Handel Wellington ’98

Flight for equality: Championing diversity in aviation

By Becky St. Clair ’05

Captain Handel Wellington enrolled at Walla Walla University in 1998 as a civil engineering major. After three years in the engineering program, he discovered his passion for flying and switched to the aviation program, earning a bachelor’s degree in aviation technology in 2001.

It was while he was obtaining his licenses and ratings that he discovered OBAP—Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals—an organization which mentors and provides assistance with training, scholarships, and networking for minority pilots. Their sister program, Sisters of the Skies, provides the same opportunities to female pilots. OBAP helped Wellington with the financing he needed to obtain his aviation credentials.

Due to the events of September 11, 2001, Wellington had difficulty finding work as a pilot after graduation, so he took the first job he could that kept him close to aviation. He became a loadmaster on the Lockheed Tri-Star L1011 and DC8 for Arrow Air, based out of Miami International Airport. In this role Wellington supervised loading and unloading, ensured regulatory compliance, calculated weight and balance for each flight, and ultimately ensured the flight was safely loaded to operate from departure to destination.

Subsequent to flying with Arrow Air as a “flying” loadmaster, Wellington proceeded to fly cargo in the Convair 580 for Air Tahoma. He then flew passengers for Continental Express, followed by Spirit Airlines, and then Delta Connection. While flying the Airbus 320 for Spirit Airlines, Wellington was based out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, a big step toward his ultimate goal of flying for a major airline, where he could travel and see the world.

In 2009, Wellington was hired by Qatar Airways to fly as a first officer in their Airbus 320, based out of Qatar. He later flew the Boeing 777 as first officer, and finally as a captain.

“I have literally flown around the world, having flown to six of the seven continents worldwide in the Boeing 777,” he says. “On average, we took up to 412 passengers on the Boeing 777-300ER as we traversed the world. This was an impressive and remarkable aircraft. A true Rolls Royce of the sky.”

In his travels, Wellington has explored South America, the Caribbean, Berlin, Luxor, Luxembourg, Johannesburg, the Philippines, Capetown, Copenhagen, Iran, Malaysia, Amsterdam, Nairobi, New Zealand, China, Singapore, Damascus, Cairo, Casablanca, Russia, Stuttgart, Spain, Japan, and Central America, just to name “a few.”

“As a pilot I am blessed to see the world, make new friends, build relationships, and learn about different people, cultures, religions, and traditions,” he says. “Our life experiences give us the opportunity to serve and give back to our communities in special ways, and I try to do that however I can with my own experiences.”

Wellington has a passion for giving back to his community, particularly in his support of current and future minority pilots with the passion and desire to accomplish great things.

“If you don’t see someone who looks like you in the career field you’re considering, it could lead you to believe that achieving your goal may not be possible,” he comments. “However, seeing others accomplish what you’d like to reassures you that you can achieve it, too.”

Additionally, Wellington says, the cost of studying aviation can be cost-prohibitive to minorities. With these roadblocks removed, it opens up many doors for young people to enter this field—and thus the skies.

“I strongly believe that giving back through outreach and encouraging our youth by providing the necessary opportunities is vital in developing our future generation of airline pilots,” Wellington says. Some of the ways this can be accomplished is by exposing them to aviation through OBAP’s mentorship program in their early years as they work toward becoming airline pilots.

“I do whatever I can to make myself available to mentor and guide young people whenever the opportunities present themselves,” says Wellington.

One step others could take to increase representation of minorities in aviation is to speak to kids in schools about career options for their futures, and also provide internships so they can get the necessary exposure and experience to become qualified pilots.

Wellington encourages young people to dream big and follow their dreams.

“Don’t let anything or anyone stop you,” he says. “Be persistent and don’t give up. You will succeed if you are committed and determined.”

It’s not just advice for others; Wellington practices what he preaches. While overseas flying for Qatar Airways, he realized he wanted to expand his knowledge even more. Looking for an area in which to further his education, he found himself fascinated by the idea of obtaining a doctor of jurisprudence, or J.D. And so he enrolled at Taft Law School in Santa Ana, California. After receiving that degree, he proceeded to acquire a second law degree from Texas A&M University School of Law, receiving his master of laws in risk management.

“I love learning,” he admits. “I had already achieved a lot, but I knew I could do more, so I challenged myself to do even better than I did before.”

Wellington is also a mediator and arbitrator registered with the Georgia Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution, a member of the President’s Advisory Board for William Howard Taft University and Taft Law School, and a mediator and vice president for Professional Mediators of Alaska. He is currently a captain and line check airman on the Boeing 747 for UPS, and an assistant chief pilot for the 747 fleet, managing more than 700 pilots who operate these aircrafts around the world.

“I wouldn’t change my experience for anything,” Wellington says, “I love making a difference in other people's lives.”