Tag Archives: SkyWest

Dec 24

SkyWest Employees in Salt Lake City Spread Holiday Cheer

This month the SkyWest Airlines InFlight and Flight Operations crews in Salt Lake City joined forces with those in the Customer Service Department to help fulfill the dreams of several local families in need.

These SkyWest groups worked together to serve Safe Harbor, a crisis center in Kaysville, Utah, with a Sub 4 Santa Christmas drive. Safe Harbor helps domestic violence survivors achieve a life free of violence by providing a healthy environment. They also provide the tools needed to rebuild confidence and help these families become self-sufficient. This is the second year these crews have teamed up to help Safe Harbor and no one hesitated to jump in again this year.

To help spread the word for this year’s Sub 4 Santa, a Christmas tree was set up in the SkyWest Crew Lounge loaded with ornaments. Each ornament consisted of the needs or wants of a mother and her children from their Christmas lists. Nine families were adopted and there were more than 200 items requested, including winter coats, gloves, socks, blankets, boots and shoes. Other requested items included bikes, LEGO blocks, kitchen appliances, books, toys and games. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the SkyWest family, nearly all of the requests were fulfilled ahead of the Monday, Dec. 15 deadline. It is truly amazing to see the giving spirit of the SkyWest family as they have gone above and beyond the requests listed.

Just a few of the items loaded up for the adopted families!

A few items loaded up for the adopted families!

The ability to sacrifice and help others in a time of need is an amazing opportunity. It is a great reminder of what the holidays are truly about. And the overwhelming generosity shown by these incredible SkyWest employees every holiday season is remarkable!

Dec 22

SkyWest Flies 50 Children to the “North Pole”

On Saturday night, Dec. 15, 2014, 50 Colorado Springs children flew to the “North Pole” on SkyWest Airlines’ Fantasy Flight. There they were able to experience the magic of Christmas at a special event dedicated just for them.

This is the eighth year running that SkyWest employees have partnered with community volunteers to organize the Fantasy Flight and transform Colorado Springs Airport’s East Terminal into a winter wonderland. The evening began with dinner, autographs from local Olympians, a petting zoo, face painting and a special appearance by Sky Sox baseball’s Sox the Fox mascot! The little passengers then boarded SkyWest Airlines flight 1225 to the “North Pole” and took off on what was, for many of them, their first flight.

“Nobody got scared,” said Michele Warren, flight attendant – COS. “They all did a good job.”

As they took to the air, flight attendants sang Christmas carols with the kids (although not always in tune), and watched as the children gazed with wonder out the window at the world below them. After a magical, 30-minute flight filled with laughter and song, they had arrived at the “North Pole” (COS East Terminal). The children excitedly hopped off the plane and ran up the jet bridge, anxious to see Santa and tell him their dreams for Christmas morning.

When they entered the room, they were greeted by family and friends, and of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus themselves! They played games, did crafts, and snacked on cookies and hot chocolate while they opened the gifts that Santa brought them. The atmosphere at the “North Pole” was clear throughout the night: This was a magical experience that the kids and their families would remember for years to come.

“We’d like to do a lot more for the kids, but finances are tight and we don’t have a lot of money,” said Kris Dalton, a father of three daughters who participated in the event. “This is something really special.”

Children aboard the Fantasy Flight are enrolled in CPCD’s early childhood education programs. These children live at or below the federal poverty level, have an identified special need, or have a fragile home situation that puts them at risk for school failure. Reaching out to provide them with a magical holiday event is always rewarding, and a lot of hard work and preparation goes into putting it together. Everything from dinner and the volunteers’ time, to the gifts, fuel and aircraft are all generously donated by SkyWest and all of the volunteers who are anxious to give back and help these children have a magical Christmas experience.

Jamie Young, SkyWest’s COS general manager said, “Seeing the kids and parents enjoy the event makes it all worth it!”

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Dec 18

SkyWest Maintenance Team Helps Hundreds of Local Kids With A Free Toy Drive

This holiday season, SkyWest employees and teams across the country are reaching out to help those in need. Just recently, the maintenance team in Nashville, Tennessee (BNA) and their families volunteered with Laguardo Baptist Church in Lebanon, Tennessee to offer a free toy store.

The “toy store,” held at the church, consisted of long tables filled with donated toys, games, bikes and more. Children and their families had the chance to browse through everything and were able to pick out their favorite items. Last year, the SkyWest team served more than 200 families – several with multiple children. However, after seeing some people turned away due to a lack of toys, they set a goal to help even more.

“We were able to provide more than $5,000 in cash and toys for 300 children and their families,” said Ginger Steed, BNA admin assistant.

The huge success was possible thanks to many generous donations and a desire to give back.

“I think of the 300 smiling faces (plus the stress relieved from parents) come Christmas morning, the memories we created, and the impact that all of it has on everybody,” Ginger continued. “It gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling inside, and that’s what it’s all about!”

This is just one of the many opportunities SkyWest employees have taken to give back this holiday season. Big and small, they are always looking for ways to get involved and to give back to the communities where they live and work.

Aug 04

SkyWest Crews Welcome Five-Year-Old “Pilot” Onboard

For a child enamored with planes, simply boarding a flight and taking a seat with their face pressed eagerly against the window is an experience to remember. However, thanks to a special request, some amazing crewmembers and a carefully coordinated effort by SkyWest Airlines employees, five-year-old Calibrooke Myers recently had a flight experience that is sure to be cherished for a lifetime. Kelsey Myers, Calibrooke’s father, reached out to SkyWest representatives before his recent flights asking if he could get some type of special memorabilia for his aviation-loving daughter.

“I was just hoping she would get a sticker or something,” said Kelsey. He never expected the royal treatment bestowed upon Calibrooke. Kelsey said, “The crews really went above and beyond anything I imagined. They were truly amazing!”

As Calibrooke boarded each of her flights, dressed in her captain’s uniform, she got a VIP tour of the flight deck and even had a chance to sit in the captain’s seat. Wise and attentive beyond her years, she listened as the pilots explained what various instruments do. And it wasn’t long after takeoff that Calibrooke was busy explaining to other passengers everything she had learned about the instruments the pilots were using to navigate the plane as they ascended through the clouds.

Calibrooke also received plenty of mementos as part of her journey, including wings, posters, cards signed by crewmembers and a sign with Calibrooke’s name waiting for her as she took her seat. The packages from the flight attendants also included the stickers Calibrooke’s dad was hoping for when he originally contacted SkyWest.

All of the attention added up to an unforgettable experience, both for Calibrooke and the crewmembers who witnessed the sincere joy this young passenger finds in flying. With her love for flight and natural ability to understand aviation, there’s a good bet Calibrooke could be back in the flight deck piloting her own SkyWest flight in the future!

May 02

SkyWest Mini Indy Charity Event Races to Success Again!

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SkyWest Airlines’ Mini Indy brings businesses from all over the world to Utah’s Dixie in the name of fun and fundraising. The three-day event culminates with the airline industry’s premier charity race, where teams race their go-carts at speeds of up to 27 mph in hopes of the coveted grand champion trophy. Proceeds go to United Way, which in turn benefits numerous local charities. Since its inception, Mini Indy has raised more than one million dollars for United Way and SkyWest’s Scholarship Fund. It’s just one of the ways SkyWest gives back to the communities where we live and work!