Love is in the air: a dream crew that is not afraid of turbulence (14 photos)

The song "Love is in the air" - one of the most popular wedding and romantic compositions - describes the invisible magic of love. For Joel and Shelley Atkinson, love is literally in the air! They met 30 years ago when they were both pilots in the US Air Force and now fly together on Southwest Airlines.





You've probably heard about the theory of "invisible strings" that connect you throughout your life to the one you are destined to be with; Perhaps you lived on the same street as children or went to the same school before the Universe decided it was time to meet and begin your journey together. Shelley and Joel are a perfect example of this theory.



Shelley grew up in Iowa, but as a teenager she moved to Colorado, the state where her future husband lived. They graduated from high school in the same year, not yet suspecting what incredible love story fate had in store for them.

In the late 1980s, they both went to study at the United States Air Force Academy to become professional pilots. Joel went there to fulfill his dream - the young man was very impressed by the film with Tom Cruise "Top Gun" and wanted to become a jet pilot.





Shelley was very athletic in her youth and wanted to play basketball in college. “I didn’t originally come to the Academy to become a pilot,” she says. “But when I got there, I realized that this was a great opportunity to make an interesting and challenging career. And learning about flying made me want to continue my education.”



During their four years at the academy, Joel and Shelley never met, although Joel admitted that he knew about this beautiful girl: “There aren’t many women at the Air Force Academy, so I kind of knew who she was.” Personal acquaintance occurred a few years later, after both completed pilot internships in different states. And then, by a stroke of luck, we received the same first assignment—to fly a Lockheed C-130 Hercules in Texas.



Joel had been working there for several months when Shelly showed up. She walked into the pilots’ room and he was instantly captivated by her: “She’s tall. She looks great. When she left the room, one of the colleagues looked at me and smiled. I asked him: "What is it?" In short, everything was immediately clear from my face.”



Joel believes his facial expression immediately gave away his feelings. And he didn’t believe that the stunning Shelley would ever agree to go on a date with him: “She’s taller than me. And I've never dated anyone taller than me. She's an athlete, a natural leader and just plain badass."



But when true love comes, such details don't matter. Joel amused Shelley so much that her cheeks hurt from laughing - every time she saw him, her face stretched into a smile. But what impressed her most was his gentle and warm character: “He just has a very sensitive heart for people, for everyone around him, he cares about people.”

A year later, they began dating during their first business trip abroad - the couple chatted for hours about everything under the sun, learning each other's deepest secrets and desires. In their hearts they knew that they had found the one and only person, and a few months after their return they got married.



After their marriage, they both became instructor pilots in the Air Force. In the early 2000s, the couple had twins, and Shelley decided to take a break from flying and began working in the US Air National Guard, while Joel became a commercial pilot.

Once the kids left the nest, Shelley found herself longing to take to the skies again, even though she hadn't been in a cockpit in over two decades. However, the desire to return was stronger, and she seriously thought about becoming a commercial pilot, like her husband.



Joel loved the idea as soon as Shelley brought it up: "I said, 'Come fly with me.'"

That same day, the Atkinsons received a sign from above: Joel saw a post on Southwest Airlines' social media account about a pilot who had also taken more than 20 years off to raise his children and then returned to flying.



With the support of her husband, Shelly went to study and improve her pilot qualifications in order to be able to fulfill her dream. Soon, as she expected, she was hired by SkyWest Airlines to fly regional jets, and in 2023, she joined Joel at Southwest.

“It was crazy. Everything happened much faster than I thought. It was amazing,” Shelley marvels. “And it had to happen.”



Now they soar in the sky together: Joel is the captain, and Shelley is the first mate. They both praise each other for their experience and unique skills at work.

“She looks at me and relies on my experience. But I also know that she has a very good reaction, she just went through a lot of training. So her knowledge is fresh. She also has wisdom and prudence,” Joel shared.



Work is much more enjoyable when you do it with someone you love, and the Atkinsons certainly get the most out of their work together. Once they reach cruising altitude and can rest for a while, they spend that time talking about everything, just like when they first met.

“It's so great because all those years when I was flying and she was home, everything I wanted to talk to her about while in the air had to wait. You put off talking until you're home. Now it’s like we’re making up for lost time,” Joel shared his joy.



And if they have a layover, the couple goes on fun dates exploring different places, much to the delight of Joel, who used to get very upset when he had to wait a long time.

“It was a waste of time because I was alone and I couldn’t share it with her. But now we're together when we're on the road - it's so much fun. Because every night on the road is a date night.”



Shelley hopes her story will inspire others to take that “leap of faith.” After all, it's never too late: “I hope this inspires other women to get back into work. There is still time, everything can still be done.”

When asked if she gets tired of spending so much time with her husband, Shelley replies: “He is my best friend, and there is no one I would be more interested in than with him. This is the benefit of choosing the perfect partner. And secondly, when you like some kind of work, why not do it with your loved one?”