There are few individuals at Delta Air Lines who have witnessed the evolution of aviation as closely as Jimmy Ferrando. With a career spanning 60 years in the airline industry, Ferrando has had a unique vantage point on history.
Ferrando is an aviation maintenance technician (AMT) with Delta TechOps, one of more than 6,600 AMTs globally who play a crucial role in ensuring Delta's operations are safe, clean, and punctual. Currently, he is tasked with maintaining spare engines at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), ensuring they are ready for immediate deployment if needed.
His career began with Western Airlines over two decades before its merger with Delta in 1987. Reflecting on his first day at LAX in 1965, Ferrando recalls seeing a Boeing 720 and thinking: “Holy smokes! This thing’s massive!”