Seatbelts are for Safety

Community of Wings

Polly Gessell’s glass etching is truly remarkable. She transforms an ordinary medium into a breathtaking work of art, rich with depth and movement. I still remember the first time I saw this piece on display at what is now the Skyview 5 training facility on the American Airlines Robert L. Crandall Campus. I stood there for hours, captivated, trying to unravel the mystery of how she achieved such precision and fluidity. All I knew was that if I had attempted it, I would have shattered the glass instantly. Her ability to breathe life into something so fragile is nothing short of extraordinary. 

 

Soaring Spirits

The obelisk crowned with a kiwi has always captivated me. It stands proudly at the Skyview 5 Training Center, formerly known as Flagship University. This unique monument was placed by the Kiwi Club—a group of former and current flight attendants from American Airlines, its subsidiaries, and merged companies.

Over the years, I’ve come to admire the strong bond among flight attendants. They are a remarkably close-knit group, always looking out for one another and bringing an infectious sense of fun wherever they go. It seems fitting, in their playful spirit, that they chose a flightless bird to represent them—despite soaring through the skies like eagles themselves, always with a smile.

 

Dark Castle

Glowing in the dim light of the early morning, this office building looms with an eerie presence, evoking the ominous aura of Frankenstein's castle. Its towering silhouette and stark illumination create a haunting contrast against the darkness, as if hiding secrets within its walls.

 

Also linked to: Sunday Best. 

Firsts

Being the first to accomplish something takes courage, and I always appreciate when a company recognizes the moments they led the way—especially when their choices were once uncommon or even controversial for no good reason. Though not open to the public, the American Airlines Robert L. Crandall Campus features a sculpture honoring the many 'firsts' the company has achieved—a true point of pride for every AAer.

 

Wild Blue Yonder

Small against the vast expanse of the deep blue sky, Japan Airlines Flight 11 ascends from DFW Airport, bound for Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The sleek Airbus A350-1000 appears almost minuscule as it soars over the Robert L. Crandall Campus in Fort Worth. It never ceases to amaze me that we have the power to send people thousands of miles across the sky to distant destinations.

It reminds me of this moment from Cabin Pressure: 

Arthur: I'm just so excited about the trip!

Carolyn: Arthur, you've been on hundreds of trips. Hasn't the novelty worn off a little?

Arthur: No, never! It's just always exciting, that amazing moment when twelve tons of metal leaves the earth ... and no one knows why!

Carolyn: Yes, we do... There are four forces at work on the plane and as long as two of them are bigger than the other two, the plane flies.

Arthur: Mum, I don't mind that no one knows.

Indoor Pool

 

Working on the weekend can be surreal sometimes because the building is mostly empty.   

I went to one of the convenience shops for some water and someone apparently left in the middle of a pool game.  The balls were still laid out waiting on someone to take a shot.  

I wonder if they intend to come back and finish the game. 

Memoriam

  When the events of the world grow too heavy to bear,
and fear grows deep inside.

Seek out kinds words to hear,

words to comfort and guide. 

In memory of those lost on American Airlines 5342 operated by PSA and the Army Black Hawk on 1/29/25.