Knysna pilot captains angel flight
Knysna-born pilot Christopher Hall recently had one of the biggest honours of his career bestowed on him, when he was tasked with flying as captain of an angel flight that repatriated the body of a late El Salvadorian pilot from Mali. "Angel flight" is the call-sign for flights that repatriate fallen soldiers.
Christopher (30) was born into an aviation-oriented family, his father and grandfather both having been pilots. "He has been in love with flying since he was two years old," said his proud father, Baden Hall. Christopher obtained his private pilot's licence two years after matriculating, in 2010, and ten years later he also boasts a commercial licence and airline transport pilot's licence.
The angel flight of El Salvadorian pilot Lieutenant-Colonel Carlos Guillén, who had passed away on 28 May, was awarded to Christopher, as an employee of Sahel Aviation Services (SAS) in Bamako, Mali, after a stringent selection process. "Various aviation companies were requested to provide a repatriation plan for the UN on behalf of the deceased," Baden said. "Christopher and his team spent a week planning routes, aircraft endurance, obtaining overflight clearances and landing rights (very difficult in light of the Covid-19 restrictions), as well as the prevailing weather patterns, etc."
Great honour
Being able to repatriate a fallen aviator is an immense honour for pilots. "All aviators mourn the loss of a fellow aviator while passing to 'higher service'," says Baden. "One of the greatest honours that can be bestowed by an aviator upon a deceased fellow aviator is to be the captain of an angel flight, being the last earthly journey, not only to his country of birth, but also to the loved ones they leave behind. Save for essential verbal communication to conduct a safe flight, the flight, for all intents and purposes, is carried out in silence, out of respect." Christopher took off from Bamako on 29 June to El Salvador. Read more about the eventful journey back at www.knysnaplettherald.com.
Due to Christopher still being in the midst of his journey home, KPH was unable to contact him and conducted an interview with his father Baden instead.