The first day of winter is only days away, but teams at Pittsburgh International Airport are prepared for inclement weather long before passengers feel the winter chill in the air.

Brian Hoebel is one of those team members. He’s part of the Integrated Deicing Services (IDS) team at PIT. That means he works to ensure safety and security by focusing on protecting the airport from harsh winter weather. He also has access to some of the best views at PIT. This week, he shared this late-night American Airlines Embraer E170 on the runway ready for takeoff.

American has had a busy month at PIT. The airline hosted the annual Snowball Express in partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation, an event that brings Gold Star families to a sunny vacation at Disney World in Orlando. Just a week later, American launched nonstop service from PIT to Cancun, a seasonal route now running each Saturday through March 30.

On the opposite coast, Julie Govic captured a shot above the clouds on her United Airlines flight headed to Portland, Oregon. Govic’s view was all blue, a perfect complement to the airline’s signature wing color.

Thanks, Brian and Julie!

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.

A United Airlines flight cruises above the clouds while flying to Portland, Oregon. (Photo submitted by Julie Govic)