Captain's last flight
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Captain's last flight
I've seen a couple of documentaries on Youtube recently where an airline captain on the last flight of their career always seems to be accompanied by another Captain as opposed to a First Officer.
Is this done for safety reasons?
Is this done for safety reasons?
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Saw the photos of Don Grange (of ITVV fame) and his last flight. The "FO" was actually another Captain.
This was also the case for the captain of a LH A340 I saw in a German documentary on Youtube.
This was also the case for the captain of a LH A340 I saw in a German documentary on Youtube.
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My last flight, before retiring from a/the major British airline, I had a bulk standard two ring first officer.
The saddest part was no one from management turned up to say thanks after 31½ years.
It was early morning although not a Saturday or a Sunday!!!
The saddest part was no one from management turned up to say thanks after 31½ years.
It was early morning although not a Saturday or a Sunday!!!
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I think that's quite an expectation, even for >30 year careers, to expect someone to rouse themselves at 4 am or so to come and shake your hand on your last arrival! Especially when they have a family, full office job to do as well as trips. You will be making one or two more visits back to the office to hand back ID, uniform, manuals etc, pick up pension details (hopefully), staff travel (if a decent airline), letter of service blah blah. Isn't it more effective to pop around and see people in their offices in the working day and say to all associates 'bye bye, and thanks for all the fish!'? Just seems to me a far more effective way of doing things when some airlines these days have in excess of 3000 pilots with one or more retiring many days a week!
As for Captains in the right hand seat on last flights in videos, I used to be surprised at the US crews flying the Atlantic with always 3 pilots, 2 or all being Captains. I used to fly transatlantic in a B747 as far as Miami, Chicago or Bombay, Delhi, Nairobi with just a 2 ringer. My very last flight was Bangkok-LHR with 2 2-ringers. I think it was just US union rules for Atlantic flights as standard with 2 captains.
As for Captains in the right hand seat on last flights in videos, I used to be surprised at the US crews flying the Atlantic with always 3 pilots, 2 or all being Captains. I used to fly transatlantic in a B747 as far as Miami, Chicago or Bombay, Delhi, Nairobi with just a 2 ringer. My very last flight was Bangkok-LHR with 2 2-ringers. I think it was just US union rules for Atlantic flights as standard with 2 captains.
Last edited by Notso Fantastic; 23rd Sep 2012 at 11:46.
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I can think of nothing sadder than a captain taking his last flight. What must be going through their minds. I mean, its not like just giving up the desk at the office is it ? I suppose its the same as a sea captain would feel upon taking his last passenger liner out.
Last edited by cyflyer; 23rd Sep 2012 at 16:55.
I can think of nothing sadder than a captain taking his last flight.
I'll get my coat.............
Last edited by wiggy; 23rd Sep 2012 at 16:58.
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I think it was just US union rules for Atlantic flights as standard with 2 captains.
That being said, the FAA wants the F/Os to be Captain Qualified so we do part of the check ride in the left seat.
Other Airlines or Unions may have different rules.
As for the Captain's Last Flight: have done a few of those whenever my prior rides have gone bust. Then just dust of the log bokk and start sending out resumes or CVs again and start over. Even some of the Captains who hit 60 or 65 or whatever the age limit of the day is/was, have come back as F/Es to boost their pensions and/or keep humping that girlfriend down South.
Finncapt
No prizes as who you worked for...
My last company gave you a choice of trips and crew...
Plus either a welcoming committee or a party at the end of the last trip..
True we only had 1000 plus pilots but we only had one mason...and he had never flown the iron duck.
No prizes as who you worked for...
My last company gave you a choice of trips and crew...
Plus either a welcoming committee or a party at the end of the last trip..
True we only had 1000 plus pilots but we only had one mason...and he had never flown the iron duck.
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Originally Posted by ChatterBox33
Saw the photos of Don Grange (of ITVV fame) and his last flight. The "FO" was actually another Captain
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Blind pew.
Like it.
I was asked to join once, by a relation with nothing to do with aviation (ex army, local government manager aka. chief dustman), but declined the offer.
It may be coincidence that it happened the day after I was interviewed for a training position which I wasn't offered.
Standing by for flak.
Like it.
I was asked to join once, by a relation with nothing to do with aviation (ex army, local government manager aka. chief dustman), but declined the offer.
It may be coincidence that it happened the day after I was interviewed for a training position which I wasn't offered.
Standing by for flak.
My last flight was on a Friday the 13th so my emotions included fear of calamity. Passing MID inbound to STN my F/O (who had kindly let me fly both outbound & inbound sectors) pointed to the chrono, which read 1313. We watched intently, breathing a sigh of relief when it clicked to 1314.
A manager kindly set up the water cannon reception - I had no idea it had been planned. A nice touch, much appreciated. (And the rumour that the fire trucks were called out in case I buggered up my last landing was completely untrue.)
A manager kindly set up the water cannon reception - I had no idea it had been planned. A nice touch, much appreciated. (And the rumour that the fire trucks were called out in case I buggered up my last landing was completely untrue.)
Finncapt
Funny that I had a phone call a few weeks after I wrote a letter about our training to be included in the evidence for the papa india inquiry.
Came from a friend of my fathers whom I had last met four years before after I had fibreglassed the gutters on his factory.
Easy to decline as my opinion of those in management was along the lines of a bunch of t******s at the time which I have since amended....
Funny that I had a phone call a few weeks after I wrote a letter about our training to be included in the evidence for the papa india inquiry.
Came from a friend of my fathers whom I had last met four years before after I had fibreglassed the gutters on his factory.
Easy to decline as my opinion of those in management was along the lines of a bunch of t******s at the time which I have since amended....
I have never given it much thought but it must be one heck of a culture shock to go from the rank of Captain, with its responsibility and status, not to mention the enjoyment of flying, to nothing within the space of a day!