Alumni Spotlight - Wesley and Christina Fitz

Wesley Fitz (retired from UPS): I started at CCBC just after graduating from Ambridge High School in 1978. My first time on an airplane was my first flying lesson at Beaver Aviation. I completed all my flight training from Private, Commercial, Multi Engine, CFI, CFII, Multi, Basic and Advanced Ground Instructor, as well as graduating from the ATC program. I began doing part-time flight instruction as well as Part 135 flying for Beaver Aviation after graduating in 1980. Jim Johnson also offered me a full-time position with CCBC as a faculty member as well as a position in the tower training students.

In 1984, I left those positions to take a full-time flying position with Christman Airlines flying Beech 99s. In 1986, I left Christman to attend Flight Engineer Training at Flight International in Atlanta for two months. I then returned to Beaver County and flew King Airs for Reactive Metals and Alloys Corporation based out of BVI. In late 1986, I was hired with Jetstream Aviation out of Erie, PA in a management position teaching aircraft system, and working with the FAA on restructuring the training department. Ultimately, I became the Chief Pilot of the East Coast crew base flying Jetstream 3100 Aircraft.

I was hired with UPS in December of 1989. I was a Flight Engineer on the DC-8 for six months, then upgraded to a first officer position on the B757. I upgraded to Captain on the 757 in December of 1995, and flew the B767, and Airbus A-300 until my retirement in November 2010.

Christy Fitz (retired from FAA): After graduating from CCBC Aviation, I did some flight instruction, then got hired as an Air Traffic Assistant at Greater Pittsburgh Airport (PIT). I bid to go to the academy to be an Air Traffic Controller. I then followed my husband (Wes Fitz) to a position in Harrisburg Approach/Tower, then to Louisville Tower (SDF) and retired there after serving 25 years. I was able to retire at 48 years of age with full federal benefits.