Youngest pilot hired at United
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2019
Posts: 432
Density altitude and downdrafts are my biggest fear of Telluride. Throw in a normally aspirated Bonanza, fair load of fuel with 2 people on board and bags and it’s a recipe for disaster. He took off at 1pm so density altitude was probably in the 11,200 feet ball park at 9,100 field elevation. That box canyon of Telluride probably has some clearing of the high peaks around 12,000 feet. Truly an environment with razor thin margins. Regardless of what the cause was, they’re departure from this world has left a tremendous void behind.
#24
NTSB : Home Edition should be played elsewhere......IMHO. The cause of the event isn’t really relevant to this thread....just the outcome. I didn’t know the man, but I do know the pain of losing a family member to aviation. As pilots, we all speculate on how these things happen.....but posting it doesn’t really serve a purpose in this thread. Just my opinion. Tailwinds to the deceased, and may their loved ones find peace through this terrible time.
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2019
Posts: 432
NTSB : Home Edition should be played elsewhere......IMHO. The cause of the event isn’t really relevant to this thread....just the outcome. I didn’t know the man, but I do know the pain of losing a family member to aviation. As pilots, we all speculate on how these things happen.....but posting it doesn’t really serve a purpose in this thread. Just my opinion. Tailwinds to the deceased, and may their loved ones find peace through this terrible time.
#26
New Hire
Joined APC: Sep 2018
Posts: 5
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2019
Posts: 432
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Posts: 459
You took a lot of the words right out of my mouth. Costas was a close friend of mine and I was devastated getting the call on Monday night. He was a beacon of light and positivity in this world that is now extinguished. We did ALPA work together and I spoke many times at Embry-Riddle's ACE Club because he got me involved in the Education Committee while he was the Riddle coordinator for ALPA. The ease at which Costas could speak on a variety of subjects, from flying to educational-airline pathways to the threat of ME3, in front of large groups of people was impressive to see.
Beyond our work in ALPA, he and I became very close friends. The first to congratulate me on my captain bid award to supporting me during a couple of difficult times a few years ago. This was a man who I never saw in a bad mood or even a neutral mood; he was always that positive about life. We spent a few times riding around Spruce Creek Fly-In in his many year old golf cart (Costas you have to replace this thing. It's like an early Model-T or something. "But, it came with the house when the lady sold it to me and it still runs!") and going to the Downwind Restaurant for some beverages and hang out.
I, too, hadn't seen him in person since an ALPA National meeting last October, but we stayed in touch through this pandemic. I know he was in danger of furlough and hadn't flown since February, but he and Lindsey lived their lives to the fullest over the past few months and pictures he sent showed the love between these two. I was happy to hear he had proposed and intended to marry. We had talked of getting together either later this year or sometime in the spring when life seemed to get back to more normalcy. Costas said I'll take you up in the plane to remember your roots.
I was able to talk with his mother on the phone the other day. She was holding up surprisingly well and said she was sustained by all his friends and colleagues calling to share stories. I reminded her we had met in the EWR airport one evening when Costas was bringing her along on one of his trips in Europe. She was so proud and he was so excited for that chance. She said United and ALPA have been wonderful in their support.
Costas was a valued ALPA volunteer having been twice appointed the ALPA National Education Committee Chairman coordinating university outreach and overseeing 600+ pilot volunteers who visited aviation colleges to engage students on behalf of ALPA and the profession.
I don't think words can truly capture the impact Costas had on so many and me personally. He was the most accepting, warm, caring and generous individual I think I have ever met in my life. This loss hurts especially because he and Lindsay are so young. United, ALPA and the world as a whole have truly lost a remarkable human being.
Beyond our work in ALPA, he and I became very close friends. The first to congratulate me on my captain bid award to supporting me during a couple of difficult times a few years ago. This was a man who I never saw in a bad mood or even a neutral mood; he was always that positive about life. We spent a few times riding around Spruce Creek Fly-In in his many year old golf cart (Costas you have to replace this thing. It's like an early Model-T or something. "But, it came with the house when the lady sold it to me and it still runs!") and going to the Downwind Restaurant for some beverages and hang out.
I, too, hadn't seen him in person since an ALPA National meeting last October, but we stayed in touch through this pandemic. I know he was in danger of furlough and hadn't flown since February, but he and Lindsey lived their lives to the fullest over the past few months and pictures he sent showed the love between these two. I was happy to hear he had proposed and intended to marry. We had talked of getting together either later this year or sometime in the spring when life seemed to get back to more normalcy. Costas said I'll take you up in the plane to remember your roots.
I was able to talk with his mother on the phone the other day. She was holding up surprisingly well and said she was sustained by all his friends and colleagues calling to share stories. I reminded her we had met in the EWR airport one evening when Costas was bringing her along on one of his trips in Europe. She was so proud and he was so excited for that chance. She said United and ALPA have been wonderful in their support.
Costas was a valued ALPA volunteer having been twice appointed the ALPA National Education Committee Chairman coordinating university outreach and overseeing 600+ pilot volunteers who visited aviation colleges to engage students on behalf of ALPA and the profession.
I don't think words can truly capture the impact Costas had on so many and me personally. He was the most accepting, warm, caring and generous individual I think I have ever met in my life. This loss hurts especially because he and Lindsay are so young. United, ALPA and the world as a whole have truly lost a remarkable human being.
I truly am sorry for your loss. I never met him, but it sounds like the world is definitely darker today with his light extinguished.
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