Pilot Preps Kids For Takeoff

Elijah Johnson walked into King/Robinson School classroom in his United Airlines pilot uniform — on a mission to inspire some of the students one day to take flight.

King/Robinson welcomed Johnson to the school to talk with 4th-8th grade students about a career in aviation. The visit was arranged by CEO Rev. Yvonne and President Earl A. McCoy Sr. of Making A Difference Foundation, along with King/Robinson administrators Jasmin Joiner and Taylor Samuels Gonzalez. 

The McCoys have been partnering with New Haven schools to host multicultural events since 1998. They are both graduates of Hillhouse High School. Yvonne attended King/Robinson when it was known as Jackie Robinson Middle School; Earl grew up around the corner on Diamond Street. 

Johnson, a cousin of the McCoy family, participated in Tuesday’s event to show children ​“you can achieve this.”

Johnson, 28, was introduced to a career in aviation in the sixth grade after spending his youth playing flight simulator computer games. That same year he flew his first ever plane thanks to a youth aviation program in New Jersey. He fell in love with the career path and pursued it. 

Johnson is now a first officer pilot for United Airlines. 

Johnson told the dozens of students present about his job as a co-pilot flying a United Airlines Boeing 737. He typically flies up to 190 passengers per flight. He said he works in a cockpit with a captain; they take shifts flying the plane. 

“Have you ever had an incident” while flying a plane? one student asked. Johnson said on a flight to Costa Rica a passenger was feeling lightheaded and needed medical attention. This resulted in the flight crew calling a doctor mid-flight to help support the unwell passenger. 

Johnson said pilots use an iPad device that helps them detect weather conditions that may affect flights and turbulence.

As Johnson answered questions, students passed around a miniature model of a 737 plane.

“Have you ever passed out while flying a plane?” a student asked. Johnson said he hasn’t because an important part of his job is to always come to work well rested. 

Johnson said he must go about 180 miles per hour to get off the ground and lands at a similar speed in less than a mile. 

Johnson explained that pilot schedules are made through a seniority-based system. As he reaches nearly a year on the job with United Airlines, he works only on the weekends and on holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. 

In response to several other questions Johnson said he has hit birds and bats before while flying a plane. His longest flight was from Seattle to Hawaii — around seven hours. 

“Who wants to be pilot now?” Johnson concluded. A dozen students raised their hands.