Airport instructor at Rotary

by Anne Donofrio-Holter

Arcadia Rotarians got a lesson in the history of local aviation when pilot and El Monte Airport flight instructor Jessica Privett visited the club last week.

El Monte Airport flight instructor Jessica Privett

First introduced to the El Monte Airport at the age of ten, Privett took her first flight shortly thereafter. “That plane ride influenced my entire life,” said Privett, who now has over 3,000 hours of flying time to her credit.

Privett began her presentation by giving the Rotarians an overview of the El Monte Airport which opened in 1930. The 103-acre general aviation airport has 365 based aircraft and experiences over 158,000 operations each year. It is home to an FAA air traffic control tower, flight schools, aircraft maintenance facilities, several flying clubs as well as law enforcement helicopter operations. It has also served as the backdrop for many motion pictures.

“El Monte Airport was one of three airports used to encircle and extinguish this year’s vast Station Fire,” said Privett. “Helicopters can also be launched from the site for medevac rescues of victims stranded at sea or in mountainous terrain and El Monte’s proximity to Duarte’s City of Hope, and other nearby hospitals, saves lives by transporting supplies and patients by air requiring urgent medical treatment.”

According to Privett, “An estimated 65% of flights in and out of the airport are business, philanthropic or public service related which often require transportation options that are more flexible than some airlines can offer.

“As such, the airport is available for charitable organizations such as “Medical Angels,” involved in earthquake relief in Haiti, and “Doctors Without Borders,” providing medical services to villagers in remote parts of Mexico,” she said. “The airport also enables law enforcement rapid response to criminal activity and traffic collisions.”

The airport also has an agricultural use in serving crop dusting planes.

El Monte Airport has undergone some significant upgrades over the years in runway lighting, signage improvements and AOA perimeter fencing on the west side of the airfield. A 7,650 square foot administrative building was completed in 2001 and houses a restaurant, a pilot’s lounge, airport management offices and a multi-purpose meeting area.

Privett went on to add small jets can now use the airport and a new taxiway is being built.

Arcadia Rotary Club president Imy Dulake presents El Monte Airport flight instructor Jessica Privett with ceramic bank.

“We were in awe of her many accomplishments,” said Arcadia Rotarian Eric Barter.  “The majority of our members thought her presentation was outstanding.”

A certified “Gold Seal” flight instructor and currently in the process of becoming an FAA Safety Team representative, Privett is also a member of the Ninety-Nines Organization of Women Pilots. Established in 1929 by 99 women pilots to “provide mutual support and advancement of aviation, the organization promotes world fellowship through flight, provides networking and scholarship opportunities for women and aviation education in the community and preserves the unique history of women in aviation.”

Following her presentation, Privett answered questions from several club members.  Upon conclusion, she told members how much she enjoyed visiting them and might consider the possibility of becoming a Rotarian in the future.