An airport photo shoot becomes a story about community, connection and aviation.
At most airports, ramps are a site of movement and noise.
Gas trucks rumble by. The propeller will make a ticking sound as it cools. Line technicians move quickly between aircraft to prepare them for the next flight. This is a place built for efficiency, with planes arriving, refueling and taking off again within minutes.
But one night last summer, Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport (YNG), a small airport, aviation reserve station In Northeast Ohio, the pace has slowed.
Instead of wands and dragging fuel hoses, cameras are used. No planes taking off, but engagement portraits. Rather than the usual rush of tarmac activities, the airport community came together for something more personal.
The portraits were taken by photographer Amanda Johnson of Vienna, Ohio, who worked with the couple and members of the local aviation community to capture the series from the plane on the tarmac.
For airport service line technician William McDermott, it was an opportunity to celebrate an important milestone that shaped his aviation career.
“Working at YNG means being part of something bigger and being involved in assisting aircraft arrive and take off,” McDermott said.
The people who keep the ramp going
Behind every general aviation airport is a small group of people who keep aircraft flying safely and efficiently. These include service line technicians, the men and women who refuel aircraft, guide pilots to parking and ensure the aircraft is ready for the next flight.
This job is often overlooked by travelers and even many pilots.
“People often think of ramp work as just manual labor,” McDermott explains. “But it requires technical knowledge and a keen understanding of the aviation industry. It's not just about refueling the aircraft. It's about ensuring the safety and efficiency of every flight.”
It’s not just about refueling the plane. This is to ensure the safety and efficiency of every flight.
William McDermott
This professionalism and pride is recognized by those who work with him every day.
Mike Hillman, owner jet fixed operating base McDermott said that at YNG, it has become an important part of the airport culture.
“I think many of his colleagues viewed Will as a know-it-all, but he was not a pretentious person,” Hillman said. “People loved working with Will and being around him.”
Hillman believes the best service line technicians possess a few key qualities.
“Common sense and caring,” he said. “A lot of what we do needs to be thoughtful. You have to be sharp and you have to care about the safety of other people and their property.”
At an airport like Youngstown-Warren, this dedication makes the airport more than just a place to work.
“When I was at YNG, I had a sense of family,” Hillman said.
When airports become personal
For Will and his now wife, Lydia, the airport was more than just a place to work. It's an important part of their life together.
“Aviation has always been William’s career, so it naturally shaped our lives together,” Lydia said. “The days can be long and arduous and the schedule has not always been easy, but it has been steady. His job provides stability and opportunity.”
When they started planning their engagement photos, choosing a location was easy.
“The airport is a big part of his world and it’s a big part of my world,” Lydia explains. “Instead of randomly choosing a beautiful location, we wanted a place that was truly meaningful to us.”
“The airport is a big part of his world, and it's a big part of my world. Rather than randomly choosing a pretty location, we wanted a place that really meant something to us.”
Lydia McDermott
The results are both unexpected and meaningful.
“Ramps are generally business events. Fast-paced, loud and organized,” she said. “So it's really special to see it transformed into something soft and personal. It makes this huge industrial space feel intimate.”
For Will, the experience was equally powerful.
“It's surreal and special,” he said. “It feels like I'm celebrating a personal milestone in a place that shaped my character.”
It felt natural to include the airport in this special moment.
“The airport is 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.”
emergent community
Stories like this rarely happen alone at small airports. They happen because of people in the aviation community.
Members of the YNG Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 117 supported the meeting, bringing the aircraft and their enthusiasm to the ramp.
For chapter member Anthony DeGaten, helping is just part of the job in aviation.
“Our aviation culture is similar to other cultures, with different aviation people connecting us,” DeGetten said.
When the chapter learned about the engagement portrait, the reaction was immediate.
“Some of us in the aviation community need our help to make their day really special,” he said.
In EAA circles, such support is not uncommon.
“Absolutely,” DeGetten said when asked if the chapter provides support to members on a regular basis. “Not just our EAA aviation community, but helping to grow the aviation industry as a whole.”
That sense of community remains strong at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
“It's very active at our airport,” he said. “We just try to bring people together through our many events and keep things fun and exciting.”
The small world of aviation
Although the aviation industry spans the globe, many in the industry describe it as a surprisingly small world.
Hillman sees this every day through the bonds formed between pilots, mechanics, line technicians and airport staff.
“The aviation industry is a very large national community but a very small national community,” he said. “Throughout your career, you see and talk to people from all over the country every day.”
This shared experience often leads people in the aviation community to support each other.
“Regardless of the reason, that sense of connection drives the aviation community to strongly support its members,” Hillman said.
This culture continues to strengthen local airports such as YNG.
De Gaten believes the story unfolding there reflects something larger about the aviation industry itself.
“The story is still being written,” he said. “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, there’s a sense of shared purpose every day on the slopes.
“The YNG aviation community is united and supportive of each other,” he said. “Everyone works together to ensure smooth operations. There is a shared sense of pride and responsibility in maintaining safe and efficient operations.”
He believes general aviation still plays an important role in communities across the country.
“It connects communities and provides travel and business opportunities unmatched by other modes of transportation,” he said.
[General aviation] Connecting communities and providing travel and business opportunities unmatched by other modes of transportation.
William McDermott
Hillman believes another factor is quietly helping the industry.
“Commercial aviation is our best advertisement,” he said. “The pain of air travel is driving more people to choose general aviation every day.”
Capturing moments of something bigger
For Lydia, the photos taken that night were more than just an engagement milestone.
Through the lens of Amanda Johnson, YNG's busy ramp got a little quieter that night.
“I hope they remind us of the season,” she said. “Building our future, supporting each other’s dreams, and choosing each other over busy schedules and ambitious goals.”
The photos also reveal something special about the location.
Airports are often thought of as places where people pass through.
But in small general aviation circles across the country, they're also a place where friendships bloom, careers grow and communities come together.
One night on the ramp at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, everyone was reminded of what they already knew.
Aviation is more than just airplanes.
It's about people like Will who keep them flying every day.
A very special thank you to Amanda Johnson, owner and chief photographer AMJ Photographyprovided the photos used in this story. Amanda serves clients in her hometown of Philadelphia, Northeast Ohio, and Western Pennsylvania. She lives in Vienna, Ohio.
