My Most Precious Passengers [Video Included]

Last month my wife and two boys were able to not only join me on one of my trips in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but were able to get there by means of me flying them!

My oldest son examining the cockpit of the CRJ

This was the first time ever I've gotten to fly Sara, Isaac, and/or Percy as an airline pilot on a jet! This was only Sara's fourth ever flight with me. There was the time she got to come with me for a night flight as a private pilot, for a Twin Cities scenic tour, and our family flight over the Grand Canyon when I was an instructor in Phoenix.  So that also made this flight Isaac's second, and Percy's first!

(Video Credit goes to Sara!)

I had a unique schedule this trip as all three nights were located in Fort Wayne, Indiana and I had two long layovers (a 16 hour, followed by a 30 hour)... so we were able to spend most of the weekend together.

My crew was absolutely fabulous and so kind to welcome my family along for the shuttle rides to and from the airport and letting me help them through security on the way home.

Thinking back, this truly was an ideal location to have my family (especially given my boys' ages) join me.  The company had us staying at the Hilton Downtown at the Convention Center, where breakfast was free and there was lots of room for Isaac to run in the hallways and swim in the pool.  The city was dressed for Christmas and we loved seeing all the lights. We ventured out to the Botanical Conservatory across the street and enjoyed a scavenger hunt and seeing lots of plants.  Upon several recommendations, we ate at a great local brewery called The Hoppy Gnome.

The hotel was a great location because of the options within walking distance.  We only brought along Percy's car seat so we knew exploring the city by car was not an option. Swimming took up another one of our mornings, but if we go back we said we'd like to check out these other things within walking distance:

• A performance at The Embassy Theatre  
• The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library (one of the largest collections in the states!)
• Firefighter's Museum
• and the Fort Wayne Youtheatre [we had hoped to go see Charlie Brown Christmas...but Isaac came down with a virus at the end of our trip! :( ]

With several flights in and out of the city operated by our airline, I noticed several other crews in the same hotel and I even ran into my buddy Justin who I had roomed with for sim training!  It was great to catch up and introduce my family.

Back at MSP, saying goodbye to the CRJ

All in all, I could not have asked for better passengers :) ;)