Getting to Know Andy Sallee

When Andy was three years old, Santa Claus brought him toy airplanes and from then on, he became fascinated with airplanes. His dad took him to an airport whenever he had an opportunity. After his dad purchased a Cessna 172, Andy took ten lessons at the Port Angeles airport and soloed. At the age of 18 he had his PPL.

His dad, Jack, was a fighter jet pilot in the military and the family lived in Texas and California. On a camping trip to Sequim, on one of the hottest days of the summer, they couldn’t find a place to set up their tent until someone suggested they try the Voice of America campground, indicting they probably wouldn’t like it because it was foggy and cool. That was exactly what they wanted to hear and ended up spending the week there. Upon returning to California, his parents said they would soon be moving to Sequim, which happened a year later in 1972.

His parents purchased 45 acres off Ward Road and started farming. With five sons, his dad had a lot of help with the farm chores. Andy remembers haying what is now Rakes Glen Air Park. He and his dad also gave airplane rides, along with charter flights, from the grass strip adjacent to their farm. Andy graduated from Sequim High School, Peninsula Community College and Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake. Due to some financial problems, the family ended up losing the farm.

About the same time, his dad decided to look into the possibility of building an airport and asked Andy to join him to build a “real” airport. They had specific requirements and after spending time looking around the area, in 1983 they purchased 55 acres which is Sequim Valley Airport.

Now it was time to clear the land and using bulldozers, they put in a 2000 ft grass runway. Over the years they gradually added a 3500 ft parallel paved runway, a taxiway, lights, signs, hangars and an office. Sequim Valley Airport has been a family affair for 36 years.

In 1989 their new venture, Coastal Airways, offered 5 daily flights to SeaTac that met connecting flights. There were also 32 daily flights to Port Angeles, Friday Harbor, East Sound, Bremerton and Skagit Regional Airport. The first Coastal Airways used twin-engine Cessna 402’s and was quite successful with over 30 employees. In the 1990’s, a second Coastal Airways was an air taxi operation with a Cessna 172 run by Chris Armstrong. In 2010, a webcam and 24-hour, self-service fuel were added. Since 2012 the airport has welcomed hundreds of visitors to the annual Olympic Peninsula Air Affaire/Fly-In. Future plans include a GPS approach, additional hangars, and an event center with a restaurant.

His father passed away at age 66 when a forklift accident took his life in 1997. Andy and his mother, Winnie, took over running the airport until she passed away in 2009. Andy is now the current manager and president. His father and uncle, two brothers, William and Joe, his son, Daniel and daughter-in-law, Rachel, are all pilots. Daniel is a commercial pilot and currently flies B-747s, while Rachel pilots C-17s in the U.S. Air Force. Andy and Jane’s daughter Elisa also soloed in 2019.

Andy’s first airplane was a C152. He currently flies a C172 and a Beechjet 400. He has the following ratings: ATP, SEL, MEL & BA 3100, B727, MD80, CE EXCEL, BE 400 TYPE RATINGS.

As a young man, Andy had three goals: 1) Become an airline pilot before 30. He was hired by Braniff Airlines at age 29. 2) He would be a Captain of a 727 before age 40. He became a Captain at age 39. 3) He would work for the same company until he retired. This one didn’t work out as he anticipated. He worked for Braniff for one year and then worked for DHL for 21 years. He was a line pilot on the 727 for 20 years at DHL. He was a flight engineer for five years, a co-pilot for five years and the Captain for 10 years. He has also worked for United Express and Allegiant. His union work included being the pilot rep which provided input on a new 200 million dollar air cargo hub in Cincinnati while the facility was being built, as well as the International Relations Committee rep. He later went from serving as a projector operator to being Chairman of a pilots alliance which mission was to bring the pilot groups of 5 airlines that served DHL together. He currently works as a corporate pilot on a Beechjet 400 at BFI (Boeing Field International Airport).

When Andy became involved with a charity organization, Global Family Alliance, he made a trip to Belarus and visited a Minsk orphanage. The purpose of his visit was to take photos of the conditions of the orphanage and the surrounding area where people were living after the catastrophe of the Chernobyl disaster. He was instrumental in securing permission from the Belarus government to bring kids over to the United States where they would spend six weeks receiving medical and dental care while living with host families for this period of time. He also made it possible for three children from the orphanage to be adopted by American families.

In the three years he worked for this organization, he oversaw the arrival of 85 kids per year. He and his wife, Jane, ended up inviting a young boy to live with them for 3 years. In addition, his sister also was able to come to Sequim. Andy would invite the Belarus kids to the Sequim Valley Airport where they would receive airplane rides, an opportunity they would never otherwise have in Belarus. This was an active program until the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, shut down the program and no children were allowed to come to the United States.

His father-in-law started the Boys & Girls Club in Sequim in 1987 and Andy would bring the kids to the airport, spending time showing them how an airplane flies and then take them for a plane ride. He would occasionally go the club in his pilot’s uniform and answer their questions about becoming a pilot. He also did this for the Cub Scouts. He invited pre-school kids to come to the airport to make and shoot off Estes model rockets, something he did with his son, Daniel, when he was young. He was asked by a mother of a six-year-old if she could have his birthday party at the airport and, of course, Andy said yes.

He has attended Oshkosh Air Venture, Reno air Races and numerous EAA 430 Young Eagle events. He is the current webmaster of EAA 430. Besides airplanes and flying, some of his favorite pastimes are hiking, snow skiing, boating, kayaking and spending time with family. The three things on his bucket list are: 1. Floatplane trip to Alaska 2. Six-month adventure to Italy and the Mediterranean with his wife, Jane 3. Helping make Sequim Valley Airport become one of the best small airports in the state.

When asked if he had any harrowing or exciting experiences to share, he mentions flying aerobatics with his son and daughter-in-law and experiencing an engine fire while flying a B727.

His message for EAA members: Continue to educate and share your love of airplanes and building airplanes often with friends and the community.