F/O Camila Turrieta (JetBlue) is the chair of the Association’s newly created President’s Committee for Diversity & Inclusion.

Editor note: This column showcases the efforts of a cross section of ALPA pilots who volunteer their time and talents to advocate for the union’s priorities and the cadre of knowledgeable and passionate staff specialists who support them.

Earlier this year, F/O Camila Turrieta (JetBlue) became the chair of the new President’s Committee for Diversity & Inclusion, which was created to support the goal of promoting respect for human diversity in the airline piloting profession and to help ensure that all ALPA members, current and future, feel valued for who they are as individuals within the union and their chosen profession.

Air Line Pilot sat down with Turrieta to learn more about the pilot who leads the committee and how ALPA’s staff helps to achieve the committee’s goals of ensuring that all members feel respected and that future generations recognize that the airline piloting profession is accessible to them.

Air Line Pilot: 1. How did you get into aviation/flying?

F/O Camila Turrieta: My family and I are originally from Chile, and we moved to the United States in 1997 when I was seven years old. My grandmother had urged my parents to seek a better future by moving to the United States, believing that the socioeconomic factors in Chile weren’t suitable to raise a family and could negatively affect our future well-being. My passion and love for aviation emerged once I boarded a LAN-Chile airplane that would take my family and me to our new life in the United States. As I boarded the aircraft, the flight attendants asked me if I wanted to visit the flight deck and say hello to the pilots. This was an offer I couldn’t refuse because I had never met a pilot, nor had I seen the front of an airplane before. The curiosity in me immediately sparked.

I remember that when I reached the flight deck of the aircraft, the door was wide open. I looked up at the overhead panel in disbelief at how many buttons and lights there were. The two pilots greeted me warmly and showed me the different things around the flight deck; they even let me try on one of their oxygen masks! From that moment forward, I promised myself that I would do everything possible within my reach to achieve my dream of one day becoming an airline pilot. This was the moment that sparked my interest in aviation.

When my parents and I finally settled in Queens, N.Y., I was enrolled in an elementary school right under the approach path of Runway 13L at John F. Kennedy International Airport. I would see the airplanes each morning when we had recess. In school, I had a very hard time because I didn’t know English. The only word my mother told me to remember was “bathroom.” I knew I would have to work harder than my peers to accomplish my goal of becoming a pilot and to overcome the first of many obstacles, which included becoming fluent in English. When I was 13 years old, I took my first flying lesson as part of the aviation program available at my high school.

As a result of many defining moments in my life, I’ve never lost touch of what I’ve experienced and where I’ve come from. I wish to share these unique experiences with future pilots as the chair of the President’s Committee for Diversity & Inclusion.

2. How did you first become involved with ALPA work?

Turrieta: I’ve always been passionate about volunteering and giving back to my community. During the JetBlue pilots’ first informational picketing in April 2018, I began to connect with many members of the union. As I started learning more about the various committees, I noticed that many ALPA members were dedicated to pilot advocacy. Their enthusiasm resonated with me, and I knew that I wanted to continue the volunteer work that I had done at my previous carrier. I began at JetBlue as a Professional Standards Committee member, addressing problems of a professional or ethical nature involving pilots. Shortly after, I joined the Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP) as a peer support volunteer, and later I became vice chair of the committee. During my time with CIRP, I provided assistance to fellow pilots, helping them mitigate the psychological impact of an incident or accident and aiding in their healthy recovery from these events before harmful stress reactions affected their job performance, career, family, and health. Later, I was part of the very first Pilot Peer Support (PPS) program class that ALPA national offered during the Air Safety Forum in 2018. As a PPS volunteer, I was given the unique opportunity to speak to pilots on a peer-to-peer level. I offered support on personal matters and provided an empathetic and supportive ear.

Through my volunteering efforts at ALPA and other organizations, I was recognized by President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama with the President’s Call to Service Award, which is given to an individual who’s accomplished more than 4,000 hours of community service.

3. What are your roles and responsibilities as the committee’s chair?

Turrieta: I will lead the development and organization of ALPA’s diversity and inclusion effort to ensure that all members feel respected and that future generations of airline pilots from all walks of life and backgrounds—regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation—feel that the piloting profession is accessible to them. The committee will also strive to strengthen relationships with existing organizations that serve targeted groups of pilots and look for new opportunities to connect with young people who may never have considered the piloting profession as an attainable career. The committee’s first step is to conduct a strategic planning session during which the team will collaborate to define the scope, mission, priorities, initiatives, and timeline for its work.

4. How do you see ALPA national and staff helping you achieve your committee’s goals?

Turrieta: Many of us were introduced to the term crew resource management (CRM) while in flight training. I remember my instructor saying to me, “Use all of your available resources.” But what did this mean? The idea of using all of your resources as a student pilot was hard to accept because up until that moment I thought every task had to be completed independently. Fast-forward many years later to when I first became an airline pilot, and this is when I learned what CRM entailed and what using all of your available resources meant. I apply this concept when I fly, teach, and lead, which brings me to my current position at ALPA national.

As chair of the President’s Committee for Diversity & Inclusion, “all available resources” starts with ALPA staff, the most dedicated, professional, and knowledgeable personnel I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Each team member comes with an experience level of the highest caliber. On a day-to-day basis, we use the power of collaboration among elected leaders, members, and staff to achieve our goals and define tasks that will enable us to better support and serve our pilots. As I begin to learn more about each committee and department within ALPA national, I see the passion and dedication for the aviation industry and the endless resources available to me.

5. What advice would you give to new pilots who want to get involved with ALPA?

Turrieta: Do you want to make a change? If the answer is yes, become an ALPA volunteer. Start by finding which ALPA committee would best serve your interest and passion. As you begin to research various volunteer opportunities, reach out to committee members and begin to learn about their roles and responsibilities within their respective committee. Volunteers are always happy to assist and nurture the future generation of ALPA volunteers. Expand your network by keeping in contact with these volunteers and attending local meetings. These networking events are influential and essential in the making of an ALPA volunteer; this is where chairs and other members realize your commitment and passion for pilot advocacy. And attend ALPA national conferences such as the Air Safety Forum to learn more about current topics and explore other volunteering opportunities. Being an ALPA volunteer has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I encourage each of you to make a difference and join a committee; chances are we have something to fuel your passion.