This Father’s Day, we’re celebrating the dads who inspire us to dream big and help us reach new heights.
For Envoy First Officer Sophia Taylor, aviation has always been more than a career path, it’s a bond shared with her father, whose encouragement and love of flying helped shape her journey to the flight deck. From growing up around airline pilots to building a career of her own, Sophia’s journey has been shaped by the support, inspiration and love of flying passed down through generations. Her grandfather retired on the Boeing 747, her uncle flew for another carrier, and her dad is currently flying the Airbus A320 at American Airlines.
A Family built on aviation
Today, aviation has become a true family affair. While Sophia became the first pilot among the siblings, her sister Paige works as a flight attendant with Envoy, and her sister Sadie serves as a flight instructor at the very school where she once taught.
Sophia’s own aviation journey began in Arizona, training first at Chandler Air Service before earning most of her certificates at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. After completing her flight instructor certification, she built valuable experience teaching at the University of North Dakota flight school.
Eventually, her path led her to Envoy.
“I joined Envoy because I love everything about the E175 and where Envoy flies,” Sophia said. “And I hope to flow to American Airlines one day — hopefully before my dad retires so we can fly together.”
Shoot for the stars, land on the moon
While Sophia’s father offered guidance on everything from flying techniques to choosing the right luggage, she says his emotional support made the biggest impact during difficult moments.
“My dad made my dreams entirely possible,” Sophia explained. “He and my mom were my biggest supporters, encouraging me every step of the way.”
That encouragement helped carry her through the demanding process of flight training. It also reinforced the deep connection the family shares through aviation.
Flexing flight privileges
Outside the flight deck, travel has provided some of their most cherished memories together. Thanks to Envoy and American’s flight privileges, the family has explored destinations around the world.
One especially meaningful trip took place in May 2019, when the family traveled to Salzburg, Austria. There, Sophia had the opportunity to walk the grounds of her father’s high school and experience the places that shaped his own childhood.
Other memories came from spontaneous weekend adventures to Kona, Hawaii. When schedules and standby loads aligned, the family would jump on one of her father’s flights for quick but unforgettable getaways.
“It was cool enough to fly on one of his flights,” Sophia recalled, “but then we’d spend 36 hours swimming, eating poke, and taking long walks on the beach before catching the redeye home Sunday night in time for school on Monday. It was a dream.”
While Sophia and her family look forward to their next shared adventure to Mexico this fall, for this father and daughter duo, the greatest journey has been sharing the skies and the memories together.
This Father’s Day, we honor the dads who inspire us to work harder, dream bigger and believe in ourselves. Here’s to all the dads out there who help us soar!