"We worked very well together," says Donna. “None of our kids were thinking about becoming pilots, but when you start looking at other careers that are out there, sitting in an office, and then see how happy we are — it opened their eyes.”, Now, as Donna completes SkyWest’s CRJ pilot training, she and Captain Garrett are SkyWest’s first mother-daughter pilot pair. "If you can find other friends, peers, mentors, people to help you through this challenging but very rewarding journey of getting into aviation [...] having other people there, helping you through, is something that makes the whole journey so much easier.". Both women see representation as an important step in encouraging more women to train to become pilots. Donna and Suzy Garrett both work as pilots for SkyWest Airlines. Created with Sketch. She remembers "everybody else's reaction" as being one of the most heart-warming parts of the experience. She later studied at two flight schools in Southern California, finished up her training in Michigan and built up her flight hours by working for smaller companies, including Scenic Airlines, which runs aerial tours of the Grand Canyon. Proudly employing over 13,000 aviation professionals, SkyWest operates nearly 2,400 daily flights. ... SkyWest Airlines. Katja Jourdan NYC 737 First Officer Jacksonville, FL. My middle child became very savvy and could soon piece together routings for our trips better than I could.”. Pilot for SkyWest Airlines Fargo, ND. “I decided to fly because of my parents’ passion and love for flying. Donna and Suzy Garrett both work as pilots for SkyWest Airlines. Together, these individuals connect millions of passengers each month to 258 destinations across North America. They made it so much fun.”, “I got to do a lot of traveling growing up,” she continued. "I just absolutely fell in love with it," she says. Captain Suzy Garrett and her daughter Donna Garrett, who both work for SkyWest Airlines, flew their first flew a plane together a few days go. And now she has the joy of knowing her daughter Donna has joined the SkyWest family. Donna Garrett Slice of positivity. Suzy was one of the first dozen female pilots hired at Skywest and has been flying there for over 30 years. “We absolutely love our jobs. “I was exposed to the world, which was a big inspiration. SkyWest Airlines' fleet consists of a whopping 353 aircraft, c… "It's definitely been a little bit of a struggle," says Suzy, reflecting on Covid-19's impact on the aviation industry. Captain Suzy Garrett and her first-officer daughter, Donna, are the first mother-daughter pair in history to pilot a commercial Skywest Airlines flight together. reddit: the front page of the internet 2020-11-01 I’m so grateful I have my mom as a resource.”. While aviation still has a glaring diversity issue, Suzy says it has been cheering to see attitudes change during the three decades she's been flying. I really love it. SkyWest CRJ Captain Suzy Garrett has much to celebrate this Mother’s Day. blog.skywest.com/skywests-first-mother-daughter-pilots-take-to-the-skies Suzy was one of the first dozen female pilots hired at Skywest and has been flying there for over 30 years. That flight took place over a year ago, but in recent weeks, Donna and Suzy's story has unexpectedly gone viral, with photos of the duo, smiling proudly in the cockpit, spreading across social media. “We’ve been able to get away from normal life and the house and escape on these vacations to have good, quality time together. Suzy suggests it could be because it offers a slice of positivity in what's been a tough year for so many. The duo have a few thoughts on why their story has gained a new lease of life in 2020. Photos of Suzy Garrett and her daughter Donna co-piloting a SkyWest airplane have proved a hit on social media. Skywest Airline's Denver flight is one of our popular reservations at Alternative airlines. SkyWest Airlines is a North American airline which is headquartered in Utah, United States. (Photo: Donna Garrett) While the image of the two sharing a flight deck captured a happy … "And then having her as my mom, we have such a great foundation of communication as it is, just working from there with our dynamic.". Suzy and Donna hope they'll both be back in the cockpit together before long. SkyWest cannot accept kayaks, windsurf equipment, hang gliders, or extra-large or giant pet kennels. "It's indescribable, I'm really, really proud of her, she does a fantastic job.". Both Donna and Suzy talk fondly about the time they got to fly together. "That's been really nice, and to know that it's actually inspired my daughter was the icing on the cake.". Suzy Garrett and her daughter Donna flew as co-pilots for SkyWest Airlines. The duo have a few thoughts on why their story has gained a new lease of life in 2020. You don’t see that too much in other occupations,” Captain Garrett explained. There are so many opportunities to be successful in this industry. Learn more about SkyWest, and career opportunities available to you, here. Captain Garrett is a trailblazer in many ways. Over the course of her SkyWest career, she's flown Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprops, the Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia and now the Bombardier CRJ200, CRJ700 and CRJ900 NextGen. Find mentors: other people who are doing what you’re doing and what you’re aspiring towards. Experiencing my mom and dad’s lifestyle was wonderful. Because her dad had the same profession, captaining an airplane seemed like a normal thing to do. Suzy … It’s a cool moment for my mom and me and for women in aviation in general.”. (1.55 meters). Her husband Doug flies at American Airlines after a decade with SkyWest, their son Mark is currently building his flight hours and their daughter Donna began SkyWest flight training this month. Captain Suzy Garrett and her first-officer daughter, Donna, are the first mother-daughter pair in history to pilot a commercial Skywest Airlines flight together. But the path to achieving that goal didn't seem that clear. "This is temporary, we'll come back and at the end is a really rewarding career that I think a lot of people would really enjoy.". SkyWest Airlines is a leading regional airline serving millions of North America travelers monthly. Captain Suzy Garrett and her first-officer daughter, Donna, are the first mother-daughter pair in history to pilot a commercial Skywest Airlines flight together. Seeing the world shifting is cool. "I was really surprised -- as surprised as now it's gone viral -- but even that day, I haven't had my picture taken that much since my wedding! 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