From Government Shutdown to Community Liftoff: Santa Barbara’s Answer to a National Crisis
Patricia Martellotti
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – They call it airlifting hope.
“It’s good to have you guys back on the payroll,” pilot Levi Maaia of Santa Barbara Aviators said over the radio during a flight over Santa Barbara.
On the other end, the controller’s simple reply — “Hey, thanks” — carried the weight of weeks without pay.
“At a busy airport like Santa Barbara … it’s obviously really important to keep traffic separated. The air traffic controllers primary role … is to keep planes from occupying the same airspace,” said Maaia.
Weeks after the shutdown, local air traffic controllers are still finding their footing—financially and emotionally.
“The air traffic controllers … they watch out for our safety as a pilot and … you know what … we need to watch out for them … when it’s their turn,” said pilot Craig Alexander of Santa Barbara Aviators.
Pilots from Santa Barbara Aviators joined forces with local restaurants, transforming community spirit into real support.
Inside Woodstock’s Pizza, the teamwork mirrors what happens in the skies—timing, trust, and teamwork.
“It’s being made with so much love you know these people do so much for us and our community so many people come in through Santa Barbara airport all the time and myself and our coworkers included and so being able to provide for them as what they provide us is definitely something we wanted to strive for,” said assistant general manager Preston Villwock of Woodstock’s Pizza.
Up in the air, every calm voice in the headset is a reminder: someone down there has your life in their hands.
“Air Traffic controllers also provide information to pilots … they can help pilots navigate around thunderstorms and rain, storms, and things that might cause some problems,” said Maaia.
“As a private pilot we rely on air traffic controls to keep us safe in the air … and they’re the ones watching out for us … making sure we don’t hit other planes and keeping air traffic running smoothly at our airport … so it means everything in the world that we keep our tower well staffed with trained personnel, that can keep us safe every day,” said pilot Louis Farah of Santa Barbara Aviators.
The Santa Barbara Aviators Club plans to keep helping air traffic controllers for as long as there is a need.
“Absolutely … with the government reopening they still don’t have a paycheck yet right? It’s gonna have to wait till the next pay period … so we’re absolutely gonna keep bringing them food and providing those lunches and showing them that we’re still here,” said pilot Taylor Jobe of Santa Barbara Aviators.
“Our hope is provide them some relief … whatever your role is at the airport … the pilots, the controllers … we take care of each other,” said Farah.
Even with the skies fully open again, gratitude continues to carry this story higher.