Over the years, their roles have evolved, reflecting both their personal growth and Atlas Air’s expanding operations. Andrea and James have transitioned into leadership positions, with Andrea now serving as Senior Manager of Flight Crew Support & Inflight Standards and James as Manager of Inflight Operations and Flight Attendant Fatigue Risk Management Plans (FRMP). Dirk has come full circle, returning to the MIA Training Center as a Flight Attendant Instructor, where he now leads Air Force flight attendant training. Meanwhile, Eric continues to work the line, embodying the spirit of that very first class with every flight!
(L-R): James Hock, Eric Scharf, Dirk Stewart, and Andrea Davenport.
Looking back on their time with Atlas Air, each of them shared their thoughts on their careers, the lessons learned and the experiences that have shaped who they are today.
For Andrea, stepping beyond the cabin and into the operational side of the airline has been eye-opening.
“Being a part of the Atlas Flight Operations department has opened my eyes to so many sides of not just our airline, but of the aviation industry in general. I make it a goal for myself and my team to educate the FSI flight attendant staff on Atlas Air’s dynamic operation so they can learn and appreciate everything that happens behind-the-scenes to make each flight successful. I spent many years as a flight attendant prior to joining Atlas Flight Ops and as a flight attendant you may travel the world, but your world can be quite small when it comes to the operation. It has been so rewarding to see the operation as a whole and learn the roles of all departments.” – Andrea Davenport
James reflected on how much Atlas Air’s passenger operations have evolved since those early days.
“It’s truly incredible to look back and see how far we’ve come… from Class 1 reporting to MIA, to where we stand today. Seeing our evolution first-hand has been both inspiring and rewarding. We’ve grown from our initial operation, The Houston Express, to one of the world’s premier charter companies, earning a reputation among some of the most valuable franchises globally. I recognize that it’s rare in one’s working career to have the chance to be involved at the ground level of something as successful as our passenger operations. It has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I’m grateful to have had this opportunity. The journey from those early days to where we are now is a testament to our leadership, dedication and teamwork. As we look to the future, I’m excited to see where this growth will take us next.” – James Hock
For Dirk, the friendships formed along the way have been just as meaningful as the milestones achieved.
“When I look back over the last 15 years since that first initial training, my favorite part of being at Atlas are the wonderful friends I have made along the way. The entire process of participating in the 747 certification for passenger operations and the [test] flights that followed were very memorable. The excitement, thrills, camaraderie and sense of accomplishment afterwards will never be forgotten.” – Dirk Stewart
Eric’s journey with Atlas Air has been one of discovery—both of the world and of himself.
“Growing up in a small town of 2,600 people, I never imagined that I’d have the opportunity to see and experience so many places around the world. Working for Atlas has expanded my understanding of what traveling internationally really is. You can’t learn what I’ve experienced in a classroom.” – Eric Scharf
From their first steps in flight attendant training to shaping the airline’s future, Andrea, James, Dirk, and Eric are proof of how far passion, dedication and teamwork can take you.