Captain Sebastian Joseph (second from left) trained and prepared around 100 pilots
Chennai:
It was a pleasant surprise for the passengers and pilot of the Air India flight departing from Port Blair as it landed in Chennai on Thursday. The air traffic controller instructed the pilot to “turn to a particular taxiway”. Moments later, water from two fire tenders hit the flight for a water cannon salute, honoring the pilot, Captain Sebastian Joseph, who would retire the next day after a 33-year term. with the airline. It was his signature theft.
His wife Mischelle, a senior cabin crew was on duty on the same flight and his son Karan, a pilot of another airline, was also on board as a passenger to make it special. Neither of them knew it was planned.
“It was an emotional moment. I did not expect such a big surprise. My colleagues and my students put on a fabulous send off,” Captain Sebastian told GalacticGaming.
Captain Sebastian trained and prepared a hundred pilots. Three were on the flight. Passengers were also able to hear about his contribution to the sound system.
A former Loyola College student, Captain Sebastian says he’s interested in flying after seeing wings adorning the shirts of NCC flying club members at the university. He joined flying lessons in his second year and joined Air India in 1987 and nothing has stopped him since.
No lures by private airlines worked, and his love affair with the Maharaja continued for 33 years.
Captain Sebastian says: “Air India is more of a family. If there is a problem, you have someone you can call who knows how to go about it. It’s like family.”
He says he started with Boeing 737s and over the years has moved on to the A320, A330 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The veteran who enjoys hard table landings in addition to landing on hilly terrain and inclement weather conditions says Srinagar and Ladakh are his favorite spots.
Having been a non-medical frontline warrior stealing passengers amid the coronavirus pandemic, the veteran says the deadly virus has rocked the aviation industry. When asked for a message for aspiring pilots, he says now is not the best time.
“A lot of people are afraid to board a plane even though people are wearing PPE. Business travelers get used to teleconferencing. But flights are sure to come,” he adds. .
