May 3, 2022 Every Dog Has Its Day

The Liberty Gazette

May 3, 2022

Ely Air Lines

By Mike Ely and Linda Street-Ely

These days, there’s a “Day” for everything and everyone. Whether you follow the National Day Calendar, as do about 20,000 media outlets, or a lesser-known competitor, you can find a reason to celebrate every day. 

Last week in this space, we applauded the progress taking place on improvements for the Liberty Municipal Airport. While it wasn’t exactly “Airport Day,” it was International Pilots Day. So, let’s celebrate!

For starters, there’s still a gigantic pilot shortage. The airline industry predicts hiring 140,000 pilots between now and 2030, about 17,500 a year. There’s also a push to extend the airline pilot retirement age from 65 to 67. Eventually, that could go up to age 70. The U.S. is ahead of Europe on that. They’re still forced to retire at age 60, or younger in some countries. As long as a pilot is in good health and can pass the annual FAA medical exam, there’s no logical reason to keep her or him out of the flight deck. 

But International Pilots Day is a day to celebrate all pilots, not just airline. While we share our special day with the likes of National Pretzel Day, National Richter Scale Day, and at least a dozen other party theme options, the day for cake with airplane frosting designs wasn’t chosen at random. In fact, it has its origins in Turkey. 

Mehmet Fesa Evrensev was an Ottoman Turk born in 1878 in Istanbul. At the age of 33, his military sent him to France to learn to fly. Upon his return, he was the first Turkish pilot, carrying certificate number 1. Evrensev flew for his country in the Balkan War, World War I, and the War of Independence. He taught military pilots to fly, and he managed Turkey’s first air transport company, which eventually became today’s Turkish Airlines, a very low-cost international carrier. He died in 1951. We may not have anything in common with him other than aviation, but he was a pretty big deal to the Turks. That’s why they chose to commemorate the date of his first flight, April 26, 1911, by proclaiming it International Pilots Day. 

Surprisingly, this recognition is fairly new. Last week was only the ninth year our special day was official, the result of efforts by the Turkish Airlines Pilots’ Association, joined by the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations. So, while it has its beginnings honoring those who “fly the line,” the day of celebration includes private and recreational pilots, charter and corporate pilots, air show pilots, Grand Canyon tour pilots, balloon and glider pilots, and even cargo pilots, also known as “freight dogs.” For one day each year, with or without freight, we’re all dogs having our day. 

Once our feet are back on terra firma, and the airplane’s back in the hangar, we raise a toast to our fellow airheads around the globe, to those who share the incredible passion for flight. It’s certainly a better choice than today’s “National Lumpy Rug Day.”

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