Welcome to the March 2026 issue of On The Fly, presented by Aero Crew Solutions!

NGPA Cares offers free, confidential mental health referrals and guidance for NGPA members seeking support. We invite all of our members to take advantage of this service if needed. 

Call or text (206) 973 0283 or reach us by email at [email protected]. We return received messages within 3-5 workdays. Learn more at: https://www.ngpa.org/cares

NGPA offers a support document for individuals coping with grief. That article can be accessed here. 

Friends--- 

Our Women’s Committee recently returned from WAI’s annual conference in Dallas, where once again, NGPA had a strong and visible presence among our peers across the industry. The Women’s Committee's annual social, held during the conference, hosted several hundred attendees who stopped by throughout the evening. Special thanks to Claudia B., Chair of NGPA Women's Committee, Zoe S., Vice Chair, Fiona L., Social Media, and all volunteers who helped out. We couldn’t do it without you! 

NGPA is honored to be featured in a recent article in Passport Magazine that highlights the community, mentorship, and connections that make NGPA such a special part of aviation. In “Flying the LGBTQ-Friendly Skies,” writer Marlene Shyer shares stories from Executive Director Justin Ellixson-Andrews and Board Member James Shaffer, highlighting NGPA's contributions to the global aviation community and the history and challenges facing our organization, both past and present. 

Click the link below to read the feature!

Book your flights now to the Windy City, as NGPA plans to host two fabulous events in Chicago, IL this May and June! Up first, NGPA's Transgender and Non-Binary Committee will touchdown with the Transgender Social, May 22-24th! This annual event for our Trans, Non-binary, and Gender-diverse members and their partners, is a space to share community with one another, to safely play and experiment with gender, and to build out your support system. Click below to register!

Interested in staying connected to our Trans/Non-Binary Committee? Follow @ngpa_tnb on Instagram for the latest events and updates!

Next up, the Second City once again takes center stage as the Windy City Flyers hosts Wings Over Chicago, June 26-28th. This continuing series of events invites chapters from all over the country to join us in a week of fly-ins, friends, and visibility. NGPA group block hotel rooms are now available at the ACME Hotel Chicago. Click HERE to Book a Room!

More information on Wings Over Chicago found at the link below!


This month, we’re excited to spotlight mentor Elissa Lardon, a First Officer at Delta Air Lines whose journey through aviation, and dedication to giving back, continues to make a meaningful impact within the NGPA community.

Elissa’s connection to NGPA began with a search for scholarships and a sense of belonging. As the first pilot in her family, organizations such as NGPA and our sister organization Women in Aviation International (WAI), provided a place for her to make connections and build her community. That same spirit of connection ultimately led her to become involved in the NGPA mentorship program when it first launched. Drawing on her prior experience mentoring with WAI, Elissa was immediately inspired to continue supporting the next generation of aviators.

One of Elissa’s biggest takeaways from mentoring is the ability to provide guidance and resources she didn’t always have access to herself. She values being able to answer honest questions about the challenges of an aviation career, from training hurdles to navigating professional pathways. For Elissa, mentorship is about helping her mentee feel as prepared, informed, and confident as she can.

She especially appreciates that the ASCEND Mentorship platform Qooper is mentee-led, allowing her mentee (our previous mentee spotlight Danielle Kerr) to ask the questions that matter most to her and seek out the resources she truly needs. This flexibility extends beyond just topics, as one of the program’s standout benefits is that mentors and mentees can find the communication style that works best for them, even taking conversations off-platform for quicker, more convenient connection. She especially highlights the reward in finding the answer to issues that she didn't face herself, as she can now rely on her ever-expanding network of aviation contacts to find a solution. 

Elissa’s aviation journey reflects both determination and adaptability. After spending time in Aspen, Colorado, she began her flight training by earning her PPL through CFI, working at Rainier Flight Service, and then progressing through regional and major carriers including SkyWest and Alaska Airlines before ultimately joining Delta in 2024. She now uses the knowledge that she gained during her journey to help inform her mentee's own path. 

Her advice to mentees is simple but powerful: take full advantage of the opportunity. Connecting with someone who has already navigated the aviation path can open doors, provide clarity, and offer valuable connections that might otherwise take years to build. Don't be afraid to ask questions big and small, as everyone's aviation journey is different. 

Outside of the flight deck, Elissa enjoys spending time outdoors and is currently taking on an exciting personal project by renovating her historic 1895 home.

We’re grateful for mentors like Elissa who embody the spirit of NGPA by lifting others up and helping them chart their own course in aviation.

Interested in joining our ASCEND mentorship program? More information can be found here.

One of the many benefits that comes as part of your NGPA membership is access to our rapidly-growing LGBTQ+ AME database. This crowd-sourced list is curated by our members to highlight Aviation Medical Examiners around the country that understand the unique circumstances of LGBTQ+ aviators, whether you are looking for a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd class medical. In addition to the names and locations of these AMEs, members can also submit additional information regarding HRT familiarity, HIMS program membership, mental health resources, and much more!

We are always looking for recommendations to grow our list! To access the database and submit your own AME, follow this link. 

Save the Date! "Aviation's Season Opener" SUN'n'FUN Expo kicks off April 14th, and NGPA is pleased to host several events throughout the week sponsored by our NGPA Tampa Tailwinds and NGPA Orlando Citrus Wing Flyers! Join us for daytime mingling, exciting nights out, and community-building at one of the nation's largest aviation events! 

Highlights include: 

Wednesday 4/15, Composite Airshow 5-9pm 

Thursday 4/16, Citrus Wings Presents Sun 'n' Fun Daytime Adventure 

Thursday 4/16, Tampa Tailwinds Presents Sun and Fun @ Sun 'n' Fun 

Friday 4/17, Sunset Aerial Circus, 7-8:30pm 

Saturday 4/18, Citrus Wings Presents OUT in the Night Sky, Night Airshow Social

Saturday 4/18, Tampa Tailwinds Presents Evening Fun @ Sun 'n' Fun 

Plus hundreds of seminars, speakers, airshows, concerts, and forums throughout the week!

We can't wait to see you there! 

More info for Sun 'n' Fun can be found here: https://flysnf.org/

More information on NGPA events, at Sun'n'Fun and beyond, can be found HERE.

Struggling with addiction? You’re not alone.

Across the aviation community—professional and general aviation alike—many pilots have quietly faced addiction to alcohol or other substances. Some are early in recovery, others have years of sobriety, and all understand the unique pressures of aviation as well as the fear that can come with asking for help. Recovery is possible, and choosing it does not mean sacrificing your career.

If you have expertise, insights, or experiences to share, we’d love to hear from you. We are currently seeking speakers for sessions aligned with this year’s theme, Navigating the Current Climate: Strategy Without Labels. For more information on Presenter Submissions and to access the submission form, please click HERE. 

Please submit all speaker proposals by May 15, 2026.

APR. 3 | DALLAS/ FT. WORTH

Metroplex Flyers | AA Campus Tour and Dinner at Saviano's

APR. 4 | LAS VEGAS

Sin City Flyers | Death Valley Cruise with Lambda International/Vegas Heat

APR. 4 | LOS ANGELES

La La Land Flyers | LGB Tower Tour and Drag Brunch at Hamburger Mary's

APR. 4 | WASHINGTON D.C. 

Out on the Runway | April Airport Lunch and Fly-in, Shannon Airport KEZF

APR. 7 | NEW YORK CITY 

Gotham Flyers | God Loves, We Deliver (GLWD) Volunteering

APR. 8 | WOMEN'S COMMITTEE

Wine Down Wednesday @ 8pm EDT

APR. 12 | NEW YORK CITY

Gotham Flyers | Monthly Hardware Mixer

APR. 14-19 | SUN 'n' FUN EXPO

APR. 16 | DENVER

Mile High Flyers | NGPA Denver Arcade Social 

APR. 16 | ORLANDO

Citrus Wings | Sun 'n' Fun Daytime Adventure 

APR. 16 | TAMPA

Tampa Tailwinds | Sun and Fun @ Sun 'n' Fun! 

APR. 17 | COLUMBUS 

Arch City Aviators | Social @ Budd Dairy with NGPA- Ohio State

APR. 18 | ORLANDO

Citrus Wings | Out in the Night Sky- Night Airshow Social 

APR. 18 | TAMPA

Tampa Tailwinds | Evening Fun @ Sun 'n' Fun 

APR. 23 | NEW YORK CITY

Gotham Flyers | Medieval Times Dinner in Lyndhurst, NJ

APR. 23 | SAN FRANCISCO 

Bay Area Flyers | Inaugural SF Mixer

APR. 24 | DALLAS/ FT. WORTH

Metroplex Flyers | Metroplex Flyers Game Night

APR. 28 | ATLANTA

Stick and Rudder | Delta Day After-Party Happy Hour

APR. 30 | PHOENIX

Cactus Flyers | Lake Pleasant Sunset Cruise 

MAY 5 | DALLAS/ FT. WORTH

Metroplex Flyers | Cinco de Mayo @ Esparzas Restaurante Mexicano

MAY 23 | SEATTLE

Cascade Flyers | Pork 'n' Props 

MAY 24 | DALLAS/ FT. WORTH

Metroplex Flyers | Memorial Day Weekend Pool Party

JUN. 6 | DALLAS/ FT. WORTH

Metroplex Flyers | Pride Month Pool Party

JUN. 25 | DALLAS/ FT. WORTH

Metroplex Flyers | Game Show Battle Rooms

AUG. 8 | HONOLULU

Aloha Flyers | Marine Corps Base Hawaii Kane'ohe Airshow Meetup 

 

More on The NGPA Calendar!

Click here to join our Career Connections email list. 

Southwest Airlines

Learn more

CommuteAir

Various Positions

Piedmont Airlines

Various Pilot Positions
More Positions

Jet Aviation

Various Positions

NetJets, Inc.

Various Positions

International Captain for Long-Range Business Jet

Click here for more info

Joby Aviation 

Click here for more info

Envoy Air

Commercial Airline Pilot - First Officer & Captain

Republic Airways

Commercial Airline Pilot - First Officer

Thanks for reading! See you next month for another issue of OTF.

NGPA - The Worldwide LGBTQ+ Aviation Community

https://www.ngpa.org/