On June 17th, the commemorative return of Pan Am to JFK International Airport marked a significant moment for all those in attendance at Terminal 7. As the story of this inaugural flight is the cover feature on Metropolitan Airport News’ July issue, Re-Tracing the Transatlantic, I recently asked Louise Koch, one of the passengers on the 12-day ‘Tracing the Transatlantic’ flight, what it meant to her and her sister Cheryl. For this month’s Editor’s Notebook, I’d like to share Louise’s reply with you, in her own words.
Crossing the Transatlantic With Pan Am and What It Meant to Me
By Louise Koch
This historic Pan Am trip was so emotionally significant and uplifting to me, my sister Cheryl, and our entire extended family. It so represented what Pan Am stood for.
It was a joy to see the Pan Am logo on the plane and to meet the personable crew in Pan Am uniforms. I especially loved seeing where my dad landed the flying boats in Bermuda. It was such a thrill in Foynes, Ireland, to actually sit in the replica of the flying boats he flew before he captained the 707s and 747s!
I loved sharing all the Pan Am moments with family as the trip progressed. This trip led to many touching and adventurous stories about my dad. Family members and some of my new Pan Am friends recounted his kindness, sense of humor, professionalism, and effective communication with both passengers and crew. I’m so proud of who he was and the company he loved.
I’ve personally discovered an entire welcoming Pan Am community. Everyone I’ve met embodies the Pan Am character and spirit. They are caring, helpful, outgoing, charming, and intelligent conversationalists with a verve for life and travel.
I’ve met so many former Pan Am flight attendants. A woman at church sought me out a couple of months ago when she learned that she had flown with my dad. She then invited me to a lunch with 30 other former Pan Am flight attendants. So much fun! I’ve promised to report back to them about this trip. Then I was told about the Pan Am Gala in Seattle and the Alaska Cruise organized by World Wings International. Well, my sister and I are now going on the cruise!
I’ve read so much more about Pan American history and have so loved meeting such delightful people. Going on this trip has opened up an entire new world for me and Cheryl! Because of travels with my folks, I’ve studied German and French, lived in Austria and Germany, became a high school German teacher, took up the hobby of Dressage (think white Lippizan horses in Vienna), competed successfully, and became a Dressage Senior Judge. Quite a life, all thanks to my parents and Pan Am given opportunities.
