Pilot Can No Longer Fly but Continues Ministering to Others on the Ground

A veteran airline pilot may no longer be flying, but that won’t stop him from continuing to minister to others on the ground.

On 1 April, Air Marshall Islands (AMI) held a surprise ceremony for Captain Albon “Al” Jelke at the Amata Kabua International Airport in Majuro, to commemorate the landing of his final flight as chief pilot for the national airline.

Captain Jelke, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and who lives in Majuro, Marshall Islands, was the longest serving pilot in Air Marshall Airlines history. He has a flight service record of over 43 years with the airline.

Jelke will remain with AMI as the company’s General Manager, a post he’s held for over two years while continuing as chief pilot.  Current US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations prevent pilots above the age of 65 from flying commercially.

“If it wasn’t for the age regulation, our dad would continue to fly,” daughter Milañ Loeak said of Captain Jelke, who turned 65 in April.

While he is well known for his achievements as an airline pilot and administrator, what is not as well-known are the numerous opportunities he had through his flying career to minister to others.

“I want to thank the Lord for my flying career,” Captain Jelke said. “I’m also very thankful for the times I’ve had to minister to my fellow people, especially the ones residing in the outer islands here in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.”

Captain Jelke was introduced to the gospel, and he and his family were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 2014.

In 2016 he was asked to serve in the bishopric (an executive council of lay leaders of a local congregation, known as a ward), and the importance of reaching out one by one to each member became very important to him.

“I believe that we all should be looking to our Saviour as our example in everything we do in life, and how we should minister to others and spread His gospel,” Captain Jelke said. “And what better way to prepare to meet our Saviour than to strive to become like Him through ministering to others!”

He recounted an experience where he was able to minister to a person grieving over the death of a loved one and used his flying skills to help her bid that family member farewell. “I was able to assist a member of our ward to fly to one of the outer islands in time for a family member's burial,” he said.

“The only chance for her to make the flight and be able to attend the burial was for me to find a way to adjust the flight routing that day to accommodate her,” he explained. “Her family was relieved and overjoyed to see her stepping down from the aircraft.”

Captain Jelke humbly explained that through the years he has also had many opportunities to fly church leaders to the Marshall Islands’ many outer islands, to handle serious situations when they had no other way to get there quickly. He said ministering to others and giving help to those that need it is something he was taught by his grandparents.

“I was raised from humble circumstances by my grandparents, and I understand when one who doesn’t have much in life feels desperately in need,” he related.

“My parents left me with my grandparents when I was just one month-old, and as I grew my grandmother would tell me stories about being hungry, and neighbours coming forward with milk and other items needed for a month-old baby.

“My grandmother impressed upon me that if I were successful in life, I needed to always remember the kind acts people had done to me when I was just a baby,” he continued. “I thank God for every blessing that He has bestowed upon my family and me.

“Most importantly I thank Him for the opportunity to be able to minister to others who are in need.”

Strong emotions were displayed by his fellow employees at the ceremony at the airport on 1 April including those from a special guest, Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine, who was on Captain Jelke’s final flight from Aur Atoll. She honoured Captain Jelke for his commitment to her, the government and the people of the islands, and for his continuing service as General Manager of AMI.

But it is the level of admiration expressed from both AMI employees and people on social media that attests to Captain Jelke’s friendly nature, as both a dedicated employee and administrator and beloved pilot.

“I’ve retired from flying but as the CEO/General Manager of Air Marshall Islands, I still can fly as a passenger and minister to my people,” Captain Jelke reminded. “It just won't be as frequent as when I was a pilot.”

Albon Jelke’s career with AMI started in 1981 as a flight attendant. Then he trained as a pilot and became a First Officer in 1983. He’s since been promoted many times since and, in September 1997 became AMI Director of Flight Operations and Chief Pilot.