I was killing time at Denver International the other day and was looking at the Jeppeson display in the main terminal. Its a mini-museum to the airports namesake Capt Elrey B. Jeppesen, founder of the current day Jeppesen International chart company.
They have artifacts from Jeppesen's private collection including: crude looking original approach plates, little notebooks with notes scratched in them about obstructions and visual aids, a pair of open cockpit goggles, curious items from a time of iron men and wooden airplanes.
Just as I was looking at all these great little displays I saw a bunch of commuter crews shuffling through to report to work. I can't help but see a contrast between what once was, and what is now.
Everything has been santized and made safer: The airplanes, the technology, the knowledge. I noticed a kid looking Pilot eating a Burger King sandwich as he was waiting in the security line, where he promptly and unabashingly removed his shoes and belt to be screened for entry, he looked like it was just another day. Another guy had a flight case with a gratefull dead sticker on it, kind of bobbing his head as he walked, not a care in the world, so it seemed. My feeling had nothing to do with the Assistant Chief Pilot attitude about professionalism, it was way bigger then that-- it was about changing times, a new era.
I guess the jepp display made me feel a little historic, but more importantly it made me realize that we have different jobs then the days of old. The personalities that are drawn to this flying career must have evolved into something else altogether. Where do you supose the pioneer spirits are working today? Where would someone like Mr. Jeppesen find himself today, if he were born in 1980 instead? Would he be flying a glass airplane with autopilot and GPS, eating Burger King in the security line? Would Jeppesen even be drawn to aviation at all, afterall it is just another day at a common craft. Flying airplanes isn't exactly dangerous anymore. Where do todays trailblazers go?
Anyway, check out the Jeppesen display at DEN main terminal, upstairs near the walkway to the A concourse. Its pretty cool. You can't help but notice the contrast, I think the Mesa Crew Room is just a couple houndred yards from the display. Enjoy.
http://www.jeppesen.com/wlcs/index.jsp?section=about&content=history.html
p.s. Elrey Jeppesen was a very young looking guy when he was a Captain at United. One of the displays has a letter from his Flight Attendent Wife who said her first impression of him was ' how could this kid be flying the airplane'. Some things never change.
They have artifacts from Jeppesen's private collection including: crude looking original approach plates, little notebooks with notes scratched in them about obstructions and visual aids, a pair of open cockpit goggles, curious items from a time of iron men and wooden airplanes.
Just as I was looking at all these great little displays I saw a bunch of commuter crews shuffling through to report to work. I can't help but see a contrast between what once was, and what is now.
Everything has been santized and made safer: The airplanes, the technology, the knowledge. I noticed a kid looking Pilot eating a Burger King sandwich as he was waiting in the security line, where he promptly and unabashingly removed his shoes and belt to be screened for entry, he looked like it was just another day. Another guy had a flight case with a gratefull dead sticker on it, kind of bobbing his head as he walked, not a care in the world, so it seemed. My feeling had nothing to do with the Assistant Chief Pilot attitude about professionalism, it was way bigger then that-- it was about changing times, a new era.
I guess the jepp display made me feel a little historic, but more importantly it made me realize that we have different jobs then the days of old. The personalities that are drawn to this flying career must have evolved into something else altogether. Where do you supose the pioneer spirits are working today? Where would someone like Mr. Jeppesen find himself today, if he were born in 1980 instead? Would he be flying a glass airplane with autopilot and GPS, eating Burger King in the security line? Would Jeppesen even be drawn to aviation at all, afterall it is just another day at a common craft. Flying airplanes isn't exactly dangerous anymore. Where do todays trailblazers go?
Anyway, check out the Jeppesen display at DEN main terminal, upstairs near the walkway to the A concourse. Its pretty cool. You can't help but notice the contrast, I think the Mesa Crew Room is just a couple houndred yards from the display. Enjoy.
http://www.jeppesen.com/wlcs/index.jsp?section=about&content=history.html
p.s. Elrey Jeppesen was a very young looking guy when he was a Captain at United. One of the displays has a letter from his Flight Attendent Wife who said her first impression of him was ' how could this kid be flying the airplane'. Some things never change.
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