# @zipline on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/B_j9V8Vggj8
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70712990-zipline-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/44730cd9b4.jpg
- **Posted:** 2020-04-29T10:43:31.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Zipline (@zipline) — https://gondola.cc/zipline

## Caption

#HumansofZipline
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Brett Alo works on our Test Team to build machines that measure the durability and strength of our drone components, and is also on our Drop team that deploys our mechanical and electrical systems in new markets. Before Zipline, Brett was a firefighter in California for 9 yrs - 2 of which he worked helitack on a helicopter. His passion has been anything remote control, videography, motorcycles, jeeps, and the outdoors.
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“When I joined, we were less than 25 people up on the hill in Half Moon Bay. There was a cat in the build shop that might randomly jump out at you, and cows that strolled through our test site and ate the cables. Zipline felt like an RC hobby shop on the mountain, not a Silicon Valley tech firm. Just Freaking Do It was our motto. We’d have an insanely difficult problem to solve and Keller would come out and tell everyone to JFDI. We all had one mission to save lives and would work together on that problem until it was solved. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
On a regular day, we’d be in the middle of trying to put together some part of this new design. Suddenly, Ryan would run into the room to let us know there’s a software update that needs a test flight. We would charge up the air tanks for the pneumatics-powered launcher and set up the recovery system, a system of deep-sea fishing poles with the properly measured drag weight and payout. Our hands would be freezing and everyone would be anxious to see if the plane would actually fly - about a 50% chance. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I spent 3 months in Rwanda before our launch, getting our machinery assembled and hiring our first operators. Getting my boots out in the field brings me joy because I get to face similar challenges I would face as a fireman. Thinking outside of the box is what makes Zipline Zipline and a Fireman a Fireman. 3+ years later, our distribution center reminds me of a well-orchestrated Fire House: The team in Ghana and Rwanda get an emergency call in the middle of the night and will rush to the distribution center to launch a Zip. They’re truly an amazing team that I’ve been privileged to meet and work alongside.”

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 244
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- **Comments:** 7

## Tags

humansofzipline

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