Panels Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Aviation Industry

Friday, May 19 at 13:00

PAVILION 10

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the Aviation Industry will discuss the challenges of achieving diversity in the industry and explore solutions for overcoming them. Despite the progress made in recent years, the aviation industry still faces significant barriers to diversity. The panelists will discuss the need for collaborative efforts from all stakeholders, including airlines, regulators, industry associations and academia, to drive meaningful change in the aviation industry. A discussion will take place amongst the panel and audience to further foster ideas for change.

Rick Kim

Born in Chicago, I am a first generation Korean American. My parents are Korean immigrants that survived both Japanese and North Korean tyranny and oppression. Growing up Asian in the Chicago area during the 70’s and 80’s was difficult to say the least. From an early age, I always had dreams of being an airline pilot. Asian stereotypes and a lack of guidance/ information made it seem impossible. Not to mention I had never heard of nor seen an Asian Pilot. Destined to be an accountant or engineer, I managed to find colleges that offered flight training. Sounds simple, but without the internet and proper guidance it could be easily missed.

I ended up learning to fly and going to A&P school at the University of Illinois. During school, I worked as a mechanic and flight instructor at the local FBO. After graduating, I flew 135 Charter at the FBO before getting my first airline job. My first airline was UFS Inc. d/b/a United Express flying the BAeATP. I was both a check airman and Union Representative. After four years on property, UFS ceased operations. I ended up at Air Wisconsin flying the DO-328 and eventually found myself at Southwest Airlines in January 2001. I upgraded to Captain in May of 2007. In my time at Southwest, I had always felt that Asians were not represented. I worked to help change this and am proud of my efforts. In addition to this, I am a member of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association - Strike Preparedness Committee. I am proud to serve our pilots. The work I do for SWAPA is by far the most fun and fulfilling work I have done at Southwest Airlines.

Harley Pasiderio

Born and raised in San Diego, CA, Harley knew he wanted to be an airline pilot ever since he was eight years old. He began his journey by taking his first flight lesson at age 14. Eventually he would earn a Gold Seal on his CFI certificate and fly for other airlines before landing a career at Southwest Airlines.

Harley was fortunate enough to attend a high school which had an aeronautics program that offered flight lessons as well as ground school. He served his Country as a Nuclear Reactor Operator and Nuclear Power Instructor for the Navy. Harley served onboard the USS John C. Stennis as the No. 2 Propulsion Plant Reactor Operator and as a Sea-Returnee Staff Instructor at Nuclear Power Training Unit, Ballston Spa, NY. After the Navy, Harley continued chasing his dream to become an airline pilot. He would eventually meet several like-minded Asian professional pilots, and together they formed the Professional Asian Pilots Association (PAPA). Being Filipino-American, Harley had to overcome some barriers while pursuing a career in flying and while working as a pilot. PAPA is dedicated to inspiring individuals to look past the barriers and encourage the pursuit of a career that they might not otherwise consider. As a kid with dreams to work as an airline pilot, Harley did not realize how company culture or work environment would matter so much, and PAPA is helping to improve that culture while helping others in their journey to becoming a professional in the aviation industry.

Tara Traynor

Tara Traynor is a Captain and Line Check Pilot on the 757/767 for United Airlines. She has been on the Board of Directors of the International Society of Women Airline Pilots since 2015 and has been in her current role as President since 2019. Tara got her start flying as a Naval Aviator flying jets on two aircraft carrier deployments and served as the first female Advanced Strike instructor who had been deployed on an aircraft carrier. After leaving active duty in 2001, Tara spent a short time at American Airlines before being furloughed. She flew C-9s in the Navy Reserves until her retirement in 2011. In 2005, she was hired by Continental Airlines where she served in several ALPA positions, including representing the Newark based Continental First Officers from 2008-2013, leaving office at the conclusion of merging the Continental and United Airlines Pilot groups. She has flown the 737, 757/767 and 777 as a First Officer prior to upgrading in 2014. She has been a Line Check Pilot for four years and a Quality Control Line Check Pilot for two.

continued on next page

CLAUDIA ZAPATA-CARDONE

Claudia Zapata-Cardone is a Captain on the Airbus 320 at United Airlines based in Denver, Colorado. She is the President of the Latino Pilots Association, and a member of the Air Line Pilots Association’s (ALPA) Diversity, Equity. Belonging and Inclusion Committee.

Ms. Zapata-Cardone was born to Jesus H Zapata and Gladys Zapata, Colombian immigrants, in 1974. She was raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey. When her father started working at an airline at the Newark airport in 1983, Mrs. Zapata would drive each night to the airport with Claudia in the back seat to bring her father dinner. She would sit in the back of the car as her father ate his dinner and watched the airplanes take-off and land and think, “What a magical thing, to be able to fly.”

Ms. Zapata-Cardone started her own career in the aviation industry in 1995 as a reservations agent at AirTran Airways. In January 1997, Ms. Zapata-Cardone joined Delta Air Lines as a flight attendant and continued working as a flight attendant as she earned her pilot certificates and ratings. She left Delta in 2008 to dedicate herself to the piloting profession and was hired by Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) in 2010 as a CRJ first officer. In 2015, Ms. Zapata-Cardone was hired by United Airlines.

Ms. Zapata-Cardone has been active in several organizations throughout her aviation career to include: Latino Pilots Association (LPA), Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP), Women in Aviation (WAI), and International Society of Women Airline Pilots, (ISA+21). She joined the board of the LPA in 2020 with the goal of increasing Latine/a/o participation in the aviation industry. Ms. Zapata-Cardone has helped the Collegiate Chapter of the LPA at Embry-Riddle start a subcommittee called E.L.L.A.S, which stands for Empowering Latina Leaders in Aviation Subcommittee. This subcommittee is open to Latina women and those that identify as women, that are seeking mentorship and support.

Ms. Zapata-Cardone lives in Denver, CO with her husband Stephen and their three dogs. Q