BETWEEN DIMENSIONS
What is it like to wrap up your career as an Airline Captain? Does a pilot ever contemplate this particular day? What is it like to sit in the Flight Deck for the last time? What goes on in your mind when you fly for the last time? Does it resonate in your mind that this would would be the very last time you would be doing this?
So many questions!
For Chira Fernando, bidding farewell to an airline position was however not the end of his versatile aviation metier. His flying history is public knowledge. Ever since he took off from RAF Cranwell UK in 1967, he has completed many career circuits, serving the Sri Lanka Air Force, then comfortably settling down in Airline careers, holding positions and enjoyed a gratifying lifestyle.
So, whenever somebody questioned his sanity about relinquishing it all, he had a simple response… “True aviators don’t retire. We simply transcend to another aviation domain. Times have changed. Although I still enjoy maneuvering this 775,000-pound machine, my job as an aviator is confined to an aircraft ‘manager”
On 11th October 2006, just 11 days shy of this 60th birthday, Chira was ready to pushback 9V-SVG to operate SQ 378 out of Singapore to Barcelona and Milan — his last airline flight. Now that the day had come, I was concerned about his emotions. The cabin crew were sad to learn that it was their Captain’s last flight.
The flight across the northern airways was monotonous, albeit the frequent visits to the cockpit by well wishing cabin crew who laughed, joked, shook hands and exchanged hugs with their commander. The conversation in the flight deck was all about “what do airline pilots do in retirement?’
Being an admired training and supervisory captain in an airline, does breed many a disciple, thus trying to escape a farewell party was out of the question. That evening, the hotel staff and our flight crew overwhelmed us with their thoughtful souvenirs and gifts. I watched as Chira tactfully masked his emotions with his wide signature smile.
The evening stretched on with hours of story telling. I proudly watched as Chira with his wealth of experience to share, passionately narrated his military and civil aviation experiences to our awestruck crew. His flying history was the topic du nuit. The farewell party was funny, emotional, reflective and enlightening.
On 17th October 2006, we were taxiing out of Malpensa Milan. Chira was glancing towards the Control Tower. Everything that was once paramount to him was so trivial today. Lucrative destinations, Roster changes, Standby constrains, Minimum rest, multiple alarm clocks, Licence medicals, Allowance and salary increments, Crew parties, Breakfast at midnight, Recurrent training, Sim sessions, First meal choice… how frivolous it all seemed today!
12 hours later, we started the descent to Singapore. The weather in Singapore was light rain with broken layers at 1500 feet. Chira was busy preparing for his ultimate ‘final approach’ to Singapore, as a Commander of Singapore Airlines. Alongside him in the flight-deck was First Officer Akshi.
A few minutes later his familiar voice came over the PA, “Ladies and Gentleman, this is your captain once again, we are about to commence our descent to …” the broadcast continued. How many times, in how many different airports around the world would he have done this?
The auto call-out began “50, 30, 20”… Chira gently raised the nose of the B777 towards the horizon in the flare and retarded the thrust levers. 9V- SVL settled down comfortably on the runway. He applied brakes. The aircraft and his airline career synchronously came to a stop.
Aircraft parked and secured, he took a final lingering glance at the cockpit seat — his heavenly work station, for the last time, before walking out, sans any farewell shindigs. It was just another day at Changi airport.
When you end your career at Singapore Airlines by retiring, tradition plays a significant role. Pilots young and old wished Chira as we walked across the Changi airport basement to the Flight Operations center where the chief pilot Capt Leslie John Ganapathi was awaiting to welcome us.
Pausing at the entrance, it wasn’t until I actually entered Flight Ops that I choked for a brief moment, as Chira’s black tie was snipped off in the traditional tie-cutting ritual. The last few minutes were a blur. Handshakes, congratulations, hugs and a glass of red wine at 0700!
A phenomenal career has come to an end.
