Idoia Leonardo

Stories from abroad: Alan II – 3/3

Stories from abroad Alan II 3

A DREAM COME TRUE

In 2000, with lots of flight hours & new BSc degree in hand, I took the final step in making my dream of flying for a major airline come true by getting hired as a pilot for Delta Air Lines. Needless to say, the events of 9/11 had a devastating effect on the airlines, just like the current Coronavirus crisis. Being new to Delta, several hundreds of us temporarily lost our jobs (furloughed) for a few years.

Being America, I was able to take advantage of the situation & get a job flying business jets during the furlough. I was recalled to Delta in 2005, & have been there ever since. This year I will celebrate my 20th year with this fine airline, where I am presently a Boeing 737 Captain. In my 20 years here, I have flown, B737-200/700/800/900, B757, B767, MD88. None of this would have been possible without the great support & guidance of my wife, Allison, who for some reason married me in 1996! 

We now live with in Northern Kentucky, and I am very fortunate to have 3 great sons, Andrew 22, Conor 20, & Killian 15. Andrew is finishing up his college degree, Conor is half-way through his & about to serve in Marine Corps & Killian is in High School. We have all been to Ireland many times, and my boys love to visit my Mum, who lives in the family home in Killiney, and still runs the family shop in DunLaoghaire, Co. Dublin.

But that is another story…

Alan J. Hicks