Apollo 13 - "Houston, we have a problem." Living Legends of Aviation Awards - 2011 (Jim Lovell)

Many Hollywood and aviation celebrities gathered for the 8^thannual Living Legends of Aviation Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. This event, which by many is considered “the Oscars of Aviation” is all about recognizing and honoring individuals with great and significant contributions to the field of aviation.

With the challenges for the aviation industry of recent years, this event plays an important role, not only to recognize individuals with great achievements as aviators and entrepreneurs, but also to highlight everything that is made possible through the work of aviation. This includes humanitarian efforts, rescue operations and the role of aviation in enabling commerce to take place.

Rather than just being a “star studded” event, many Hollywood and Aviation celebrities are passionate about aviation and attend this gathering to help pushing the message of keeping the dream of flight alive and to make it real to people that aviation is not just something for a few select individuals but plays an important role in today’s society.  

The current 70 people who are now part of the Living Legends of Aviation are people of remarkable accomplishments, in aviation. Members include entrepreneurs, innovators, industry leaders, record breakers, astronauts, pilots who are now celebrities and celebrities who have become pilots.

John Travolta, the Ambassador of Aviation is himself a Legend of Aviation and started flying at the age of 17. He presented the newest Inductee Mr M Laurent Beaudion, the CEO of Bombardier with his award. His accomplishments to bring aviation forward are nothing short of remarkable.

Sean Tucker, the award emcee, always has an enthusiasm for aviation that is contagious to anyone he gets in contact with. From a reliable source, and from what I have seen with my own eyes, he is probably the greatest aerobatics pilots currently flying at air shows – a true professional in his field.

Actors and Pilots Harrison Ford and Kurt Russell gave out several recognitions at the event. Harrison Ford has done a remarkable job to introduce people and our youth to flying and is a great proponent and spokesman for aviation.  Awards included the “Aviation Legacy Award” given to Pat Epps, Atlanta, Georgia. Captain “Sully” Sullenberger awarded Captain James Lovell, Apollo 13 Commander, the “Captain Cool Award”. Sully mentioned that the only thing he really had in common with Mr. Lovell was that they both landed in water, but on the other hand, Mr. Lovell was supposed to!  Buzz Aldrin was in attendance as well, the second person to put a foot on the moon.

Has the Thought of Quiting Your Job in a Blaze of Glory Crossed Your Mind? Jet Blue Flight Attendant Being Offered Reality Show (Latest Update with Animation of Actual Event)

Anyone who has ever worked a crumby job knows, Long hours, angry customers and ungrateful supervisors mean stress. It starts as a knot in your stomach and grows until it feels like you are being pushed from all sides. When it gets too bad, most of us just quit, a few even manage a nervous breakdown, but there is a rare breed of employee who takes it a step further. Rather than bending under the pressure, they push back in an office space esque explosion. It is everyones dream to leave their crumby job in a blaze of glory, and on August 9, Jet Blue flight attendant Steven Slater did just that. The trouble started when Slater was hit by a woman's bag while she was removing it from a luggage compartment. Slater asked the woman to apologize and remain seated until the plane had stopped, but she refused, calling him a Mother F*****. In response, Slater got on the planes PA system and gave the customer a pice of his mind. He then grabbed his luggage and two beers before deploying the planes emergency evacuation slide.

Slater escaped down the slide, ran to his car and drove home. Just hours later he was arrested and charged with criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and criminal trespassing. If convicted of all these charges, he could face up to 7 years in prison. That has not stopped people supporting him though. Slaters myspace page and various news articles about the sliding steward are full of accolades for his one man walk out. In addition, Jet Blue released a statement saying, “at no time was the safety of our customers or crew members at risk.” The Jet Blue flight attendant has struck a chord with Americans and the world. He is more than just the rebel we love, Slater had the guts to do what most working class people can’t... quit with style. He may have burned a bridge, but my god it was one hell of a fire.

Steven Slater currently has a staggering 212,000 fans on Facebook. Some of those fans even donated money to help pay for his bail to release him from jail. Less than one week after he slid down an airplane's emergency shoot, JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater has received an offer to host a reality TV show in which he helps unhappy workers quit their jobs in creative ways.

TMZ reports that “According to well-placed industry sources ... Stone Entertainment— a powerhouse in the reality TV world — is going after Slater to host a show in which various disgruntled workers quit their jobs in extravagant ways.”

Blog Posting By: Tyler Griffin, Creative Director - Mindshift Media
Written By: Brad Girtz - Mindshift Media Blogger