After years of hard work and dedication, it was time to celebrate inside of the Delta Flight Museum in Hapeville, Ga., next to a retired Boeing 767 known as “The Spirit of Delta.”

Inside the historic building, new Delta Airline pilots are welcomed into the company with an elegant meal and meet-and-greet, attended by fellow pilots and executives. New hires join the company from across the globe.

Amidst all of the pomp and circumstance and excitement, Bamisile found himself seated at a table with a new peer named Jared Adams.

Although their respective journeys up into the air have been decidedly different, Adams and Bamisile can both follow their roots back to Jamestown Community College’s Professional Piloting Associate of Applied Science Program–big things have small beginnings.

Jamestown Community College Professional Piloting Program Alumni Jared Adams, left, and Remi Bamisile, have reconnected since their time in Jamestown as pilots now working for Delta Airlines. Submitted photos

“In the aviation industry you hear all different types of stories and pathways to becoming an airline pilot,” Bamisile said. “But not often do you hear the small town community college program success story, especially when it comes to a major legacy carrier like Delta. That moment gave me the opportunity to reflect on my personal journey.”

And what a journey that has been.

Born in a small town in Nigeria, Bamisile emigrated to New York City with his family as a teenager.

Graduating from Port Richmond High School in 2006, it was difficult to see a clear path forward to that expansive Delta museum in which he would receive his wings 11 years later.

“My aviation journey began with no mentoring and very little knowledge on how to achieve my dream,” Bamisile said. “Anyone that has been on this journey knows well how difficult this career path can be without the proper guidance or mentorship.”

Bamisile made the decision to attend Vaughn College in Queens after high school, but quickly ran into issues funding the actual flight training needed by every pilot.

Considering other options, Bamisile discovered the program offered at JCC, which turned out to be a perfect fit.

“By early 2007 I applied and gained admission into the program,” Bamisile said. “I resumed my admission into the program in August of 2007 and took my first ever flight training on September 4 of that same year.”

After returning to complete his coursework at Vaughn, Bamisile began his career with Delta as a customer service ramp agent, while planning for his future as a pilot.

Before earning the opportunity to fly for Delta, Bamisile was a pilot for Republic Airways Holdings, the same regional carrier that Adams flew from 2004-2014.

“The cool part about having worked at Republic Airways Holdings, is Remi worked there too,” Adams said. “I kept in touch with (JCC instructor Rick Rupprecht) over the years and he mentioned Remi’s success. But Remi and I never crossed paths at Republic.”

While Bamisile serves as an example of how community college programs can open up doors that often seem invisible, Adams is a hometown success story.

A 2000 graduate of Falconer Central School, Adams enrolled in the first class of JCC’s Professional Piloting Program.

“The Professional Pilot Program itself was amazing, as I was able to complete flight training in conjunction with the first two years of core classes,” Adams said. “I was able to go from no ratings to Certified Flight Instructor in approximately 18 months. I was amazed how smoothly the program went in its infant stages.”

Adams left Jamestown for Atlanta, where he would continue his education at Georgia State University before moving on to Republic and eventually Delta.

“Long story short, I had no idea I would sit at the same table as a fellow Republic pilot, let alone a fellow JCC alum, and that was Remi,” Adams said.

That meeting was not the last time that Adams and Bamisile would cross paths. In June, the JCC alumni had another serendipitous meeting at Delta’s full motion simulator, where Adams is an instructor.

“I usually fly every third month, but that is all dependent on the current training demand,” Adams said. “All Delta line pilots have to come through the school house for recurrent training in full motion simulators. Remi was due for that training, and I was fortunate enough to be the instructor. Remi is such a class act. He was so well prepared and knowledgeable about the Airbus 320.”

Even though they now work with the absolute best in the business for a multibillion-dollar legacy airline, the time that Adams and Bamisile spent at JCC still remains in focus.

“Hearing Jared came from the same program that helped shape my aviation journey was a special moment for me, and I know Jared will agree to this,” Bamisile said. “When I found out he was the first graduate of the program we both just smiled at each other and almost immediately I felt like I had known him forever, despite it being our first acquaintance. There was a part of me that quietly said ‘Thank you for making it through the program as one of the first.’ This was because a part of me believed the success of the first group was what helped pave the way for guys like myself to later come and take advantage of the strong foundation they have left behind. I was sure that couldn’t be easy.”