Life on the Ramp at American Airlines

With everything I have done in a wonderful life of Travel, there is one that I always wanted to do - work on the Ramp and bring airplanes in and out. Now I HAVE!

Hired in late October 2019 with a fully owned subsidiary of American Airlines, Piedmont at Wilmington International Airport (ILM). Much of what I've done has been exciting and thrilling, and some even scary and dangerous, but all in all a great experience. Some not run too well, and many travelers would be very surprised to hear how it all gets done. Soon to come an update: "The life of a ramp agent" until such time please enjoy the photo's:

Here's a video of working a departing plane on a dark, rainy night:

ILM DEPARTURE AB320

                                                                  Ready to wing walk

                                                                             Pushback!

                                                                   Just before sunrise

                                                                  Time to load bags

                                                          Ready to Depart for DFW

                                                                   Engine on EMB 175

                                                               To Engage Pilot Steering

                                      Ground Power Unit - Pretty big plug with LOTS of juice!

                                                                      6AM Departure

                                                        Morning Sun shinning thru fan blades

Menu's and Memoribilia

This was our first trip to the Orient - I got a pass from Northwest Airlines Sales - First Class cost us $120 plus $3 tax.  The cost for Coach would have been $85 plus $3 tax. Who in their right mind wouldn't pay the additional $35-we are talking about 7 flight segments so $5 each to upgrade.  Sure was a tough decision.  We flew NW flight 7 JFK-SEA-HND (Tokyo Haneda as Narita had not been built yet) Then on to Taipei and Hong Kong. The return was HKG-HND-SEA. We spend couple of day in Seattle on the return, climbing Mr Rainer (by car).  Then NW 4 SEA-JFK.  All 747's!