Retire The Colors

It was towards the end of March 2015 when I walked out onto the US Airways ramp and stopped cold. It wasn't entirely out of place that the ramp was a... more

by Alex Esguerra

Title

Retire The Colors

Artist

Alex Esguerra

Medium

Photograph - Color

Description

It was towards the end of March 2015 when I walked out onto the US Airways ramp and stopped cold. It wasn't entirely out of place that the ramp was a deserted and noiseless place at 5a, but it seemed even more so than usual. There were no personnel tending to their duties, no drone of vehicle traffic. The A321s at the gates remained dark and silent. An utter lack of any other aircraft traffic in the area seemed to pronounce the silence.

More than a week until the Operating Certificate for US Airways would be no more, and yet, I felt it's coming impact. "Cactus" would soon be no more. At least the skies provided some comfort, briliantly echoing the company's colors as the sun threatened to break the horizon
.
It seems rather odd that I would choose a military term for a civilian subject, but the American Flag has been the primary logo for US Airways for some time. And with that logo shortly going away, it "Retire The Colors" seemed rather fitting. The ceremony where the American Flag is lowered at the end of the day is occasionally a permanent one, whether the facility it flies over is being permanently closed or the flag itself needs to be retired. As time goes on, the US Airways livery (with one notable exception) will be supplanted by that of American Airlines, never to take to the skies again.

But it'll certainly be forever remembered by many.

Uploaded

April 5th, 2015