Reflection: My Time as an 18 Year Old Ramp Agent

By Justin Duval 2023 FMA Solo scholarship recipient

In 2023 I was extremely lucky to receive the Flying Musicians Association (FMA) Solo scholarship, begin my college career at Santa Clara University, worked as a ramp agent for Delta Air Lines (at San Jose International Airport), received an EAA Advanced Air Academy Scholarship through EAA and VAA (Vintage Aircraft Association) squadron 393 and 29 respectively, and so much more.

Given these amazing experiences, I want to focus this article on the amazing and rewarding opportunity I had as a Delta Air Lines Ramp Agent (through Unifi Aviation LLC).

Having just graduated from high school, I knew I wanted to work around aircraft but had no idea if the airport would hire a freshly minted driver and high school graduate at just 18 years old. It seemed like an impossible stretch. I was not expecting any job offers. Regardless, I met the requirements, so I applied to every airline ramp agent position there was at San Jose International Airport (my local airport) along with every flight school in my area at my local commercial and general aviation airport.

Though I didn’t receive job offers from my local general aviation airport, Reid Hillview Airport where I am flight training, I got a call back from two different airlines/third party companies at San Jose International Airport. I was beyond thrilled, and so I weighed my options happily and prepared myself to give the airport my all.

The one company that stood out to me was Delta Global Services. I accepted the job offer and began training. Training in the airline world can be arduous at times. It can also be very time-consuming where things move very slowly. But there’s a good reason for this. As a ramp agent you are entrusted with high value aircraft and the livelihood of its passengers and their belongings including their livelihoods and pets. That is why you are required to meet an extremely high standard of systematic perfection like the way pilots operate in the cockpit. Expect lots of training modules with classroom and on-the-job training. Delta expects you to be trained in every aspect to the highest standard. Heck for the first month of paid regular work you are on “probation” as a trainee. Also expect the background check, drug testing, and airport badging process to move slowly. It’s a government process that has to go through many layers in high volume.

But as an aspiring commercial airline pilot, this was all extremely, extremely worth it! I was entrusted in loading and unloading thousands of bags a day, servicing aircraft to the likes of the A320-200, 737-800, 737-900ER, EMB 175, A220-300, and A220-100, all of which I gained a tremendous amount of technical knowledge on as we were required to train for each aircraft prior to servicing them.

The best part is your working in an environment surrounded by things you love – airplanes - therefore time passes by very quickly. I even took on overtime working 13-hour shifts into the early morning until the last flight of the day landed. I loved what I was doing! You are not doing the same repetitive tasks every shift. Ramp agents are trained to wing walk, marshal, drive the ground service equipment, clean the cabin, service the lavatories, operate the luggage carousels, load baggage carts, connect and disconnect wires, tubes, and units, and so much more. Perhaps One of my favorite roles was to be the right-side wing-walker.

To me, being the right-side wing walker was one of the most interesting roles. For starters we wing walked the aircraft as it pushed back and spooled up its majestic engines. The right-side wing walker also has a special responsibility no one else has.

You are the disconnect/connect person. This meant that I got to do the most avgeek thing ever and show the fight crew the steering pin before waving goodbye, I got to disconnect and connect towbars from the nose gear, detach the headset, and so much more. Each aircraft had different towbars and systems for towing. You learn a lot about all types of aircraft. For example, on the A320 and 737 family we were to insert a steering pin to give us (on the ground) steering control of the nose landing gear, while on the A220 family the flight crew had a switch in the cockpit they could manually hand control to/from us. With the E175 family, there was a switch we manually flipped on the left side of the fuselage just below the cockpit. I was exposed to a unique variety of hands-on learning experiences as a ramp agent.

As an aspiring commercial airline pilot and for all the avgeeks out there, it’s our dream to be around aircraft, to work with them, to service them like they are ours. We have a personal connection to every aircraft no one else has. We have our rituals of geeking over planes, and we have our shared sense of sheer excitement and happiness when we are put around these aircraft. So, to be able to work as a Delta Air Lines ramp agent has been a dream come true for me. It was a very fond and major step in my journey to the airline cockpit.

My advice for getting such a special job is to go for it. Find your local airport and apply for every job. Seek out all the airlines, charter companies, and flight schools in both commercial and general aviation areas. Apply to literally everything. Search it on google - type your airport followed by the word jobs, and search on a recruitment site like JSfirm, Google Jobs, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and more. Then check every airline and ground handling companies like Unifi Aviation, GAT Alliance Ground, Fenix Logistics, Airport Terminal Services, Alliance Ground International, Swissport, and more. Do not take the job requirements at face value. If you can apply to them, do it. It does not hurt. Broaden your scope. If you cannot be a ramp agent you can be a ticket counter worker, a receptionist at a flight school, a fueler, and more. I got a job I never thought I would, so try it. If it is your passion, your dream, nothing is a stretch.

Follow my continued journey towards becoming a commercial pilot along with a myriad of cool videos and pictures I was lucky to capture out on the ever exciting, ever beautiful, San Jose International Airport-Delta Air Lines Ramp at https://FMAsolo.org/ fmasolo/2023-fma-solo-program/justin-duval/.

Linked article at FMAsolo.org where many other stories can be found penned by student pilots.

Founded in 2009, the Flying Musicians Association, Inc. (FMA) celebrates 15 years in 2024.

It’s been a long time since the idea germinated in 2008. The Association has experienced lots of ups & downs. In 2014 we were in a position to give back. The FMA Solo program, inspired by founding member and board member Tim Kern, has since awarded 15 learn to fly scholarships to high school music students with a passion to fly. In 2023 the Swing Wing scholarship, inspired by member Molly Ryan, was created to assist a deserving member wanting to increase their knowledge and abilities in the jazz genre. The first recipient was announced recently. Member Keatin Hertz will attend the New York Hot Jazz Camp in April.

This year we have established the Mentor’s Ramp. Those willing to give back have stepped up to mentor new student members and those who are navigating through flight training, music, academics, and or career moves. Are you in a position to give back? Sign up today! Need a mentor? Find one today!

Annually we have been a mainstay at Sun ‘n Fun and AirVenture. In addition to raising funds and awareness at multiple gigs during these events, we provide volunteer and performance opportunities to ALL musicians. And, In addition to many small events around the country and events hosted by members, we have also secured NAMM credentials for members to experience Summer NAMM in Nashville, TN and The NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA through our NAMM foundation partnership. We are receiving inquiries from other events willing to donate to FMA for our participation 2024. If you know of an opportunity for FMA to raise funds for programs and scholarships, let us know.

I look forward seeing everyone at Sun ‘n Fun and AirVenture in 2024 to Celebrate 15 years. Let us all work to increase awareness of the Flying Musicians Association while raising funds to support the aviation and music programs/scholarships and above all the comradery of the FMA network.

Join us. Volunteer. Perform. Support us.