Author Archives: Jacob Ellis

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all of our SkyWest moms! Read on to hear a few stories that some of our incredible SkyWest people submitted about how motherhood has changed their lives and moms have shaped their aviation careers.

Susan C. – DEN Flight Attendant / Captain Andrew C. – DEN Captain CRJ

Captain Andrew says he wouldn’t be where he is today without his mom, Susan. Along with helping him pay for flight lessons, she also taught him values that make him a successful captain.

“She definitely inspired and challenged me along the way,” Captain Andrew said. “Her attitude and empathy toward people really inspire me to be the best version of myself and try to make people smile every day.”

Susan continues to be an example when the pair have the chance to fly together.

“I didn’t become a flight attendant because of Andrew, but it’s a bonus that he works here,” Susan said. “This is my favorite job in the world. I wish I had been here my entire career rather than just four years with SkyWest.” 

Susan says she is grateful she found a home at SkyWest when she was looking for a change after the pandemic. It was just a few months before Captain Andrew started training as a first officer.

Now, a captain, Andrew takes the lead onboard, a welcome adjustment for his mom.

“It makes me so proud of him,” Susan said.

Captain Kate R. – DEN Captain ERJ

Captain Kate originally wanted to become an architect until, on a whim, she went on a discovery flight.

“I thought, ‘Well that sounds like fun.’ I tried it once, and I was hooked,” Captain Kate said.

Pursuing a career as a pilot hasn’t always been an easy process, but Captain Kate’s husband, a fellow pilot, and children have been supportive along the way. She even credits them for helping her become the leader she is today.

“Being a parent has helped shape me to be a successful leader in the flight deck,” Captain Kate said. “I think parenthood is the hardest job. It makes aviation look easy at times.”

One thing that has helped is the flexibility she has enjoyed at SkyWest to prioritize her family. 

“SkyWest has allowed me to balance motherhood and my career,” Captain Kate said. “I can be home and be the interactive parent that I want to be.”

Cindy M. – SLC Flight Attendant / Riley M. – COS First Officer CRJ

Riley grew up around aviation, His family managed the Huntington Municipal Airport in Utah. His dad, Rob, was also a pilot at SkyWest, which allowed Riley and his family to travel across the world during the summer. 

Those early experiences sparked Riley’s fascination with aviation, and he set a goal to visit all 50 states. His mom, Cindy, was there every step of the way.

“She was always willing to help me figure out how to do travel so we could go out and see new places,” Riley said. 

Riley said his mom helped him find joy in learning with experiences like his 50-state quest, setting him up to pursue flying.

“My mom also emphasized that whatever we wanted to do, it’s going to require a lot of work and effort,” Riley said. “You might as well put that work and effort towards something you enjoy doing.”

Cindy was also drawn to the aviation industry and became a flight attendant at SkyWest nearly nine years ago.

“The biggest thing we love about SkyWest is it’s always felt like it’s part of our family,” Cindy said. 

Cindy recently had the opportunity to work with Riley on one of his first four-day trips. He loved working with his mom and wandering around their overnight towns.

“It’s fun to see your mom in the back helping with passengers, and doing the briefings with her and the captain,” Riley said. 

It was also a special trip for Cindy as a mom.

“I was very proud of the way he holds himself and the way he works with his crewmembers,” said Cindy. “It’s a powerful moment as a mom to see how he’s a good pilot, he’s a good first officer, he’s a good crewmember, and he likes to take care of people. Not many parents get to see that.”

Riley added that like him, many pilots have their parents to thank for their success.

“Most of the pilots I’ve talked to in the flight deck felt like they got here because of the support of their moms and dads,” Riley said. “A lot of times, they specifically talk about the hard work their moms did. I think that one of the best things moms do is encourage you and help you remember the reason you sought those goals.”

Captain Penny H. – DEN Captain ERJ

Around first grade, Captain Penny took a flight as an unaccompanied minor from Seattle to Minneapolis. Sitting by the window, she saw the engines start and the plane push back. 

“I remember thinking, ‘This is amazing,’” Captain Penny said. “This is what pilots do all day. They don’t have to go to school. They get to fly airplanes all day.”

When she arrived at her grandparents’ farm in Iowa, her grandpa took her flying in his Piper Cub. As she soared above the cornfields, Captain Penny was officially bitten by the aviation bug and decided she was going to be a pilot.

Now, Captain Penny is married to a pilot and their son, Tyler, has recently earned his commercial license – making four generations of pilots in their family. 

Pursing her career while being a mother has not always been easy, particularly balancing her schedule, but motherhood is rewarding for Captain Penny.

“It can be challenging doing this career and having kids at the same time,” Captain Penny said. “The flight time here at SkyWest has been good. I’ve built up some seniority, and I get better trips. I’m kind of living the good life now.”

Celebrating our AAPI Colleagues!

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month, and SkyWest is pleased to celebrate the stories of some of our amazing people.

Michael L. – DVL Agt Cross Utilized

Growing up in Hong Kong, Michael watched Boeing 747s navigate the infamous approach at Kai Tak Airport (HKG). Aircraft would use a large checkerboard-painted hill as a visual sign to start a hard turn, descending to the runway with a tight, right turn over skyscrapers. Michael says he was impressed by the expertise displayed by pilots every day.

“It was a really difficult approach, you can ask any pilot about that,” Michael said. “I admired the skills that the pilots had, and after that, I wanted to be a pilot.”

Michael said living in Hong Kong also played a role in shaping him for a successful future in aviation.

“Hong Kong has a mixed culture as a city. I think that really helped prepare me to be able to adapt to different cultures and to get ready for flight training,” Michael said. 

A graduate of the University of North Dakota, Michael is building up his flight hours and working his way toward the flight deck. Recently, he joined the SkyWest airport operations team in Devils Lake, North Dakota (DVL).

“At UND, I always heard good things about SkyWest,” Michael said. “I’ve always heard SkyWest is welcoming of everyone.”

Michael has also enjoyed seeing a different side of the aviation industry as a cross-utilized agent. 

“It’s a good opportunity to help me understand the whole operation from the airport side, not only a pilot’s point of view,” Michael said. “I think it prepares me for what comes next and I think it’s really helpful.”

Michael enjoys working at a regional airport and learning how to be an agent.

“I’ve had a positive experience with SkyWest,” Michael said. “I’m working with a small team and they’ve really helped me to succeed. SkyWest is a great environment for me.”

Magdalene F. – BOI Clerk Parts III

Magdalene started her aviation career in airport operations at the Boise, Idaho (BOI) airport. Drawn to SkyWest because of the great benefits, she started on the ramp and quickly made a good impression with her skills.

“My leaders would say, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re so buff,’” Magdalene said with a laugh. “Because you’d have to carry luggage and all that other stuff. They saw me as a strong individual, so they put me in places where I could be the best.”

That was a natural fit for Magdalene, who thrives on stepping up where she is needed.

“I like to be a helping set of hands,” Magdalene said. “If anybody needs help, then I’m there.”

Magdalene says her parents helped her get to where she is today. Her family is from Western Samoa and New Zealand. Magdalene’s parents moved their family to California to provide a better life for their kids. Her mom managed a warehouse, and her dad built his own trucking business. Her parents’ examples, along with a cultural identity built on strong, efficient work, have encouraged Magdalene to take big steps every time she gets the opportunity, including making the jump from Airport Operations to Maintenance. 

After over a decade of quality work and personal reliability, Magdalene has excelled in her current role as a parts clerk in the Maintenance Department.

“I have learned a lot from SkyWest,” Magdalene said. “My leaders seem to like my work ethic. They’ve given me many opportunities and I appreciate the confidence they have in me.”

When asked about more reasons she’s stayed for a decade, Magdalene adds excellent coworkers to the list.

“I love it here,” Magdalene said. “All the personalities we have here just fit in so well together. There’s a lot of different backgrounds, and we just get along so well.”

Sijin R. – DEN First Officer CRJ

Sijin moved to the United States from China at 17 years old. He was originally drawn to aviation as a flight attendant. Sijin was always impressed with how crewmembers presented themselves professionally, and he was intrigued by the opportunity to travel and meet people from all different cultures. 

In 2014, Sijin joined American Airlines, and later met his wife, a fellow flight attendant, in Chicago. She helped Sijin to chase his dreams and become a pilot.

“My wife encouraged me,” Sijin said. “She wanted me to take a big step forward, so she pushed me to go to flight school and become a pilot. She’s my biggest supporter.”

Sijin attended Cornerstone Aviation and heard fellow student pilots talking about SkyWest. 

“I started to look into SkyWest and learn about the company culture,” Sijin said. “I found out SkyWest is a great place to work, a great company, and has an awesome culture. That is how I decided to join SkyWest.” 

Sijin joined the SkyWest Pilot Pathway Program while in flight school, and after graduation, he got his professional start at SWC, where he flew a variety of passengers, including college sports teams. 

After a year, Sijin jumped at the opportunity to join SkyWest Airlines. 

“I always wanted to fly here so that opportunity was great,” Sijin said. “I get great destinations to explore, and of course I love to fly.”

Sijin has found SkyWest to be a welcoming place for everybody.

“SkyWest is a place for equal job opportunities for everyone,” Sijin said. “If you’re willing to work hard and put your best foot forward, SkyWest will welcome you. That’s what I’ve experienced.”

Celebrating Women’s History Month!

March is Women’s History Month, and SkyWest is excited to celebrate the stories of some of our incredible people.

Jessica T. – DEN Captain ERJ

Living near a small airport inspired Captain Jessica to make a career change.

“I always saw the planes flying around. I went for a discovery flight, and I was absolutely hooked on aviation and flying,” Captain Jessica said.

She picked up flying as a hobby and enrolled in flight school planning to become a flight instructor to afford more flight time. When she met instructors that went on to join SkyWest, Captain Jessica knew she wanted to follow that path.

“It was just such a good opportunity to try to make that happen,” Captain Jessica said. “I was a single mom, so I moved back home with my family to make SkyWest work. My parents were fantastic and just helped me make that dream come true.”

Captain Jessica loves being a pilot because there is variety in every shift. She has learned to rely on her team in the flight deck, cabin, and on the ground to excel each day.

“Everyone at the company has been extremely supportive and understanding,” Captain Jessica said. “SkyWest has always had a good support system. The company gives us the tools that we need to make decisions. They take the time to talk through things with you. They’ve made an effort to make the job a lot easier for us.”

Captain Jessica said it’s SkyWest’s people and culture that have kept her here for 20 years and inspired her to step into leadership roles.

“I remember when I went down to my chief pilot’s office to tell him that I was thinking about applying to be a line check airman, he said, ‘Why do you want to be a line check airman?’ I told him, ’We’re growing as an airline, and I want to be there to carry forward the culture as we bring in a lot of new life.’”

Scarlett O.S. – PSP Mechanic II

Growing up, Scarlett saw her mom as Superwoman. With her example, Scarlett knew she could accomplish anything, including following her passion to become an aircraft mechanic.

“She’s a single mom and she was providing for us on her own,” Scarlett said. “Seeing her handle that gave me the confidence to go for it.”

At SkyWest, Scarlett has found a welcoming environment that has allowed her to succeed.

“I was extremely nervous just coming into the field as a woman,” Scarlett said. “It’s intimidating. I was kind of expecting to have some strange experiences, but I haven’t. Everyone was welcoming. If I had questions or needed help with anything, they were more than happy to do that, and it was a judgment-free zone. I love all the opportunities that we get to continue advancing.”

Scarlett was also pleased to see a female lead mechanic, another great example of women successfully pursuing her field.

“It gave me a boost,” Scarlett said. “It felt nice to see someone in an elite position. She’s been a good mentor for me.”

Phally H. – DFW Flight Attendant

Growing up, Phally had a neighbor who was a flight attendant. She would watch her heading off to work, dressed professionally, and carrying her suitcases. One day, Phally asked her what she did and her neighbor told her she was a flight attendant.

“I didn’t know what it was,” Phally said. “She explained it to me as a kid and I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do when I grow up.’”

Phally was able to achieve this dream because of the sacrifices her mother, Pring Aik, made. She came to the United States to give her family a better life after going through war in Cambodia.

“My mother is my mentor, guide, hero, and every term possible,” Phally said. “I wouldn’t be here without her going through the war in Cambodia and getting us here safely. Also, giving us the opportunity to go to school, study, and become who we want to be in the future.”

Pring and other family members instilled values in Phally that have made her a successful flight attendant.

“They taught me great work ethic and the determination to always do things to the best of my ability and beyond, never shortcutting anything,” Phally said. “Me going into this field just kind of enhanced what my mom, parents, uncles, and aunts have taught me throughout the years: Work hard and you will achieve whatever you want in life.”

Phally sees these values in many of the women she works with at SkyWest.

“They’re dedicated. They’re loyal. They do everything that is expected and more,” Phally said. “Their hard work and work ethic are what I’m inspired by.”

Phally has also appreciated the leaders at SkyWest who have mentored her throughout her time in the skies.

“Our leaders are fantastic. They mold you and help you grow,” Phally said. “One, in particular, has been a huge positive role model to me. She’s very private and I have the utmost love and respect for her. She’s a huge inspiration in my life and comparable to my mom at how influential she is to me.”

People like that have made this job the perfect fit for Phally.

“I absolutely love the company and love the people I work with,” Phally said. “The flexibility of our job, the mentorship, and all the different departments that I’ve been able to work with, spoken to, or even asked help with, just overall are hands-down amazing.”

Lexci L. – ORD Mechanic III

After seeing what her future might look like at a desk job, Lexci knew she wanted to do something else. In high school, she especially enjoyed hands-on classes like welding and woodshop. With the help of her mom, a former flight attendant, Lexci decided to pursue aircraft maintenance

“I always knew that I wanted to fix things, work on things, and get my hands dirty,” Lexci said.

After about three years at SkyWest, Lexci is qualified to work on almost everything as a mechanic. She loves the variety she experiences at work every day.

“There’s just always a lot to offer, and I like that there’s always something new to work on cause it’s never the same old thing with planes,” Lexci said.

When she arrived at the SkyWest maintenance base in Chicago, Lexci was the only woman there, but she felt welcomed and has forged great friendships. Now, she’s helped bring new hires, including other women, at the base up to speed, even spending some time as a lead.

“I really get along well with a lot of my coworkers,” Lexci said. “They are like a second family to me.”

Noelle S. – DEN First Officer ERJ

Noelle aspired to be an airline pilot as a kid but didn’t know anyone working in the industry. After researching her next step out of high school, Noelle settled on Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She credits the aviation program there with setting her up for success.

“When I started out, I didn’t know anything about aviation,” Noelle said. “Their main focus was to introduce the airline world to brand new pilots, and that was super helpful.”

When Noelle was looking at regionals to apply for, SkyWest became an obvious choice.

“Everyone that I talked to, who was at SkyWest, seemed to love it,” Noelle said. “I wanted to be a part of that.”

Noelle says it’s the people and culture at SkyWest that have made this job so enjoyable for her. Flights with all-women crews have also been a particular highlight for Noelle.

“It’s really cool because it doesn’t happen very often to get an all-female crew, but when it does, it’s pretty special, and we usually will take a picture,” Noelle said.

Noelle recognizes the women that paved the way for her to have her dream career.

“It’s important to recognize all of the women that have come before so that I could live my dream,” Noelle said.

Allison Z. – OKC Mechanic II

For Allison, being an aircraft mechanic is a family thing. Her dad worked for Boeing for decades, which started Allison’s fascination with aircraft. He showed her planes at his job and took her to air shows.

When it came time to figure out what to do after high school, Allison naturally decided to become an aircraft mechanic.

“I wasn’t interested in being a pilot,” Allison said. “I loved working with my hands to the point where I just wanted to be a mechanic and actually work on the airplanes.”

It didn’t happen right away, but Allison found her way to aviation.

Allison’s family is her biggest supporter, with her parents helping her find and succeed in her career.

“They’re both very proud of me,” Allison said.