From first grade to flight deck: How childhood friends reconnected as Delta pilots

DTW 717 Capt. Dustin Buchenroth and DTW 717 First Officer Dustin Wickersham go way back, not to college or even high school, but first grade, where they met at their elementary school in rural Ohio.???

Their lives after Indian Lake School took them down separate paths – Dustin B. pursued a more traditional career in aviation, first serving in the Toledo Ohio Air National Guard while Dustin W. started his career in marketing, served as county commissioner and earned his private pilot's license on the side in 2009. They even shared the same flight instructor. Although at separate times, Dustin B.'s dad, who owns a flight training school, helped teach both how to fly.????

A decade after their high school graduation, the pair reconnected at a community event in 2012, and have remained close friends ever since. When Dustin B. applied to Delta in 2015, a seed was planted that would persuade Dustin W. to change careers and complete the training he needed to become a commercial airline pilot.???

"Once Dustin started down the path of becoming a Delta pilot, we knew there was a possibility of us flying together, but we didn't discuss that idea much," said Dustin B. "I think we both knew there were so many variables, and that they would all have to line up. The focus was on getting him hired at Delta."?

In September of 2015, Dustin W. started with the rest of his training and by 2017, he had left his job in marketing. In 2019 he was hired by PSA Airlines, completed his term as county commissioner and made the major career change to be an airline pilot. In April 2022, he interviewed with Delta.??

With both Dustins now at Delta and flying the same equipment out of the same base, they've had a few opportunities to share the flight deck. However, as Capt. Dustin begins training on the A320 later this month and First Officer Dustin is hoping to upgrade to captain, the pair thought their flights on Dec. 18 and 19 could be their last together for a while and wanted to make it memorable.???

"Our paths may cross again in the flight deck, but it could be many years," said Dustin W. "That is why we took the opportunity to buy first-class tickets for our fathers and two family friends. It was really special to share with them what we do day in and day out. It is not too often we get the chance to share that in person with our family."?

As both Dustins work hard to continue pursuing their dreams within Delta, it's not lost on Dustin W. on how special of a friend he has in Dustin B., who helped support him along the way.??

"It is really neat to look back on something that was just a dream, that became a conversation, and then a plan," said Dustin W. "I think that is what makes this entire flight so special. Flying with your best friend that helped to ensure you get here, and getting to share it with our family and the man who taught us both to fly is incredible. I feel so fortunate to be working at Delta."??