Shawn Langdon’s Kalitta Air Careers team will race with a new livery designed to look like a Kalitta Airplane in the upcoming season, the team announced today. The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series begins March 7-9, 2025, at the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
In the middle of the 2023 season, Kalitta Air began using Langdon’s Top Fuel team as part of its multi-faceted, multi-media effort to recruit pilots and mechanics to work at Kalitta Air. The program is working well, but in an effort to link the race team more closely to the airline, the new livery makes the car look more like the planes that deliver cargo around the world – Langdon’s Top Fuel car is now almost an extension of the Kalitta Air Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft.
“The Kalitta Air Careers car is definitely making a difference in our hiring at Kalitta Air,” Kalitta Air Senior VP and Deputy Chief Operating Officer Heath Nichol said. “This program is working, but we still need more pilots and mechanics, so we’re rebranding the Kalitta Air Careers car to make it mirror our aircraft in hopes of more closely linking the race team with the iconic Kalitta Air 747s many people see at airports around the world. Flying a 747 is a dream job for many pilots – we just want to make sure they know we’re hiring.”
“We’ve been honored to help Kalitta Air find the employees it needs through our race team,” Team Kalitta General Manager Chad Head said. “It’s gratifying to know the effort is paying off and that new pilots and mechanics are applying for jobs. With Shawn’s car now looking like a Kalitta Airplane, we’re hoping hiring will accelerate almost as fast as the Kalitta Air Careers car leaves the starting line.”
Kalitta Air continues to seek pilot applicants who are interested in working in the exciting global airlift environment. The company utilizes five simulators in its Michigan training facility to both certify and provide on-the-job continuing education. Pilots can be based in their home cities with airline tickets to and from their trips provided by Kalitta Air, along with industry-leading compensation, medical benefits, and retirement plans.
For additional information or to apply, please visit bit.ly/KalittaAirCareers.
This story was originally published on January 31, 2025. 
