PHOENIX — A Valley pilot is set to retire after flying a career spanning over four decades.
Tom Schmidt, a Southwest Airlines captain, said his final flight will take place on Friday, and he will be joined by his son, Matt, who is also a pilot with the airline.
Tom's flying career began in the 1980s when he served in the Air Force and flew tanker aircraft like the KC-10.
He later transitioned to commercial flying and has spent over 30 years with Southwest Airlines.
"There's nothing like flying, taking off early morning, sunset or sunrise and watching everything," Tom said. "It's just been rewarding getting families and friends to their destination for vacation or to visit family, or whatever reason they're traveling."
Tom had the opportunity to retire early during the pandemic but chose to continue flying, hoping to share the experience with his son, Matt, who was working towards his pilot's license.
Eventually, his son Matt did join Southwest Airlines and the two have spent the past two and a half years flying together.
"I keep every time I'm up in the cockpit, I just look over at him and I just pinch myself like it's a dream come true," Tom said.
Tom recalled teaching Matt how to fly on a plane he owned, sharing memories of aerobatic maneuvers and formation flying.
"I taught him how to fly upside down, do acrobatics formation," Tom said. "He's the only of my three, one of my three kids, that showed interest in flying and it just I nurtured it."
Matt said although he and his father have been able to fly a number of times together, Tom's retirement flight would be the most important.
"Having that ability to sit in that right seat and get that opportunity to be his first officer is going to be a great moment for us, the family, being there for his last flight," Matt said.
Matt joked that he doesn't always like to admit but his father is a highly sought after pilot to work for and one that people will remember as "the chocolate bar guy".
Tom said he started a tradition of giving crew members Hershey chocolate bars when he became captain.
"And that was my introduction to the flight attendants that didn't know me, Tom said. "Here's your breakfast of champions, [a] Hersey bar. And that usually put a smile on their face, put them in a good mood."
Tom calls his near retirement "bittersweet" and said he initially did not want to do it.
"To be honest with you, I was not happy about it," Tom said "There was a bill in the Senate to raise the age to 67 which I was looking forward to [but] it failed by one vote in the committee, and then it wasn't attached to the bill when they passed it in May. "
However, Tom said he'll still be able to fly with his son in his airplane and said he looked forward to traveling with his wife.
"[My wife] has been retired for 10 years, and so she's said she's ready for me to move on to the next chapter of our lives," Tom said.
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