Spouse taxi gives dependents ride of their lives

Maj. Brett Shilling, 20^th Fighter Wing chief of plans, walks toward an F-16DM Fighting Falcon on the windy plain of Shaw’s flightline with his co-pilot by his side.

His co-pilot has never been in the cockpit of a jet. She has never completed a flight simulation and knows very little about the controls inside the aircraft. Shilling’s co-pilot for the day is his wife, Janina, and the two are participating in a spouse taxi for the first time.

A spouse taxi provides dependents of aircraft maintenance personnel and pilots the opportunity to experience first-hand the aircraft with which their significant others work. The spouses don the appropriate equipment, are secured into the back seats of the jets, and are taxied down the runway at speeds just below those required for the jet to take off.   

“It’s amazing how tiny it is, you definitely cannot be claustrophobic,” said Janina. “All the buttons and lights – it’s just crazy how many things they have to deal with. I had a little bit of an idea but sitting in the jet and seeing everything was really cool.”

Although the jets never make it off the ground during spouse taxis, each participant was able to experience the view from the cockpit as the jet accelerated down the flightline. The experience for the sponsors is significant too, as they’re given a rare opportunity to share a large piece of their lives that is normally reserved exclusively for those with the proper training and security clearance.

“She had been out to the jet for things like fini flights and farewells,” said Brett. “That’s so small a perspective compared to when you’re sitting in it and the canopy comes down and you realize you’re in this tiny little hole with a couple leg holes and all these switches in front of you.

“I thought it was a very unique opportunity to show a little more flavor of what I really do.”

Although Brett said it felt like it was over as soon as it started, he iterated how much the spouse taxi and the opportunity to participate meant to him. He also said he hoped the experience was as exciting and memorable for his wife as it was for him.

“I already knew my husband was a cool dude,” Janina said with a laugh. “Now I definitely have a better idea of what he does every day.”