The Atlantic Glider revisited
The authorized biography of Capt Robert Piche, who glided his Air Transat A330 to a landing in the Azores after running out of fuel last year, has just been published in French by a Quebec journalist. The book, by Pierre Cayoutte, is entitled "Robert Piche aux commandes du destin (Robert Piche at the controls of destiny). Apparently, Capt Piche has had great difficulty coming to terms with the accolades and hero worship showered on him since the incident. His latest award was a "Medal of Honour", conferred on him on 5 Nov by the Quebec provincial legislature. Capt Piche went on sick leave from Air Transat in March and underwent a seven-week treatment of therapy to help him deal with the intense emotions he experienced over the Atlantic that fateful night. According to Mr Cayoutte, Piche is a gut-level survivor, who sharpened his instincts during the time he spent in a tough Georgia (USA) jail on a drug-running charge in the early 1980's. It was this experience that helped him to save his, his crew's and his passengers' lives.
Portuguese-led authorities are currently completing the final report on the incident.
Rockhound
Piche's biographer's name should read Cayouette - apologies.
Rockhound