Category: Tech Ops

Meet Tech Ops Superstar and Aspiring Commercial Pilot, Tatyana Gogova

Tatyana-Gorgova
Tatyana Gogova, superstar employee and future commercial pilot.

Our Tech Ops team works tirelessly to ensure that our operation is safe, efficient, and on-time.  An invaluable member of that team is Los Angeles (LAX) Maintenance Base Administrator, Tatyana Gogova.  Recently Tatyana was the recipient of a Compass Airlines “Above and Beyond” award for going beyond what her job requires of her to provide outstanding service to her co-workers.

“Tatyana is pivotal to the functionality of the LAX Tech Ops team,” remarked Bo Curtis, the Director of Quality at Compass.  “She works tirelessly to ensure that our mechanics are shielded from distractions so they can focus on providing the best possible product to our passengers.”  In addition to ordering mechanic uniforms and handling payroll for the Compass LAX maintenance group, Tatyana also helps recruit new mechanics and assists with interviews.  Additionally, Tatyana has voluntarily undertaken the monumental task of coordinating Los Angeles Airport SIDA badges for Compass employees that need them.

A Security Identification Display Area badge, or SIDA badge, gives employees access to the secure side of the airport, as well as the ramp area.  SIDA badges are very tightly controlled, and each SIDA badge that is issued requires multiple appointments with LAX airport authorities, as well as extensive paperwork, training and a background check.  If a Compass employee needs a LAX SIDA badge, Tatyana walks them through the process, start to finish.

“It’s complicated,” Tatyana admits.  “I make an appointment for each applicant to go to LAX to and have their fingerprints taken, and then they must wait for clearance.  Once an employee is approved, I train them on what their SIDA badge allows them to do.  I then set up another appointment for them to actually receive their badge.”  Tatyana does all this not only for Compass LAX maintenance employees, but for all Compass employees who need a LAX SIDA badge.

Given the extent of her efforts, it’s no surprise that Tatyana was nominated for an Above & Beyond award.  When she found out that she had won in the Tech Ops category, she was surprised and excited, remarking,

“It was amazing, and I was super surprised!  But it’s easy to work with people when you’re friends. Our work is very critical, but no matter how much we have to do, it always goes smoothly if we all get along and understand each other.”

Originally from Bulgaria, Tatyana speaks four languages, including English, Bulgarian, Russian, and Arabic.  In her free time, Totyana loves to travel, which is what led her to pursue a career in aviation.  An airline employee to her core, she loves to use to use her travel benefits, and in her free time, she’s usually on a plane.  In fact, she loves being in the air so much that she recently started working on her private pilot’s license, and hopes to fly commercially in the future.

With her incredible work ethic and genuine love of flying, Tatyana represents the values that drive us as a company.  We have no doubt that she’ll achieve anything that she puts her mind to!

Compass Employees Rally to Raise Money for Mechanic Injured in Motorcycle Accident

Compass Airlines is more than just a company.  We’re a family, and we look out for one another.  When a member of our Compass family was seriously injured recently, his fellow employees sprang into action to raise money for his medical expenses.

Lonnell Johnson is a maintenance contractor at our Los Angeles maintenance facility.   Recently, he was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, breaking his neck, both ankles, his pelvis, and his left hand.  Lonnell’s daughter was a passenger on the motorcycle, but fortunately escaped with only minimal injuries.  Thankfully, Lonnell is now back home recuperating, and his doctors expect him to make a full recovery.

However, Lonnell’s medical bills following his accident were extensive.  To help Lonnell with his expenses, Compass Tech Ops Regulatory Compliance Manager Dan Sackett organized a spaghetti fundraiser and collected donations on his behalf.

The fundraiser, which was held at the Delta Air Lines Woolman Café in Minneapolis, was a big success, and raised a total of $503.00.  Compass employees weren’t the only ones who donated this this great cause – employees from our mainline partner, Delta Air Lines, also chipped in, as well as employees of Minneapolis-based Endeavor Air.

“Some of the people who attended the fundraiser or donated money had never even met Lonnell, but were moved by his situation,” Dan said.  “It was great to see everyone come together for a good cause.”

Contributing to the fundraiser’s success were Maintenance Control Administration Assistant Michele O’Brien, Technical Publications Coordinator Carol Johnson, and Aircraft Records Supervisor Sandy Hall, who each volunteered to serve spaghetti to attendees.

In addition to the spaghetti fundraiser, Compass mechanic David Parker also set up a GoFundMe page for Lonnell’s expenses, which numerous employees have donated to.

The kindness and generosity of the Compass team is truly remarkable!