Departure
Gate
86 AIRLINER WORLD SEPTEMBER 2017
Information
for the
traveller.Proud Bird
Reopens
The much-loved Proud Bird restaurant
near the threshold of Runway 25L at
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
has reopened after a $12m, 18-month
refurbishment. This year marks the 50th
anniversary of the restaurant’s original
opening and the owners are celebrating
the occasion by renaming it the Proud
Bird Food Bazaar and Events Center.
The revamped bar and restaurant area
has been redesigned with an aviation-
themed interior and is already receiving
positive reviews. Reopened on June 29,
customers can once again enjoy a meal
and drink while watching the arrivals
into LAX. (Barry Ambrose)AA Honours 75 Years of Service
American Airlines (AA) has honoured
Azreil ‘Al’ Blackman, one of its Aviation
Maintenance Technician Crew Chiefs
at New York’s John F Kennedy
International Airport, who is celebrating
75 years’ service with the airline. The
carrier surprised Blackman by naming
one of its Boeing 777s after him at a
ceremony held at the airport on July- Guinness World Records was
on hand at the event to recognise
Blackman with the ‘Longest Career
as an Airline Mechanic’ title.
Blackman graduated from Aviation
High School in Manhattan aged 16 and
joined AA as an apprentice in the sheet
metal shop. During his 75 years with
the airline he has worked on some of
aviation’s most famous aircraft.
Although his shift begins at 5am,
Blackman still arrives at the hangar just
before 3am to start work.
“When you like what you do, it’s not
work,” Blackman reflected. “I’m just
honoured to be here, I’m proud to be a
mechanic and I’m proud to be part of
the American Airlines team.”
(Photo American Airlines)The Scarlet Lady
Inspired by the Virgin Atlantic cover feature in the July issue of Airliner World, this remarkable photograph of the carrier’s first ‘Scarlet Lady’ was supplied by
reader and former Virgin muralist Ken White, the artist behind the original design. The classic pin-up girl has changed little since her debut in 1984. KEN WHITE