Padraig off on China mission

WHILE much of the population will be forced to travel no more than 2km from their front door for the next three weeks, one Kilsaran man will be going a little further than that - China to be exact!

And he is set to make the journey quite a few times in the coming weeks as part of the incredible Aer Lingus airlift of vital PPE for staff on the frontline in our hospitals.

Captain Padraig King has seen some sights in his 32 years in the air, but this is something unique.

For the majority of the time, his trips are to the USA, but his latest route is over the UK, the Baltic countries, Russia, Mongolia and China.

‘We have five pilots,’ he states, meaning some can rest while others fly and vice versa after a three to four hour turnaround in Beijing.

They fill the hold with 25 tonnes of equipment and then fill the aircraft, items strapped in to seats where passengers normally sit.

Padraig admits the scenes he has come across while flying such a journey are breathtaking.

‘Going over St Petersburg, into Siberia, the Volga and the Gobi desert and the Great Wall. It is a sight to behold,’ he admits.

He feels he is lucky to be involved in such a mission and it is great to be able to keep flying. ‘We are fortunate that way,’ he adds.

A former student at Kilsaran NS before heading to the CBS, he worked in an electrical store and on fishing trawlers before realising his dream of joining Aer Lingus in 1988.

In the coming weeks, Padraig will continue to be part of ‘Ireland’s Call’ and he couldn’t be prouder.