Kids love planes, and we love kids. Works out very well for all of us.

There are few things more delightful at Pittsburgh International Airport than a child flying for her or his first time. They are usually very excited—occasionally a little nervous—and very interested in everything going on around them.

We enjoy seeing them discover cool features like Arch the giant “Pittsburgh Transformer” up on Ticketing, or the Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s replica T-Rex skeleton between the Airside escalators: “Mommy, why is there a dinosaur in the airport?”

Sometimes they have their own kid-size luggage, and that’s about the most adorable thing on Earth.

Simon Brown’s shot of the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 with a livery promoting “Toy Story 4” landing at PIT last year reminded us of this simple yet strong bond between children and aviation.

But perhaps our most important kid-friendly feature is also one of which we’re the proudest.

We opened Presley’s Place about two years ago as a space for children (and others) with sensory sensitivities. Inspired by a staff member’s son with autism, Presley’s Place was meticulously designed and built for passengers overwhelmed by the airport environment to find a safe, quiet place to decompress during their journeys.

We hope that it helps people like 11-year-old Andrew Randalson. Prior to a Southwest flight home to PIT from Fort Lauderdale, the pilot asked Andrew—who has autism—if he wanted to sit in the pilot’s seat. His mom Melinda captured the moment and sent us the photo, saying, “What an amazing memory!”

Kids are amazing, indeed. Thanks Simon and Melinda!

Our readers continue to pass along shots of unique aircraft, international airports, historical events, gorgeous views and even family vacation photos for this feature. We love them! Keep them coming—you can click here for submission guidelines.

Andrew Randalson, 11, poses in the cockpit of a Southwest flight in Fort Lauderdale before flying home to Pittsburgh. (Photo submitted by Melinda Randalson)