Airline Crew Chiefs: Snyder Brothers Mark 40 Years of Service

Bobby and Lance Snyder have spent four decades ensuring flights leave Charlotte Douglas International Airport on time. The two brothers, who now serve as crew chiefs for American Airlines, have a combined total of 80 years of experience at the carrier’s second-largest hub in the United States. Their long tenure has made them a familiar presence on the tarmac.

The brothers grew up in the Johnson City area of Tennessee, near the Tri-Cities Airport. Bobby Snyder recalled visiting the airport as a child with a friend who lived nearby. Lance Snyder remembered helping clean overnight aircraft, a task that involved removing leftover peanuts and collecting small change left behind by passengers. These early experiences inspired both men to pursue careers in aviation.

In 1986, Bobby Snyder moved to Charlotte and applied to Piedmont Airlines, a predecessor to American Airlines. He received a job offer the following week. Lance Snyder followed his brother to North Carolina nine months later and applied for a position at the same airline. Bobby started in the freight house, delivering cargo to gates, before transferring to the ramp division in 1987. He has remained in that role ever since. Lance began with duties that included loading and unloading planes, as well as parking and pushing aircraft.

As crew chiefs, the brothers manage teams of three workers each. They coordinate with runners, who are assigned to specific flights, to handle water, air, and power connections. Bobby Snyder noted that these tasks must be completed within minutes to keep the schedule on track. He explained that aircraft doors must be shut four or five minutes before departure to allow the plane to exit the gate on time. The team’s primary goal is to ensure passenger baggage is loaded correctly and efficiently.

Lance Snyder said the workforce has changed significantly over the years, with a shift toward younger employees and a more diverse group of colleagues. He described working with this new generation as a blessing, allowing him to learn from different cultures. He aims to serve as a mentor and a father figure to some of the younger staff members. Bobby Snyder emphasized that the job remains a team effort, requiring constant communication and quick action to meet tight turnaround times.

In February 2026, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority recognized the brothers with the Unsung Heroes Award. The award acknowledged their decades of dedication to the airline and their role in mentoring current team members. Cesar Marchese, the customer operations managing director for American Airlines at Charlotte, cited the brothers’ passion for their work and their commitment to guiding new employees.

Airport officials have also used the brothers’ expertise to offer advice to travelers. They recommend that passengers remove loose straps from their luggage to help baggage handlers process bags more quickly. Officials also suggest keeping luggage tags on a different handle from the airline barcode tag. This positioning allows scanners to read the barcodes more easily, reducing delays during the loading process.

The Snyder brothers continue to work side by side on the ramp at Charlotte Douglas. Their daily routine involves preparing for arrivals and departures, ensuring that all necessary services are connected before the engines start. Their long service record stands as a testament to the consistent demand for experienced ramp workers in major airline hubs.