A C L O S E R L O O K
Meet Captain Brian Flegel and Line Crew Lead Jaazia C Moran Flegel They met on a climbing wall – a flight instructor and an artist . Today , they share a dock for an office .
QUICK FACTS
Jaazia C . Moran Flegel
Occupation : Line Crew Lead Age : 25 Birthplace : Tacoma , WA Current Residence : Shoreline , WA Years Working at Kenmore : 1
Brian Flegel
Occupation : Captain Age : 28 Birthplace : Madras , OR Current Residence : Shoreline , WA Years Working at Kenmore : 4
HUSBAND-WIFE DUO — KENMORE AIR Captain Brian Flegel and Line Crew Lead Jaazia C Moran Flegel — are passionate adventures . As a pair , they have trained and performed as both trapeze and acrobatic artists . They ’ ve spent a summer commercial fishing in Alaska and four summers woodland firefighting .
It was there , creating firebreaks and protecting the forest , that Brian ’ s passion for seaplanes was ignited . He learned to fly at Walla Walla University , but it was on an uphill firebreak that his own personal spark was ignited . During breaks , the couple watched as firebombers ( seaplanes equipped to dump water ) swooped just above the flames and released their loads .
“ It ’ s one of the most memorable moments to be in your engine and see that plane come in flying low and let the water go ,” explained Jaazia .
While working as a flight instructor in Hermiston , Oregon , Brian earned his seaplane rating at Kenmore Air . “ And then I just started bugging Quinn endlessly for a job ,” said Brian . ( Quinn Dillon was a flight instructor at the time and is now Assistant Chief Pilot .)
Brian ’ s persistence paid off . He became a flight instructor in 2019 and by February 2020 , he was flying the line as a Kenmore Air pilot . Today he is certified to fly Kenmore ’ s entire seaplane fleet .
But he wasn ’ t the only one making waves . He and Jaazia moved to Seattle together and she joined the line crew at Lake Union . At the time , she was finishing her degree in Studio Art from
Whitman College .
“ The job was perfect . I love being outside and working with my hands . It was about a 6-hour shift where I was doing things . Then I ’ d be done and I could study ,” said Jaazia .
Promoted to the head of line crew in October of 2021 , Jaazia ’ s working days are a bit longer now — but just as handson . And while Brain has never forgotten about firebombing and Jaazia is always up for another project that involves building things , the couple has found a comfortable slice of home at the north end of Lake Washington . “ This is an incredible place to work and an incredible place to call home ,” said Brian .
Favorite Place to Fly : Deer Harbor “ The greenery . The shimmering water . It ’ s just a lovely place to fly with a beautiful dock and they have really good ice cream ,” said Brian .
18 explore : NW | The Official Magazine for kenmore air