Tributes to Kevin Mosley and Tony Pino
03-27-2009, 08:31 AM
#12
...Whatever It Is!
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,680
Originally Posted by FX Bone Guy
MD11Fr8Dog,
Thanks for posting the link.
It's so helpful. Both for the family, and me.
And you've got the BEST avtar out ther!!!
Thanks for posting the link.
It's so helpful. Both for the family, and me.
And you've got the BEST avtar out ther!!!
PS. I still chuckle everytime I look at my avatar, too!
03-27-2009, 11:01 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: MD11 Capt
Posts: 232
I received this email today after attending the ceremony at San Antonio yesterday. Wish I had written it!
Date: Friday, March 27, 2009, 3:10 AM
This afternoon at the FedEx ramp in San Antonio, the remains of First Officer Tony Pino, killed in the crash of a FedEx MD-11 at Tokyo, Narita last Sunday, were recovered from FedEx flight 379.
The bereaved family members were brought onto the ramp in vehicles along with the hearse. There was assembled a company of FedEx pilots in full uniform, and a cadre of United States Air Force Reserve officers in full uniform acting as honor guard. These groups numbered about 30 and 20 respectively. Each is an active pilot with FedEx Express. Additionally, there were about one hundred FedEx off-duty employees and guests and a host of pilots from other airlines (including UPS) also in full uniform. The FedEx Express aircraft ramp team marshaled the aircraft into the gate following a picture-perfect landing on runway 21, adjacent to the ramp, which had been requested by ramp personnel and graciously orchestrated by ATC as a non-standard arrival.
The remains, draped with the American Flag, were moved off of the MD-10 aircraft smartly and perfectly via the three-story tall FMC Main Deck Loader. The subsequent proceedings ensued flawlessly with military precision. The transfer box containing the body was secured by the Air Force honor guard and slowly and deliberately removed from the loader, stepped down to the ramp and in measured cadence, moved some 60-feet to the hearse which was positioned outside the aircraft parking silhouette.
The atmosphere was solemn and very dignified. In all, from block-in to family departure, the ceremony entailed about 40-minutes. Owing to the superb execution by our aircraft ramp team, the pilots and the honor guard of a totally unrehearsed choreography, it was the proudest moment of my 32-year career.
The occasion was also visited by the airport police, the TSA and representatives of other government agencies. A missing-man fly-by formation of T-38's from Randolph AFB was also provided as an unexpected honor to FO Pino and his family.
A visitation will be held at the Porter Loring Mortuary North this Monday beginning at 11 am. A service will follow at 1 pm in their chapel with burial to follow at about 2:30 pm with full military honors at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery. Federal Express founder and Chief Executive Officer, Frederick W. Smith, is expected to attend.
M
Date: Friday, March 27, 2009, 3:10 AM
This afternoon at the FedEx ramp in San Antonio, the remains of First Officer Tony Pino, killed in the crash of a FedEx MD-11 at Tokyo, Narita last Sunday, were recovered from FedEx flight 379.
The bereaved family members were brought onto the ramp in vehicles along with the hearse. There was assembled a company of FedEx pilots in full uniform, and a cadre of United States Air Force Reserve officers in full uniform acting as honor guard. These groups numbered about 30 and 20 respectively. Each is an active pilot with FedEx Express. Additionally, there were about one hundred FedEx off-duty employees and guests and a host of pilots from other airlines (including UPS) also in full uniform. The FedEx Express aircraft ramp team marshaled the aircraft into the gate following a picture-perfect landing on runway 21, adjacent to the ramp, which had been requested by ramp personnel and graciously orchestrated by ATC as a non-standard arrival.
The remains, draped with the American Flag, were moved off of the MD-10 aircraft smartly and perfectly via the three-story tall FMC Main Deck Loader. The subsequent proceedings ensued flawlessly with military precision. The transfer box containing the body was secured by the Air Force honor guard and slowly and deliberately removed from the loader, stepped down to the ramp and in measured cadence, moved some 60-feet to the hearse which was positioned outside the aircraft parking silhouette.
The atmosphere was solemn and very dignified. In all, from block-in to family departure, the ceremony entailed about 40-minutes. Owing to the superb execution by our aircraft ramp team, the pilots and the honor guard of a totally unrehearsed choreography, it was the proudest moment of my 32-year career.
The occasion was also visited by the airport police, the TSA and representatives of other government agencies. A missing-man fly-by formation of T-38's from Randolph AFB was also provided as an unexpected honor to FO Pino and his family.
A visitation will be held at the Porter Loring Mortuary North this Monday beginning at 11 am. A service will follow at 1 pm in their chapel with burial to follow at about 2:30 pm with full military honors at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery. Federal Express founder and Chief Executive Officer, Frederick W. Smith, is expected to attend.
M
03-27-2009, 11:56 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 189
MX727,
Thanks for putting up this link, I was just about to do this myself. For those who were not there yesterday morning in was a very moving site. My wife came with me and was glad that she got up that early to be there. I just got an email from the CIRP that came from Kevin's wife so look for more info to come out soon.
A very big thanks needs to be given to the people of the PDX ramp, so if you fly thru there let them all know how much it meant to us what they did for Kevin. They made my job easy!
Thanks to everyone that was there.
Noser
Thanks for putting up this link, I was just about to do this myself. For those who were not there yesterday morning in was a very moving site. My wife came with me and was glad that she got up that early to be there. I just got an email from the CIRP that came from Kevin's wife so look for more info to come out soon.
A very big thanks needs to be given to the people of the PDX ramp, so if you fly thru there let them all know how much it meant to us what they did for Kevin. They made my job easy!
Thanks to everyone that was there.
Noser
03-28-2009, 09:53 AM
#15
On Reserve
Joined APC: Mar 2009
Position: Sitting
Posts: 20
I was there too. I'm a 31yr fdx vet, now at pdx. You crews and everyone were outstanding in every way. Hands down the most powerful moment in my career. Tragic loss, GodSpeed to the families. My dad was WWII, Hump, Capital, UAL. I'm not a driver but believe me a lot of us consider all you guys family.
03-28-2009, 09:54 AM
#16
On Reserve
Joined APC: Mar 2009
Position: Sitting
Posts: 20
Originally Posted by vagabond
Wanted to share this nice article in the Oregonian about Kevin Mosley.
Flying was life for Hillsboro pilot who died in FedEx crash - OregonLive.com
If anyone finds something similar for Tony, I'd appreciate you posting the link here.
Flying was life for Hillsboro pilot who died in FedEx crash - OregonLive.com
If anyone finds something similar for Tony, I'd appreciate you posting the link here.
03-28-2009, 08:13 PM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2007
Position: MD11 Capt
Posts: 119
Because I fly
Because I fly
I laugh more than other men,
I look up and see more than they,
I know how the clouds feel,
What it's like to have blue in my lap,
To look down on birds,
To feel freedom in a thing called the stick...
Who but I,
Can slice between God's billowed legs,
And feel them laugh and crash with his step?
Who else has seen the unclimbed peaks?
The rainbow's secret?
The real reason birds sing?
Because I fly,
I envy no man on earth.
Because I fly
I laugh more than other men,
I look up and see more than they,
I know how the clouds feel,
What it's like to have blue in my lap,
To look down on birds,
To feel freedom in a thing called the stick...
Who but I,
Can slice between God's billowed legs,
And feel them laugh and crash with his step?
Who else has seen the unclimbed peaks?
The rainbow's secret?
The real reason birds sing?
Because I fly,
I envy no man on earth.
03-29-2009, 09:20 AM
#19
Administrator
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: C-172
Posts: 8,024
It has been a week since the tragic accident that took the lives of our two friends. I am glad they are both home now where they belong. Thank you to all who wrote about last Thursday when they made their last flight home. We will see them again in a better place.
03-29-2009, 02:16 PM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Drinking from the fire hose
Posts: 305
This was passed on to me by one of my best friends at FedEx. As others have said: "I wish I could have written it this well".
In Narita, Japan there were a number of pilots in full uniform to present the remains of both pilots to the aircraft and see the flight off. In Oakland for a “gas and go” there were 25+ full uniformed pilots that went up the stairs and paid respects to the fallen ones. In MEM a full color guard received the two and took them to a hangar where Fred Smith, Dave Bronczek and a large number of executives received 400-500 pilots and personnel that were bused to pay respects. My understanding is that Mr. Smith was there for the duration. People signed a book for each family.
After which, Captain Mosely was flown to Portland Oregon this morning where the Ramp Team received the family and had approx 80 employees lined up on the nose dock. Their operation was without any issues or concerns and was a very moving presentation according to the Senior Manager.
F/O Pino was taken to a MEM funeral home and escorted for 12 hours by 2 crew until time for the dayturn show time. A full honor presentation accompanied the loading. Flowers were also sent to the MEM funeral home and all of those were loaded on our flight 379 along with crewmen (2 were formal escorts). Our pilots were not ever left without escort from Japan until the funerals and will not be unless the family requests otherwise.
At San Antonio, it rained today until approx 1400hrs, skies cleared and the sun came out. It was a beautiful afternoon. We received the family and parked them on the tarmac at approx 1650hrs along with the guests and uniformed crew. We made arrangements to have the flight land on the closest runway and touched down straight across from our ramp with a perfect landing. The aircraft blocked at 1734hrs and the flowers from Mr. Smith (gorgeous 6’ tall arrangement) and the book signed by all in MEM were presented to the widow and 3 boys. Tony’s mother and other family were also present.
The body was covered with the American flag and the pilots and honor guard stayed at full attention then moved to salute when the pallet started in motion forward. It was lowered and the honor guard stepped up on the loader. Mrs. Pino came forward with her son, hugged the casket and spent a few moments with her late husband. She retreated and the transfer was completed to the hearse with proper respect and military bearing.
I have a ramp agent that indicated in his 32 years with FedEx it was the proudest moment he has experienced. Our FedEx Team did an exceptional job of honoring these two pilots and I am proud also to report that the SATR Team was able to finish equally strong. Our loader operator, stairs, marshaller and others were absolutely perfect in their execution. One of the pilots I authorized to be here was in full UPS uniform and he was absolutely awed by the respectfulness.
We still work for the best company in the world because we fill it with the best people in the world! Please feel free to share this with your teams as they also should know as well.
RB
Senior Manager
Air-Ground & Freight Services
FedEx Express
San Antonio, TX
FedEx Fallen Pilots Honored
As all of you know, one of the fallen pilots was based on San Antonio. First Officer Tony Pino is a retired Air Force officer and has been flying with FedEx for a little over 3 years. He usually flew international and was primarily flying out of ANC. On Friday the 13th of this month, Pino jumpseated out of San Antonio for the last time with a promise to his wife that he would be home Thursday the 26th. Today, we received about 12 of the Pino family and friends on the ramp along with 35 uniformed pilots and approx 70 of our FedEx family to fulfill that promise. In Narita, Japan there were a number of pilots in full uniform to present the remains of both pilots to the aircraft and see the flight off. In Oakland for a “gas and go” there were 25+ full uniformed pilots that went up the stairs and paid respects to the fallen ones. In MEM a full color guard received the two and took them to a hangar where Fred Smith, Dave Bronczek and a large number of executives received 400-500 pilots and personnel that were bused to pay respects. My understanding is that Mr. Smith was there for the duration. People signed a book for each family.
After which, Captain Mosely was flown to Portland Oregon this morning where the Ramp Team received the family and had approx 80 employees lined up on the nose dock. Their operation was without any issues or concerns and was a very moving presentation according to the Senior Manager.
F/O Pino was taken to a MEM funeral home and escorted for 12 hours by 2 crew until time for the dayturn show time. A full honor presentation accompanied the loading. Flowers were also sent to the MEM funeral home and all of those were loaded on our flight 379 along with crewmen (2 were formal escorts). Our pilots were not ever left without escort from Japan until the funerals and will not be unless the family requests otherwise.
At San Antonio, it rained today until approx 1400hrs, skies cleared and the sun came out. It was a beautiful afternoon. We received the family and parked them on the tarmac at approx 1650hrs along with the guests and uniformed crew. We made arrangements to have the flight land on the closest runway and touched down straight across from our ramp with a perfect landing. The aircraft blocked at 1734hrs and the flowers from Mr. Smith (gorgeous 6’ tall arrangement) and the book signed by all in MEM were presented to the widow and 3 boys. Tony’s mother and other family were also present.
The body was covered with the American flag and the pilots and honor guard stayed at full attention then moved to salute when the pallet started in motion forward. It was lowered and the honor guard stepped up on the loader. Mrs. Pino came forward with her son, hugged the casket and spent a few moments with her late husband. She retreated and the transfer was completed to the hearse with proper respect and military bearing.
I have a ramp agent that indicated in his 32 years with FedEx it was the proudest moment he has experienced. Our FedEx Team did an exceptional job of honoring these two pilots and I am proud also to report that the SATR Team was able to finish equally strong. Our loader operator, stairs, marshaller and others were absolutely perfect in their execution. One of the pilots I authorized to be here was in full UPS uniform and he was absolutely awed by the respectfulness.
We still work for the best company in the world because we fill it with the best people in the world! Please feel free to share this with your teams as they also should know as well.
RB
Senior Manager
Air-Ground & Freight Services
FedEx Express
San Antonio, TX
