Linda Rydstrom, President and CEO of Westjet Air Center in Rapid City, SD, celebrated her 50th anniversary with the company on August 19th, 2025.
Linda began her career in 1975 at Westjet Air Center (formerly Snedigar Flying Service). She started with the company as a receptionist. There, she sparked an interest in aviation and flying. She earned her certificates and ratings and began her professional flying career in 1980 as a flight instructor and pilot service for Westjet customers in their personal aircraft.
Linda began flying mail, bank checks, and cargo in 1982. Shortly after she began flying cargo, she entered the charter department and flew passengers in addition to cargo. At the same time, she was continuing to provide flight instruction and pilot services.
Linda became the chief pilot in 1985. Shortly after, in 1986 she became the Director of Operations and the Check Airman for Westjet’s Part 135 certificate. She continued with these roles and responsibilities while attending college, earning a degree in accounting and business from Black Hills State University. After graduating college, she became a Certificate Public Accountant (now inactive).
Linda holds many certificates and ratings, including ATP (single and multi-engine), Gold Seal Flight Instructor (instrument and multi-engine), and Ground Instructor (advanced and instrument). Her dedication to continuing education and gaining skills outside of flying paid dividends in 2006 when she medically retired from flying with over 16,000 flight hours. During that time, she transitioned to president and corporate accountant.
Although no longer flying professionally, Linda’s passion is still within aviation and her career at Westjet has not slowed down. She serves on the Phillips 66 Aviation Advisory Council, in addition to other boards and committees. She continues to mentor pilots and other aviation professionals. Linda and her husband, Don Rydstrom, also started a scholarship fund in partnership with a local flight school. These scholarships have been instrumental in dozens of students earning their ratings, several of these students are even employees of Westjet.
This past summer Westjet proudly sponsored a WWII Bomber (PB4Y Privateer) to show the Black Hills aviation community a piece of history. Over 100 children from the community were able to visit the aircraft as well as hundreds of adults.
Linda’s passion for children and helping the community continues outside of Westjet and aviation. For 15 years the Rydstrom family hosted and sponsored a Christmas party for the elementary school Linda attended. Over 400 kids each year were given a personalized, wrapped gift from “Santa” and a holiday party. In addition, each year Westjet sponsors the Youth and Family Services Kids Fair, Cornerstone Mission Night at the Mission, and Fork Real Community Café Chef’s Dinner Auction.
While Linda has been with Westjet for fifty years, she is more passionate than ever about the aviation community, the company and its employees. Westjet is proud to partner with the local flight school to provide quality flight training available to all of its employees. This, along with many other incentives, has ensured a long tenure of Westjet employees. Many of them have been with the company more than ten years, with some (besides Linda!) over thirty.
Fifty years is a long time, but Linda is not ready to give it up yet. She continues to strive to keep Westjet growing and improving with the ever-changing aviation environment. She recalls decades of trials and tribulations and uses them to grow the company each day. “While I have seen many advancements in aviation, there have also been challenges, such as the oil boom and bust in the 1980s, the controller strike in the 1990s, the 9/11 tragedy, and most recently the COVID19 pandemic. We have found ways to thrive and go grow through all of these challenges.”
Happy 50th anniversary, Linda!
