I was a pilot at Delta for 30 years — and captained everything from the Boeing 727 to the Airbus A350. These were the best and hardest moments of my career.

• Retired pilot Mark Stevens was hired by Delta Air Lines in 1989 and captained five aircraft by 2021.
• He said there were ups and downs, just like in any career, but the joy of flying trumped everything.
• By the time he retired from Delta, he was earning $500,000 a year as an international captain.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mark Stevens, a 67-year-old retired Delta Air Lines pilot who completed his career as an Airbus A350 captain in November 2021. It has been edited for length and clarity.