An airport photo shoot that captures the spirit of general aviation

An airport photo shoot becomes a story about community, connection, and aviation.

At most airports, the ramp is a place of movement and noise.

Fuel trucks pass noisily. The propellers tick as they cool. Line technicians move quickly between planes, preparing them for their next flight. It’s a place built for efficiency, where planes arrive, refuel, and leave again in a matter of minutes.

But during one night last summer at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport (YNG), a small airport and air reservation station in northeast Ohio, the pace slowed.

Instead of sorting rods and dragging fuel hoses, there was a camera. Instead of a plane taking off, there were engagement portraits. And instead of the usual flurry of activity on the ramp, the airport community came together for something more personal.

The portraits were captured by photographer Amanda Johnson of Vienna, Ohio, who worked with the couple and members of the local aviation community to organize the shoot between planes on the ramp.

For airport service line technician William McDermott, it was a chance to celebrate an important milestone in the same place that helped shape his life in aviation.

“Working at YNG means being part of something bigger and helping planes come and go,” McDermott said.

The people who keep the ramp moving

Behind every general aviation airport is a small army of people who keep planes moving safely and efficiently. Among them are service line technicians, the men and women responsible for fueling planes, guiding pilots to the parking lot and making sure planes are ready for their next flight.

It is a job that often goes unnoticed by travelers and even by many pilots.

“People often think that ramp work is just physical work,” McDermott explained. “But it requires technical knowledge and a deep understanding of aviation. It’s not just about fueling planes. It’s about ensuring the safety and efficiency of each flight.”

That sense of professionalism and pride is something recognized by those who work alongside him every day.

Mike Hillman, owner of FBO jets at YNG, McDermott says, it has become an important part of the airport’s culture.

“I think a lot of his coworkers look up to Will as someone who knows it all, but is not a pretentious guy,” Hillman said. “People like working with Will and being around him.”

Hillman believes the best service line technicians have a few key qualities.

“Common sense and love,” he said. “Much of what we do requires careful forethought. You have to be astute and care about the safety of others and their property.”

At airports like Youngstown–Warren, that dedication helps make the airport feel like more than just a place to work.

“I feel a sense of family when I’m at YNG,” Hillman said.

When the airport becomes personal

For Will and his now wife, Lydia, the airport is more than just a place to work. It’s a big part of your life together.

“Aviation has always been William’s career, so it has naturally shaped our life together,” Lydia said. “The days can be long and demanding, and the schedule is not always easy, but it has been consistent. Your work has provided me with stability and opportunity.”

When they started planning their engagement photos, choosing a location was easy.

“The airport is a very important part of their world and, by extension, mine too,” Lydia explained. “Instead of choosing a pretty place at random, we wanted a place that really meant something to us.”

The result was something unexpected and significant.

“Ramp is usually purely professional. Fast-paced, loud and structured,” he said. “So to see it turned into something soft and personal was really special. It made this huge industrial space feel intimate.”

For Will, the experience was just as powerful.

“It was surreal and special,” he said. “It felt like I was celebrating a personal milestone in a place that has shaped so much of who I am.”

Including the airport in this special moment was natural.

“The airport has been a big part of my life,” he said. “It symbolizes not only my work but also the environment that has supported and inspired me along the way.”

A community that appears

Stories like this rarely happen in isolation at small airports. They happen thanks to the people who make up the aviation community.

Members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 117 at YNG helped support the session, bringing planes and their enthusiasm to the ramp.

For chapter member Anthony DeGaten, helping was simply part of what the aviation community does.

“Our aviation culture is similar to others, with a diverse group of people with aviation uniting us,” DeGaten said.

When the chapter learned about the engagement portraits, the response was immediate.

“Someone in our aviation community needed our help to help make their day extra special,” he said.

Support like that is not unusual within EAA circles.

“Absolutely,” DeGaten said when asked if the chapter regularly helps members. “Not only our EAA aviation community, but also help promote aviation as a whole.”

At Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, that sense of community remains strong.

“It’s alive and well at our airport,” he said. “We just want to bring people together through our many activities to keep things fun and exciting.”

The small world of aviation

While aviation spans the globe, many who work in the industry describe it as a surprisingly small world.

Hillman sees that every day, through the connections formed between pilots, mechanics, line technicians and airport staff.

“Aviation is a very large national community, but very small,” he said. “You see people and talk to them from all over the country every day, your entire career.”

That shared experience often leads people in aviation to support each other.

“For some reason, that sense of connection drives the aviation community to support its members well,” Hillman said.

It’s a culture that continues to strengthen local airports like YNG.

DeGaten believes the story unfolding there reflects something broader about aviation itself.

“History is still being written,” he said. “Together we are more successful in helping our community and others. In many cases, the presence of a local EAA chapter helps build a tight-knit community and a stronger airport environment.”

Why general aviation is still important

For Will, the sense of shared purpose is evident every day on the ramp.

“The aviation community at YNG is very close-knit and supportive,” he said. “Everyone works together to ensure smooth operations. There is a shared sense of pride and responsibility in keeping everything running safely and efficiently.”

He believes general aviation still plays an important role in communities across the country.

“It connects communities and offers travel and business opportunities that other modes of transportation cannot match,” he said.

Hillman sees another factor also quietly helping the industry.

“Commercial aviation is our best advertising,” he said. “The misery of air travel pushes more people every day to opt for general aviation.”

A moment that captured something bigger

For Lydia, the photographs taken that night represent more than just a milestone in their engagement.

Through the lens of Amanda Johnson, the busy YNG ramp became something different for a few quiet moments that night.

“I hope they remember us this season,” he said. “Building our future, supporting each other’s dreams, and choosing each other in the midst of busy schedules and big goals.”

The photographs also show something special about the place where they were taken.

Airports are often thought of as places where people pass through.

But at small general aviation fields across the country, they are also places where friendships flourish, careers grow and communities come together.

At Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, a night on the ramp simply reminded everyone of something they already knew.

Aviation is not just about airplanes.

It’s about people like Will that keep them flying every day.

A very special thank you to Amanda Johnson, owner and lead photographer of AMJ Photographyfor providing the photographs used in this story. Amanda serves clients in her hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. It is based in Vienna, Ohio.