

Once I was older, I joined the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). I was in the Air Force for 22 years where I flew Boeing’s 707 out of Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. I wasn’t sure I was ready to retire from the Air Force but a colleague of mine had gone to fly for Atlas and loved it. I decided to pursue the opportunity. I interviewed on a Thursday and began my career with Atlas the following Monday.

From my grandmother’s front lawn in Long Island, New York, we could see beautiful Boeing 707s flying into Idlewild Airport (now John F. Kennedy International Airport). I was already passionate about aviation but watching those planes land reinforced my interest in becoming a pilot.

I always loved flying our troops back home from various deployments from around the world. During those flights, as soon as we’d enter U.S. airspace, I’d make an announcement and welcome the troops back home to America. You could hear the cheers from the plane from the flight deck.

I’ve also gotten to see some great sights over the years. One in particular was during a flight from Belgium to Nigeria in Africa, which took us straight down the middle of the Sahara Desert. I recall seeing the incredible land of dust and sand, with nothing prominently visible in any direction for hundreds of miles. After a while, we could see ahead to the tops of thunderstorms just below the horizon in the rainforest of the Republic of the Congo. As we flew south, those tops rose higher and higher on the windscreen. It was truly an amazing sight to see massive thunderstorms over a tropical rainforest while flying over one of the driest regions on earth

I’ve flown Formula One race cars; fish from Chile; asparagus from Peru and flowers from Ecuador and Colombia. Flying for Atlas gives a person tremendous job satisfaction.

What is your favorite part about being an Atlas Pilot? What made you want to come back after retirement?

I retired from flying in 2014 and am now in my ninth year working with the Training Department and Human Resources teams. I work with many Atlas retired pilots, many of whom have been here since the early days.

I’ve absolutely enjoyed my time flying for Atlas. When I started with the Company, I was coming into the ground floor of a new venture. I helped write the Company’s Flight Ops manual 31 years ago. I knew our first CEO Michael Chowdry. He was outstanding in leading our Company. He took the time to meet and spend time with crew members from all around the world. Michael cared about his employees and in my opinion, laid the groundwork for today’s focus on the employee experience.

I consider the pilots at Atlas to be the best pilots in the world. We have the best ground staff too. I didn’t want to retire as a pilot but I love my job now with the hiring department and I plan to stay as long as I can.

I’ve been playing chess for about 65 years and my goal is to someday beat my seven-year-old granddaughter.

Black History Month is an annual celebration that highlights the accomplishments of the Black and African American community and acknowledges their pivotal role in shaping U.S. history. Throughout February, as part of our observance of Black History Month, InsideAtlas will be featuring the stories of our Black colleagues throughout the Company. This week, we invite you to get to know First Officer Wryan Bailey.

Tell us about your journey to Atlas. How did you get here, how long have you been at the Company?

I started my aviation career as an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Army Helicopter Pilot. When I got out of the Army, I transported workers to and from the oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. During that time, I bought my first airplane to facilitate my personal transportation to the Gulf – my work schedule was two weeks on, two weeks off. I then went from flying Bell 407s to a type-rated captain in the King 350, flying overseas; eventually upgrading to the DeHavilland-8 series aircraft flying in various parts of the world. After a stint in Afghanistan, I wanted a job which would allow me to be home more often. I always wanted to fly freight, and I had two dear friends already flying for Atlas. So, it was a natural step and has turned into a final landing spot for me. I have been flying for Atlas for going on 3 years.

What’s your favorite part about working in aviation? And what is your favorite part about your job?

My favorite part about working in aviation is the vastness of it. There are so many different styles of flying and careers in general in the aviation field. Seeing various parts of the world, meeting all kinds of people, and still having time for family and my hobbies are what I love about being an aviator; and particularly being in this job.

You will be judged by your steep turns from here on out.” A DPE gave me this advice while testing for my helicopter ATP. It has turned out to be true and critical in my career – it helped me get a job recommendation on the spot.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their career in aviation?

Take your time. Yes, the airlines are great, and you can be in the right seat at any carrier in two years. Go learn to fly. Get a job for a season in Alaska or fly floats in the Bahamas. Explore a little and learn in different environments. You might find a corporate gig being home every night is a better life than just chasing the title of Captain at some major line.

Hunting and conservation are not just passions, but obsessions. Deer, ducks, turkey, raccoon… you name it. I enjoy being President of the Nashville Sportsman Club to support my passion and the hunting community in Middle Tennessee.

Being a Black American, every month and day has meaning to me. It is significant because I can trace my lineage back to slavery. The sacrifices my ancestors made back then I still carry with me today. My ancestors bought land after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. My family still owns that land today. I proposed to my wife on that land. I hunt on that land. My children, the 6th generation, play and learn about conservation and how to farm on that land.

In Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise,” “I am the dream and the hope of the slave.” Knowing what my ancestors went through, being a 747 First Officer and newly selected member of the training department of Atlas Air, I know I am a living presence of their wildest imaginations and dreams.

I hope I inspire others, especially youth, to think of the past as fuel to accomplish their dreams, to make their ancestors proud.

The care – from a simple sick call-out to a major home emergency while you are in Incheon.

A team of seven Purdue University Aviation students recently spent two weeks in the Miami Training Center (MIATC) gaining real-world experience as part of their capstone project – defining problems and designing solutions.

The students worked on four projects within the MIATC: Pilot Hiring Data Analytics, Flight Operations Master Calendar, Jet Transition and Atlas Air Writing Style Guide. Each team had 20 minutes to present their findings to Flight Ops leadership.

“The capstone project, established as an integral component of Purdue’s Aviation Program, reinforces the significant contributions future talent can make on a well-established organization, such as Atlas,” said Leisa Spears-Snyder, Director of Workforce Development, Talent Acquisition. “Collaboration like this, between industry and education, is essential for the development of the industry pipeline.”

Atlas 777 First Officer Lauren Purnell and Captain John Schumacher are both Purdue Alumni and were instrumental in making this program happen.

“I’m so incredibly proud of what these students accomplished in just under two weeks,” said Lauren. “We gave them four challenging projects, with very lofty goals. Not only did they complete the projects, but they greatly exceeded our expectations with their deliverables. I hope this is the start of their professional journey with Atlas — we would be lucky to have any one of these students join the Company.”

“My experience at Atlas Air was a truly unique and unparalleled opportunity that left an unforgettable mark on my professional journey,” said Kyle Choi, one of the Purdue students who took part in the program. “The unique atmosphere and dynamic environment at Atlas Air provided me with insights and skills that have significantly contributed to my personal and career growth. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of such a remarkable experience. I am confident I will carry the lessons learned at Atlas Air with me throughout my future endeavors.”

Black History Month is an annual celebration that highlights the accomplishments of the Black and African Americans community and acknowledges their pivotal role in shaping U.S. history. Throughout February, as part of our observance of Black History Month, InsideAtlas will be featuring the stories of our Black colleagues throughout the Company. This week, we invite you to get to know Leslie Ann Reece.

Tell us about your journey to Atlas/Polar. How did you get here and how long have you been at the Company?

I am from Trinidad and Tobago. I immigrated to the United States with the goal of becoming a pilot one day. I started out working for one of Atlas’ service vendors and eventually, I moved over to Atlas Ground Ops. I was hired as a station rep and then I was promoted to supervisor, then assistant manager. Shortly after, I was promoted to Station Manager for JFK for Polar.

What is your favorite part about working in aviation? And, what is your favorite part about your job?

Atlas is such a diverse company. You get to meet people from all over the world. We all put our ideas together and work as one. I always say, ‘There is no ‘I’ in team.’ We all pick up the slack.

As the station manager and as a woman, I love that I get to boss all the guys around. LOL.

As a female in this industry, the best advice I’ve received is to never undermine the power of what a woman can do. Always stay focused and do what you need to do. If there is something you want, stay focused and go for it!

So many people I have met in this industry have encouraged me, I have lots of support and connections, especially with women in the industry.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their career in aviation?

I would tell someone to stay curious and be committed to learning. The aviation industry is vast, and it continues to evolve. There are so many opportunities to learn. Be your own cheerleader! Push yourself and use all the tools you have. There is a lot to learn, keep going. Work hard, play harder!

It is just a thrill for me to see where I am now! I have so many role models like Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to hold a pilot’s license. She is such an inspiration to me, as are the groundbreaking achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen, the African American military pilots who fought in World War II. I like to know that I can be a role model to someone coming up in the industry.

Black History Month means a lot to me. It all goes back to the Black aviators I mentioned before who paved the way. This month shows us that no matter your color or race, you can put your mind to something and accomplish it. I hope this month represents that we are all the same, no matter our color. If we both have cuts, we both bleed.

I have loved my job since my first day! When I was a little girl, my friends were playing with dolls, and I was playing with airplanes. I love that I have a job in aviation. Sometimes I get emotional that I am not the one flying the planes, but I think one day I will take flying lessons. I know I would be great at it!

Each year, starting in January, air cargo volumes blossom with tonnes of flowers taking flight to be presented as bouquets. Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest holidays of the year for florists and the weeks leading up to this holiday are one of Atlas’ busiest peak seasons. In the United States, 80% of flowers imported are from Colombia.

This year, there’s more love in the air, when it comes to Atlas’ operation. On January 17, Atlas began operating a 767 filled with flowers out of José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) and into Miami International Airport (MIA).

“This was a logical next step for us,” said Arian Castellanos, Senior Manager Ground Ops Systems and Technical Solutions. “We’ve always had a strong presence flying flowers out of Bogotá, which is the largest market interms of volume. Expanding our Colombia operation into Medellín, the second largest flower market in Colombia, ensures we can meet the demand.”

Frank Diaz, Senior Director Sales and Marketing added, “Bogotá produces mostly roses, but Medellín is a warmer climate, which provide different kinds of flowers like carnations and peonies. We used to take flowers from Medellín, pack them on a truck and ship them to Bogotá to fly to Miami but with the addition of this route, we can fly them out of Medellín, which saves time and allows them to arrive fresher.”

The 767 is also a new fleet type for our South America Operation and came at good time to serve Atlas’ flower peak.

“With our flower flights from Bogotá, we fly a 747,” said Frank. “Since Medellín is a smaller market, with less volume, we are able to leverage our 767. It’s exciting to bring in a new fleet type into the region as well serve a new market.”

In addition to creating a new market, the route has also grown the import business into Miami.

“Previously, we were importing flowers from Quito and Bogotá to Miami,” said Arian. “The expansion into Medellín increases our flights into the station and we now operate five flights a week on this route.”

“We are committed to this market,” said Frank. “Mother’s Day (in May) is our next peak and although the volume will drop after that, we will continue to fly flowers from Medellín. We are committed to meet the demand of the Colombian market and maintain our presence year-round.”

Key participants who made this route possible include Jorge Rosales, Senior Director of Security PAX, Latin America, Santiago Char, Atlas Air Station Manager in Bogotá and our local sales staff in Colombia.

Tell us about your journey to Atlas. How did you get here and how long have you been at the Company?

My journey to Atlas started in 2007, when I was working on 747 freighters for Evergreen Eagle and an industry colleague suggested that I apply to be a Flying Loadmaster with Southern Air. I was hired and over the next seven years with Southern Air, I learned how to overcome all kinds of challenges that can arise through loading and offloading 777 and 747 freighters. When Atlas bought Southern Air, I had an opportunity to return home to my family, so here I am today, working as a Loadmaster for the best and greatest freighter company in the United States – Atlas Air.

What is your favorite part about working in aviation? And, what is your favorite part about your job?

My favorite part of working in aviation is that no two days are the same. And it’s never boring – there are a myriad of challenges on a daily basis – from oversize freight, floating Unit Load Devices (ULD) and much more. When it comes to my job, I love the challenge of figuring out how to position the ULDs to balance out the aircraft.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? When in doubt, always ask questions. And when it comes to inspecting the aircraft, be thorough and keep safety top of mind. What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their career in aviation? Learn everything that is related to your job, and then learn all you can about the aircraft and the people that service the aircraft. What are some things you’re passionate about? Being able to share my knowledge with loadmasters and ground staff that are just starting out with Atlas. What does Black History Month mean to you? Black History Month is every month to me, I am always promoting self-respect and respect for all. What do you love most about working at Atlas?

The collegial atmosphere that JFK management has cultivated for me, and my colleagues is fantastic. Management is always promoting teamwork. The work we do is stressful and knowing that I can count on my team for support is very reassuring. At JFK, I know and believe, it takes a team.

Atlas Air, official sponsor and travel charter partner to the Miami Dolphins, recently invited Dolphins offensive lineman Robert Hunt to take his skills off the field and into the flight deck to experience what it takes to be a pilot. Fans can watch Hunt as he swaps his cleats for wings in a special behind-the-scene feature, released today.

Hunt joined Atlas Air 747 Fleet Captain Thomas Vize and 747 Captain Joe Masone, in one of Atlas’ 747 flight simulators to learn flying fundamentals, from takeoff to landing. The experience blended the worlds of aviation and sport, two professions that both require an immense amount of training, focus and execution.

“It’s always our great pleasure to fly Rob and his teammates as our passengers, and now we had the amazing experience to fly alongside Rob in our 747 training simulator,” said Captain Vize. “It was incredible to see how much our crew has in common with professional football players. Rob works with his team in one of the most challenging environments, running play after play with a high level of success and safety. Same here at Atlas, where our core value is Safety and we fly over 60,000 flights a year to deliver for our customers. It takes a team to win, both on the field and in the skies.”

Atlas is proud to fly the Miami Dolphins throughout the football season around the US and internationally, transporting more than 150 players, coaches and support staff along with their luggage, equipment and cargo in Atlas’ custom VIP Boeing 747-400.

The Distinguished Employer Award is presented to a company in the aviation industry that has demonstrated an overall commitment to the students of Vaughn College in the following ways:

The company’s dedication to education through internship programs
The continued commitment to the hiring of Vaughn College graduates
Financial contributions to the college in support of The Fund for Vaughn College, Scholarship programs.
Financial support towards student run initiatives such as the Student Leadership Society, The Student Experience Fund, a specific club or organization and continued support towards further advancing diversity as stated in our Core Values.

Atlas has a proud and long-standing partnership with Vaughn and has worked with the institution on various programs including; the University Pipeline program, sponsoring their golf fundraising event, attending their annual galas, and hosting Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo, President of the college, as a speaker with the Atlas Air Worldwide Women’s Network for an International Women’s Day event.

Located in Queens, N.Y., Vaughn College is adjacent to LaGuardia Airport. Many members of the Atlas family across the organization were able to attend the reception including LaVerne Bowman, Vivian Cordero, Julia Crupi, Katia DeLoose, Sara Felder, Shelby Hodgson, Leisa Spears-Snyder, Heili Springsteen and Miyako Tomimasu.

Leisa Spears-Snyder, Director of Workforce Development, Talent Acquisition, and Sara Felder, Vice President, Associate General Counsel accepted the award on behalf of Atlas.

“I was honored to represent Atlas at the reception,” said Sara. “We have such a wonderful partnership with the college. Ten percent of our workforce in our New York office are Vaughn College graduates with even more working in other offices. Several of our employees are now teaching at Vaughn and countless more have mentored Vaughn students over the years. This month, we launched our first external mentorship program, where our colleagues serve as mentors to Vaughn College students.”

Said Leisa, “Our partnerships with top tier aviation programs are invaluable in creating equitable access to opportunities within Atlas for underrepresented groups. Vaughn College has done a fabulous job maximizing collaborations to ensure opportunities for their students, many of whom are first generation college and minority students. In May of 2023, Vaughn joined our Pilot Pathways to Success program. It’s truly an honor to work with them.”

Check out photos from the event below:

Spending years as a combat Army medic meant trauma was a part of Thomas’ daily life. His return to civilian life was marred by post-traumatic stress disorder. Thomas was anxious, depressed and withdrawn. He felt worthless and thought about suicide all the time.

Sadly, many of United States veterans struggle similarly to Thomas. Every day, approximately 20 Veterans die by suicide and K9s For Warriors is working to change that. As the largest provider of military passenger and cargo airlift globally to U.S. service members, our support for U.S. service members, veterans and their families extends beyond each mission through partnerships such as the one we have with K9s For Warriors.

In keeping with our commitment to improving the lives of others, Atlas closed out 2023 with a significant donation of $30,000 to K9s For Warriors. This was part of a matching campaign that was promoted on Instagram, featuring Thomas with his service dog Titan, an Atlas-sponsored dog, and Gary Wade, Senior Vice President, Security. In this Instagram video, details on the match campaign were provided, along with Gary’s insight into Atlas’ commitment to K9s for Warriors, “There’s nothing that makes you feel better than giving – that’s what it’s all about – and that is ingrained in the Atlas ethos. That’s what we believe in.”

“K9s for Warriors helped me be the father I needed to be for my children and the husband I needed to be for my wife…K9s gave me the gift of the life I wanted to live again.

“All that was made possible from the generous support of Atlas Air. Atlas has gone above and beyond to make sure not only my life has been saved…but that I’m thriving in this new life. They have gone above and beyond to help other warriors as well and pair them with service dogs.”

At the end of the one day campaign, funds raised plus Atlas’ contribution totaled just shy of $60,000.

“That is the cost for us to pair two Warriors with their Service Dogs,” explained Carly Braun, Development Manager, Corporate Partners. “Or it covers about ten Warriors’ needs during their 21-day, residential training with us. It also equals 150 Warrior K9 essential packs to get the veterans started caring for their dogs. As you can see, there are multiple ways to say, major impact. We are so grateful to Atlas for their support.”

To date, Atlas has sponsored three service dogs – Atlas, Titan and Polar – who have been matched with Warriors Zoe, Thomas and Joey respectively. For those interested in supporting K9s For Warriors, please click here.

Today, our Company announced it has taken delivery of a Boeing 777 Freighter, which we will operate on behalf of our customer MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA. Under the previously announced long-term ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, insurance) agreement, we are now operating four 777 Freighters on a global basis for MSC, enabling MSC to expand its reach and capacity for its customers. The inaugural 777F was delivered in November 2022, with the second and third 777Fs being delivered in July and November 2023, respectively.

This aircraft will complement the existing weekly service, including a route from Hong Kong (HKG) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW).

“The delivery of this fourth 777 Freighter that we are operating for MSC marks an incredibly exciting milestone of our long-term strategic partnership,” said Richard Broekman, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Sustainability, Atlas Air Worldwide. “We value our partnership and look forward to building upon our relationship with MSC as the company continues to grow its air cargo solution for its customers.”

“This latest 777 Freighter delivery represents a pivotal moment and significant milestone for our company as it marks the completion of our first set of aircrafts in partnership with Atlas Air. This new and enhanced fleet will empower us to elevate our offering, ensuring enhanced support for our valued clients and a stronger presence in the market” said Anders Matikka, Vice President, Air Cargo, MSC.

The 777 Freighter is the longest range and most capable twin-engine freighter flying, known for its high reliability, fuel efficiency and lower maintenance and operating costs. It has a range of 4,970 nautical miles (9,200 km) and a maximum structural payload of 235,900 pounds (107 tonnes). The 777 Freighter also meets quota count standards for maximum accessibility to noise‑sensitive airports around the globe.

Awards are given in seven different categories and winners are selected through a combination of member voting and deliberations by the industry adjudication panel. Atlas Air was named Cargo Charter Operator of the Year, triumphing over a select group of competitors, each known for excellence in this challenging and dynamic segment of the air cargo business.

Graham Perkins, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, EMEIA attended the awards ceremony and said, “I was very proud to receive this award on behalf of our Atlas Air Global Charter Sales Team – a group of outstanding professionals dedicated to our customers!”

This is the third of four Boeing 777 Freighters that Atlas Air will operate for MSC, which will complement the existing weekly service and add an additional route from Hong Kong (HKG) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW). The fourth aircraft is expected to be delivered later this year.

“The delivery of this new 777 Freighter is a proud moment for Atlas and testament to our long-term strategic partnership with MSC,” said Richard Broekman, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Sustainability, Atlas Air Worldwide. “We are proud to support the ongoing expansion of MSC’s air cargo solution by providing additional speed, flexibility and reliability to their existing network. We look forward to this third 777 Freighter entering into service for MSC, and will welcome the arrival of the fourth later this year.”

“This latest 777 Freighter delivery accounts for a strategic addition to our MSC Air Cargo fleet, enabling us to address the market’s constantly changing demands and reinforcing our commitment to enhancing trade connections for our clients. We are driven by innovation and bound to keeping up with digital transformation while offering air freight of top-quality services worldwide,” said Jannie Davel, Senior Vice President, Air Cargo, MSC.

MSC enters the air cargo industry with the longest range and most capable twin-engine freighter flying, known for its high reliability, fuel efficiency and lower maintenance and operating costs. The 777 Freighter has a range of 4,970 nautical miles (9,200 km) and a maximum structural payload of 235,900 pounds (107 tonnes). The 777 Freighter also meets quota count standards for maximum accessibility to noise‑sensitive airports around the globe.

Invests in Modern, Fuel-Efficient Aircraft to Serve Long-Term Airfreight Demand Growth

Today, our Company announced it has ordered two new Boeing 777 Freighters driven by ongoing strong customer demand for dedicated large widebody airfreight capacity, particularly for cross border e-Commerce shipping.

The two new 777 Freighters, which were booked earlier this quarter, are expected to be delivered in the second half of 2024. This strategic investment underscores the Company’s commitment to growing its 777F platform, and for providing leading-edge aircraft and service offerings to its customers, as well as creating more long-haul flying opportunities for its pilots.

As previously announced, the Company most recently ordered four 777 Freighters in 2021, which are placed on a long-term ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, insurance) agreement with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA. Three of these aircraft have been delivered, with the fourth 777 expected to be delivered in December 2023.

“We are excited to add these aircraft to our leading world-class fleet. These come at a time when retirements of older widebody freighters will significantly increase and when the introduction of new widebody freighter capacity will be limited. We have a deep pipeline of prospective customers interested in these 777 Freighters, and we’re confident in our ability to place them under long-term agreements,” said Michael Steen, Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide.

Mr. Steen added: “We have a strong and resilient business model that is highly diversified, with strong support from our investment partners, which combined with our unique market position will allow us to deliver our strategic growth plan.

This investment is consistent with our disciplined approach to capital allocation and meets our strict return guidelines for investing in aircraft. We anticipate this transaction will drive strong earnings and cash flow for Atlas, while providing value to our customers.”

The investment also serves as a testament to Atlas’ commitment to environmental stewardship. These new 777 Freighters – the highest payload and longest-range twin-engine freighter – deliver high reliability with less fuel use, a reduction of emissions, and a smaller noise footprint.

“We value our long-standing relationship with Atlas Air as the carrier expands its fleet and strengthens its position as one of the world’s leading air cargo operators,” said Brad McMullen, Boeing Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing. “The best-selling 777 Freighter is one of the most capable twin-engine freighters flying, and provides Atlas with the capacity, fuel efficiency and operational flexibility to move cargo and goods for its customers.”

Atlas Air hosted CSI Aviation at its Global Operations Center in CVG to formally kick off their Pilot Pathway Program. The Program is open to all pilots who enter and complete training with an Atlas partner training facility or a College or University and are referred to CSI Aviation as part of the Atlas Air Runway to Giant Pathway program. The Program will also be open to current and future CSI Aviation pilots who have completed two years of service with CSI Aviation. As a partner, Atlas Air will guarantee referred CSI pilots that meet all hiring requirements an interview for Atlas Air’s First Officer training program. Upon successful interview, program pilots will be offered a First Officer trainee position on the fleet of Atlas’s choice.

Additionally, Atlas Air will provide CSI Aviation with connections to Atlas Air pilots no longer eligible for Part 121 commercial operations.

“Our partnership with CSI Aviation opens up a pathway to equitable access to opportunities at Atlas,” explained Leisa Spears-Snyder, Director, Workforce Development. “It’s important that we offer multiple pathways to Atlas to meet the different requirements of the diverse workforce we are interested in attracting. This partnership will help strengthen the pipeline for a talented, diverse workforce.”

Leisa and the Atlas team met with William “Rock” Collins, President and Chief Operating Officer, Ian Dagley, Vice President, Flight Operations and Alex Katkov, Director, Flight Operations for an introduction, lunch and tour of Atlas’ state-of-the-art Global Control Center.

Jeff Carlson, Senior Vice President, Flight Operations, Matt Sturgis, System Chief Pilot and Jamie Handley, Vice President, Express Operations shared an overview of Atlas’ Flight Operations, while Kurt Albrecht, Regional Chief Pilot, Althea Arvin, Senior Director, Supply Chain Operations, Greg Kappen, Senior Director, Flight Operations and Ryan Piper, Senior Director Crew Scheduling & Training also shared their perspectives to further the CSI team’s understanding of Atlas’ operation and diverse portfolio.

“We are so proud to partner with such an outstanding organization and look forward to working together to create opportunities for pilots,” said Leisa. “The CSI partnership is the perfect career bridge to Atlas Air for early career pilots.”

Pilots selected for interviews with Atlas Air must meet these and other criteria:

For complete details and to determine eligibility, prospective candidates should contact Leisa Spears Snyder at Atlas: Leisa.Snyder@AtlasAir.com and/or Tisha Ray, Recruiter, CSI Aviation: ray@csiaviation.com.

Mother and Daughter Navigate the Skies with Atlas