There have been several letters in the British Daily Telegraph in recent weeks about the days when passengers were allowed onto the flight-deck.

Today’s was of particular interest as it refers to my local airport - Manchester....

Leaving it late for the plane ride of a lifetime

SIR – As an aeroplane captain, many moons ago I invited two older people to the flight deck (Letters, October 26) as we came into Manchester airport.

The gentleman was 97 and the lady 93, and this was their first flight. It was a particularly nice evening with falling light, so the lights of the town and the airport were especially striking. They loved every second of it and said it was the best thing that had happened in their lives. I was humbled by their excitement and their profuse thanks and have never forgotten them.

The captain who Geoffrey Betts mentions (Letters, October 25) could well have been me. I made that same announcement on a trip across the Atlantic, weighing up whether to deny the passengers the view of a lifetime of the Northern Lights against waking them up and making them grumpy.

John Grogan
Congleton, Cheshire

I know one real-world pilot who has operated out of Manchester so I hope you don’t mind if I tag you @jon b just in case you have heard of this gentleman.

Good evening Ray,

No, that name isn’t familiar. I’m based at LHR now and am really enjoying the M1 and M25 so much more than the A555 !

 

13 minutes ago, jon b said:

Good evening Ray,

No, that name isn’t familiar. I’m based at LHR now and am really enjoying the M1 and M25 so much more than the A555 !

 

Great to hear from you Jon. It sounds like a long time ago so I’m not surprised.

That sounds like a nice step up. Still flying the 787? And perhaps to more attractive destinations than previously.

I hope you’ve not been delayed by those protestors glueing their faces to the road! 😉

Forgive me,I was too lazy to add an emoji to convey the sarcasm  in that statement about the M1 and M25 !, I’ve avoided the protests so far.

Still on the 78, and miss the 74, but the low cabin altitude on the 78 makes it a lot less fatiguing to fly.

I’m hoping to have a few flights from Manchester soon.

 

Edited October 27, 20214 yr by jon b

@jon b, don’t worry. I detected your humour. Only drove on M25 once to get to Brooklands Concorde simulator. More of a car park than road.

I’ve heard good things about the 787 so I’m pleased you’re happy with it. So your home is still up here then?