Giving the Gift of Flight to Celebrate GE Aerospace’s 105th Anniversary

Last year marked the 105th anniversary of GE Aerospace, which was launched with the first flight of the GE turbosupercharger in July 1919. To celebrate, GE Aerospace selected 105 employees to be treated to one of eight unique and immersive flight experiences over the course of the year. They dubbed it the Gift of Flight Employee Experience. Each experience provided an up-close look at the profound impact the business and its technologies have had on the world. It also gave employees the chance to meet colleagues from across the globe, have adventures, and get a better sense for how much GE Aerospace values them and their commitment. Here is a digest of the eight flight experiences.

Launch Day

April 2, 2024, marked a historic day: the launch of GE Aerospace as an independent public company. The landmark occasion was rung in — literally — with the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Ten Gift of Flight winners got to join the Launch Day celebrations in person. Melanie Lazor, who works in the company’s Evendale, Ohio, headquarters as commercial counsel for supply chain and sourcing, was thrilled to be chosen for the experience. “I’m over the moon that I get to witness history as GE Aerospace rings the bell for the first time as a standalone public company,” said Lazor. 

Blue Angels

The Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, travel across the country to put on amazing aerobatic performances. Last June, 19 Gift of Flight winners got the thrill of a lifetime in a multiday experience in Pensacola, Florida, the Blue Angels’ home. “The Blue Angels are able to fly as graceful as birds but with the perfection, bravery, and audacity that only human beings can reach, taking our technology and work to the full of its capacities,” said Laura Villanueva, senior engineer CTH in performance engineering. “It was a great experience and I’m grateful to be part of this company that inspires us to deliver the best of us.”

Participants got an up-close look at a Blue Angel aircraft, watched the Angels take off from an exclusive viewing area, and had a meet-and-greet with eight of the pilots, making for an unforgettable visit.

Farnborough Air Show

The Farnborough International Air Show occurs every two years as a spectacular showcase of the latest advancements in aviation and aerospace technology. Last July the air show coincided with the 105th anniversary celebration, and five Gift of Flight winners were able to participate in GE Aerospace’s inaugural appearance as a standalone company. The group not only got to see GE Aerospace products and services firsthand, but also explored exhibitions of various aviation companies from all over the world, including boarding some planes and sitting in a cockpit.

“Farnborough International Air Show didn’t just live up to, but exceeded my expectations,” said Matthew Flower, who works in operations support for GE Aerospace in Wales. “It provided a valuable insight into so many different areas of the aerospace industry. I am extremely grateful I was given this opportunity. Hopefully many more employees will get a chance to attend similar events and functions in the future.”

Warsaw Engineer Center

Last July, 21 Gift of Flight winners were flown out for a once-in-a-lifetime, multi-day immersive experience in Warsaw, Poland, a city rich in culture, history, and aviation. Winners got VIP treatment at GE Aerospace’s engineering center, where they toured the site and visited the Materials Lab, Engine Lab, and Lean Lab. They also toured Warsaw, visiting famous sites like the Barbican and the Royal Castle, and explored Polish culinary culture through a pierogi-making class. 

“The best aspect of this experience was visiting the engineering center in Warsaw,” said Naga Stanway, finance specialist in Accounting Operations for the U.K. “Insight on the aircraft engine repair process was so fascinating for someone like me who has no engineering background. The lab equipment was mind-blowing.”

CFM’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

Last September marked the 50th anniversary of CFM International, a 50-50 joint company between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines. To note this special occasion, 19 Gift of Flight participants flew to Cincinnati to attend the anniversary celebration. After joining the celebration broadcast in person at the Customer Technical Education Center (CTEC), the group toured GE Aerospace Inspection Services (AIS), as well as the Learning Centre on the Evendale campus, and ended their first day with a networking dinner with GE Aerospace and Safran leaders. The next day followed a choose-your-own-adventure menu, with options including a giraffe tour and penguin feeding at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Chase Jancek, a lean facilitator in Muskegon, Michigan, called it “one of the most valuable professional trips of my career so far. It has broadened my perspective so much and helped me to grow in awe and appreciation of not just what GE Aerospace does, but the people who do it.”

Space Camp

Sixteen GE Aerospace Gift of Flight winners had an out-of-this-world experience back in October at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, where they got a taste of what it takes to become an astronaut. On day one, they were given a tour of GE Aerospace’s Huntsville facility by plant leader Stephen French before heading to the Intuitive Planetarium at the Space & Rocket Center for an “interactive astronomy experience” that included a private show and dinner. On day two, they headed back for a full tour and for Space Camp: Astronaut Mission Training, where they learned some history, tried to protect an egg during a thermal experiment, and simulated a space mission in a replica of NASA’s Space Shuttle Discovery. 

Dubai

In November, 12 Gift of Flight winners traveled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for a firsthand look at the future of flight. They were immersed, first touring GE Aerospace’s On Wing Support (OWS) facility, followed by Emirates airline’s Engineering Maintenance Center, before taking a turn at the controls of the world’s largest passenger jet in Emirates’ A380 flight simulator. The group also enjoyed taking in the panoramic views from the top of Burj Khalifa, the tallest man-made structure in the world.

“I am profoundly thankful for the exceptional opportunity to visit Dubai,” said Ngee Eng Ken Tan, a global customs and transportation growth leader based in Singapore. “Gift of Flight broadened my cultural and professional perspectives and highlighted our company’s exceptional commitment to global connections and empowering employees with transformative experiences.”

Australia and Antarctica

In what was perhaps the farthest-flung Gift of Flight Employee Experience of all, five GE Aerospace employees traveled down under, and then to the bottom of the world, with the help of Qantas Airlines in November. The trip began with a remarkable flight — on a Qantas 787 Dreamliner powered by GEnx engines — over Antarctica, guided by a former pilot who had flown the route for 20 years as well as a former Antarctic explorer. 

“It wasn’t just about traveling to the icy continent, it was about understanding the heart of GE Aerospace’s innovations and their role in shaping unforgettable experiences,” said Shazadhi Sheriff, a human resources specialist from Bengaluru, India. The next day, the group toured the airline’s facilities in Sydney, Australia, where Lino Arboleda, senior leader for international trade compliance from Singapore, noticed that the Qantas Integrated Operations Center “shares many similarities with our FLIGHT DECK operating model. For instance, when addressing flight operational issues, they use a large monitor to display the status of pending cases, which is akin to our daily and visual management practices.”