On Sweeper Flights
The AirSwift crew comes to the rescue of foreigners stranded by the lockdown in different islands of the Philippines
Safe Enough to Fly
Elaine Saldivar, 31, is an aircraft mechanic.
I never dreamed of becoming an aircraft mechanic. When I was in high school, I wanted to become a nurse or a police officer. I believed any of these professions would enable me to help people and save lives.
I grew up with my five siblings in a small town in Agusan del Norte. Our parents couldn’t send all of us to school, but that didn’t stop me from dreaming. My friends encouraged me to enroll in an aviation school in Cebu that offers affordable education. I took a chance. And before I knew it, I was already a licensed aircraft mechanic.
Elaine misses her family, but she cancelled her plans to visit them to help prepare the planes for sweeper flights
Currently, I am AirSwift’s only female aircraft mechanic. And I take pride in that. I easily earned the respect of my colleagues because they did not look at my gender. Instead, they focused on my skills and capabilities.
““Currently, I am AirSwift’s only female aircraft mechanic. And I take pride in that.””
During the lockdown, I volunteered to be part of sweeper flights, rescuing stranded individuals in Palawan and Siargao. We had to wear full PPEs when we landed in those provinces. That’s part of our safety protocols, which include constantly disinfecting the plane and ensuring that it’s in the best shape.
#AyalaCitizen Diary: The AirSwift crew wear full PPE even during their sweeper flight to COVID-free Siargao. While face masks hide their smiles, they warmly assure their passengers of the airline’s safety protocols.
When people fly with AirSwift, we want them to feel safe. As a mechanic, it is my job to ensure that the aircraft is in optimal condition before it takes off. In our battle against COVID-19, I also check that the plane is in good condition for our passengers by disinfecting the cabin before and after each flight. We continuously find new ways to make our flights safer, including the installation of protective pods.
I live alone here in a small apartment in Pasay. My siblings and my parents are all in our hometown now. I miss all of them. I miss the lechon. I miss the seafood. But I’m happy I have a job and can support them during this difficult time.
Looking back, I guess becoming an aircraft mechanic was the right choice. While I sometimes imagine what my life would have been like if I pursued my dream of becoming a nurse or a police officer, I have no regrets.
My current job also allows me to save lives and reunite families. I guess I’m living my dream. I look forward to the time AirSwift can soar again.
Flying is a Calling
Captain Jose Ernesto Gagto, 32, is a pilot.
On my very first flight as a pilot, I was too focused on what was going on inside the cockpit to even look outside the window. When I realized I was already flying the plane, the excitement kicked in. In that moment, I knew this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
I used to be a teacher of students with special needs. I enjoyed that period in my life, seeing children make progress and achieve things despite their condition.
I became a pilot because I wanted a more stable career. I didn’t come from a family of pilots, so I didn’t have any idea of what I was getting into. Everything was new, and I had to study as hard as I could. The fun kicked in only when I finally started flying.
I found my true calling during the lockdown. I was part of the team that handled sweeper flights from different provinces to Clark. I hesitated at first because I didn’t want to leave my wife and our 18-month-old baby alone. But my wife was supportive enough to let me answer the call of duty.
Captain Gagto enjoys family time with his wife and his 18-month-old baby.
““I hesitated at first because I didn’t want to leave my wife and our 18-month-old baby alone. But my wife was supportive enough to let me answer the call of duty.””
We flew non-stop from morning until evening. There were so many stranded passengers in El Nido and Puerto Princesa, and we rescued as many as we could. Everyone in the crew was anxious and afraid because of the uncertainty brought by the lockdown, but we had to be there. We had to work as a team.
The airline industry is bleeding because of the pandemic. Our daily flights were reduced to twice a week, and now, twice a month. But I believe AirSwift is doing whatever it can to stay afloat and to keep as many employees as possible. Some of us took pay cuts. It’s better to sacrifice now so that the company can keep a lot of people, rather than keeping our pay and letting go of more people.
I think acceptance is key. We can adapt. We can change. And soon, we can fly again with our friends and our loved ones.
Fly with Friends
Care Marcos, 23, is a flight attendant.
I was still in college when I first joined AirSwift as an on-the-job trainee. I enjoyed my training because my supervisors were very hands on.
After attaining my BS Air Transportation degree, I joined another company. But, somehow, my heart brought me back to AirSwift. I was home, again.
Everyone at AirSwift considers one another as family. We come to work early and go home late, not because we’re loaded with tasks but because we enjoy each other’s company.
Many people think that being a flight attendant is all about a jet-setting lifestyle. They only see your travel photos, the beautiful places you get to visit. They don’t see the sleepless nights, the hard work, the discipline. It’s not always rainbows and butterflies.
““Many people think being a flight attendant is all about a jet-setting lifestyle. They don’t see the sleepless nights, the hard work, the discipline.””
I was part of several sweeper flights during the first few days of the lockdown. It was a very strange time for us. As flight attendants, we always greet our passengers with big smiles, but we had to wear face masks and face shields. Still, we made sure all passengers felt the warmth of our sincerity and assurance of safety when they boarded the plane.
Caring is something innate to me; it’s in my name. I cannot spend a minute of my life not doing something for other people. I always find ways to help others in the best way I can.
#AyalaCitizen Diary: Care is often the only flight attendant on the sweeper flight, but she diligently checks on the needs of the captains and the passengers. While she waits for commercial flights to resume, she sells lumpia and takes the opportunity to “reinvent herself.”
Right now, our flights are very limited. I spend my days discovering new talents like learning to play musical instruments. I am also recalibrating my knowledge by reading best practices in our flight manual. To earn extra income, I sell lumpia online. You just need to make the most out of this lockdown by reinventing yourself! But I am fully confident that the travel industry will bounce back to normal when a vaccine comes. Until then, I will keep making the most of my free time. # — As told to Rhys Buccat
PUBLISHED ON JULY 13, 2020
