Are good role models in short supply? Sometimes it seems that way, doesn’t it? If you watch the news or follow current affairs on social media, generally you only see the worst of humanity. It’s kind of the nature of the beast.
So sometimes it’s just nice to get a glimpse of a world where barriers are being broken and good role models do exist.
John Watret’s flight from L.A. to Atlanta proved to be a momentous connection for him.
On his way home from Singapore, the chancellor of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University had a chance meeting with an inspiring flight crew, and took the opportunity to snap a pic he later shared on Twitter, where it went viral.
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The pilots on Watret’s flight were Captain Wendy Rexon and her daughter, First Officer Kelly Rexon.
“Just flew from LAX to ATL on Delta piloted by this mother daughter flight crew,” Watret wrote on Twitter. “Great flight. Inspiring for (young) women.” Watret’s tweet took off, netting more than 18,000 retweets and 51,000 likes.
It was only by chance that Watret learned about the mother-daughter team flying his plane.
During boarding, a mother bringing her kids onto the plane asked if her little ones could visit the cockpit. “The flight attendant said they could — and that they would be surprised,” Watret recalled . He later overheard the mom and her kids remarking on the mother and daughter flying the plane. “I thought that was amazing. I was in awe. I asked if I could visit them too.”
Of course, Watret did get to go meet the flying Rexons, and he came away thoroughly impressed.
Not only are the two pilots, but Wendy’s father is a retired pilot, her husband is a pilot with American Airlines, and her other daughter, Kelly’s sister Kate, is a pilot as well.
Flying is just in the Rexon family’s blood.
Many of the commenters agreed that the Rexons were inspiring for young women out there.
And that’s a big deal, because at present, only about 7% of U.S. pilots are women, according to FAA data . In a male-dominated profession, the next generation need look no further than the Rexons to see that opportunities exist.
“The first officer had a great role model for becoming a pilot — her mother,” said Watret. “It’s good for aviation and inspiring for all of us.”
