Southwest Airlines Community

Shortly after I started working in Flight Operations at Southwest Airlines, I was asked to help support Southwest’s Adopt-A-Pilot (AAP) program. Aside from having seen Pilots wearing brightly colored ties, I didn’t know much about the program, but was excited about the new opportunity. I have since learned that Adopt-A-Pilot is a chance for Southwest Pilots to volunteer their time and invest in the lives of children. Each spring, Pilots adopt classes of fifth graders and teach them about aviation, geography, math, science, and the importance of education. Each Pilot has the freedom to personalize the supplied curriculum, while encouraging students to follow their passions and achieve their individual goals.  Every year, the Adopt-A-Pilot program concludes with the opportunity for the fifth graders to participate in a competition in which they are challenged to design a tie that best represents Southwest. The winning design is made into a tie that is then worn with the Pilot’s uniform by participating Adopt-A-Pilots. This year’s winner was Emily Nguyen, a student in First Officer Eric Dieckman’s fifth grade class at SS. Simon and Jude in Phoenix. At a school-wide assembly, Eric presented Emily with the tie that was inspired by her design contest submission. Emily’s family was in attendance and she was thrilled with the surprise celebration! Over its 19 years, the Adopt-A-Pilot program has impacted the lives of both students and Pilots alike. Just recently, Adopt-A-Pilot Ambassador, Captain Nancy Martin-Belitz was walking through the airport and was stopped by a man running up to her exclaiming, “Captain Nancy? Captain Nancy? You were my class’ Adopt-A-Pilot when I was in fifth grade!”  Nancy’s influence inspired her former student to pursue his dream career in aviation and he is now a Pilot for a regional carrier.  Nick Caulfield, an Assistant Chief Pilot based in Chicago, met his now wife after being assigned to teach in her fifth grade class! This year alone, more than 600 Pilots and 34,000 students are participating in the Adopt-A-Pilot program. We are proud of our Pilots across the system who invest their time and talents every year to make Adopt-A-Pilot possible! ... View more