Page 15 - TSB ebook

The Captain, one Mr. Choudhary aged around 55 years, had become friendly with the passengers

at ground itself. After the aircraft was airborne and settled, he came behind and joined the

passengers. For next 1.30 hours he remained with us, joked with all of us by turn, played with

and teased the children, pulled the newly weds and created an unbelievable racket. The
refreshments and coffee was served by the steward who had his seat at the rear. The trays were

passed by one passenger to other as the steward, at 5’11’’, could barely bend himself double.

The Captain helped the kids in unwrapping and eating.

I asked the Captain whether my son could enter the cockpit. He immediately agreed and next
moment my son was sitting on the Captain’s seat at the cockpit, the co-pilot was seated in the

next seat. Next my wife went in and then was my turn. The Co-pilot explained in detail how he

was controlling the flight. Others also took turns to try their 60 seconds of experience on the pilot
seat. Goes without saying, photographs were clicked merrily. Wife proudly shows her photograph

on the Captain’s seat in the cockpit to all and sundry even now.

The view outside was unbelievably serene, we were flying at a low height. The group of islands

could be seen projecting themselves as brown spots with green cover of coconut and palm trees
within blue span of water. I had never seen the water so dark blue, other than in the pictures.

My son also wanted to know whether the colour of water was really blue. The touch-down was

equally breathtaking. The airstrip appeared like a piece of 4 lane road. The Dornier landed and

strained itself to a stop at the end of the airstrip, making Wife to comment whether it will land

at ocean. We thanked the Captain for making the flight so entertaining. His response – “ Friends
you are here on a holiday, I just ensured that your holiday starts 2 hours early”. How meaningful

and considerate. I also thanked him for the cockpit experience and for permitting the

photographs to be taken, though strictly prohibited. He winked and said – “I will always claim
that these passengers threatened me and made me leave my seat, what could we do, 3 of us

against 14 of them”.

Quiz Q : How many 88 ers share the same first name ?

& What’s the name ?