Brian Baird, who has been a lead station attendant for Air Canada for over 40 years, has now retired a few years ago. He worked on the ramp, where aircraft were brought in, parked, offloaded, reloaded, and dispatched. In the midst of all this activity, Brian and his team inspected the aircraft and addressed any issues that needed to be addressed. When an arrival aircraft came in, Brian used an inbound offload sheet to plan the offload and prepare for the onload. However, on-time performance could be challenging, especially when faced with bad weather. Colder conditions could lead to ice buildup, leaks, and other concerns that required a higher level of alert. Once the onload was complete, Brian calculated the weight of the items and updated the pilots so they could determine the plane’s takeoff weight. Teamwork was critical to success on the ramp, and Brian was grateful to have worked with such amazing people. He also appreciated the benefits provided by his employer, including the opportunity to travel with the airline, medical benefits, and a pension. Reflecting on his 40-plus years with Air Canada, Brian said that he loved the journey of working with the people at Air Canada.
