Joe James:
CLASS OF 1982
West Forsyth High SchoolClass of 1982
Clemmons, NC
Joe's Story
Joe is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Joe's schools include West Forsyth High School. Joe later attended The University of North Carolina at Greensboro - UNCG (Information Systems) , UNC Greensboro. Joe works(ed) at Us Airways Group, Usairways, Us Airways Group.
Music Joe likes includes AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughan. Books Joe likes include Patriot Games, The Summons, The Broker. TV shows Joe likes include Burn Notice, CSI, NCIS.
One of Joe's favorite quotes is:"Favorite Avaition Quotes:
1. You haven't been lost till you have been lost at MACH2.
2. The only time you can have to much fuel on board is when you are on fire.
3. The most useless things in aviation are:
Altitude above you.
Runway behind you.
Fuel left at the Airport.
The sectional you left in the car.
4. It is always better to be on the ground wishing you were flying, than flying wishing you were on the ground.
5. All take offs are optional, all landings are mandatory.
6. The next best thing to flying is sitting in your hangar telling lies about flying.
".
More about Joe:"Flying to Ocean Isle.
I started out in college thinking I was going to be an Information Technology Professional. I worked part-time for Piedmont Airlines, to help put myself thru school at UNC-Greensboro. Somewhere along the way I learned that computers are a lot more fun to play with than to work with. I enjoyed the challenge of making that darn machine do what I wanted it to, but I enjoyed my time out on the airport ramp much more than the time I spent sitting in front of the computer screen cranking out source code.
Working around Boeing 727's, 737's, and at the time Fokker F-28's, helped me to develop a love of aircraft that has caused me to foolishly choose a career in the airline industry. Had I known back in 1984 what this industry was going to go thru in the coming years I might have stuck it out in the IT field. I'm sure I'm not the only poor soul lured in by the...Expand for more
promise of "Free Travel" and the intoxicating song of jet engines roaring. Even as much as my income has suffered due to my choice of careers, I have to say there is still a certain thrill each time I walk up to a departure gate and flash the airline ID and take up one of those last unused seats. The thought of "Day-Tripping" to NYC, Boston, Miami, or DC probably would not be an option for me if I did not work in the Airline industry.
I guess I have been relatively lucky in that I have only had to re-locate one time in the last 25 years, the result of yet another round of cost cutting in the industry. So Piedmont became USAir, USAir became US Airways, I went along for the ride with my friends from PSA, Empire, Mohawk, Lake Central, All American Airways, and most recently the folks from America West.
Along the way of course I was bitten by the bug to fly myself. I finally thought I could afford the extravagance, and in 2001 and started Flight Lessons. I had a great instructor, Randy Schenk, he instructed to help support his flying addiction. 10 glorious hours split between a Cessna 150 and a Cessna 172. 10 of the most enjoyable hours of my life.... But then of course 9/11/01 happened and General Aviation was in chaos for months. I attended ground school while GA training was prohibited and made a 98% on my written. I think I was more proud of that than I was of my BS in Information Systems, and the BS took my seven years to complete attending college part-time. In 2008 I bought a 1/3 share of an airplane partnership in a little two seat Cessna 150. The plane is a bare bones aircraft that is 40 years old but she is fun to fly. I have never finished up my pilots license due to a medical issue, but my oldest son Brad got his Private Pilot License in my Cessna. He is currently working on his Commercial rating and his Instrument rating.
I have 3 great kids, at the time I'm writing this they are 22 (Brad), 18 (Emily), and 16 (Matt).".
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