Without a doubt, the best part of aviation is the diverse community of incredible people of all backgrounds, ages, creeds, heritages and facets of aviation who are all drawn together by the common bond of flight. It doesn't take long in aviation to begin to connect networks. Soon it is hard to sit in a cockpit, airport café, fly-in restaurant, or non-rev list without bumping into someone you know, or who knows someone you know. There is an unspoken bond and trust among those who fly. We should never forget how important it is to take care of each other and reach a helping hand to fellow aviators in need. Some years we're up, some years we're down. Never forget wherever you are in the cycle, it will soon change. Help your fellow fliers when you're up. You'll need them when you're down. Be excellent to each other. Karma is a big player when the chips are down. The 5% who are out for themselves at their colleagues' expense will always find it harder to take the next step.

Like any significant event and the people associated with it, you never forget your first Bankruptcy / furlough / strike/ etc.  What has always warmed my heart in the midst of turmoil after 7 such events over 10 airlines, is how we all pull together. When someone finds a job, the lifeline is thrown back to the group. The jobs, the bases, the airplanes and the destinations will come and go. The people we share our cockpits, jumpseats and cabins with will be friends for life.

There are days that stand out in our careers: The first day of class at a new airline, the last day at a failed carrier, a great crew on a great layover.

I'll start the thread with a memorable day: Ferrying the last of the Reno Air Express fleet to storage in Kingman, AZ.  A little formation flying, some witty banter on 123.45, and reflection on a great group of people. A day I'll never forget.

There are good things and bad things about every company out there.  That being said, I never get tired of hearing 4 engines spool up to takeoff power