Lucky escape

So airlines are looking at singlepilot airline operation to save money. If this were to happen, as frequent long-haul fliers my wife and I would be earth-bound in the future. I’d like to explain why.

As a former commercial pilot flying light charter work, I was flying into Wellington in heavy conditions and, using the normal comms, landed and shut down.

That was the last time I spoke a word for some months as a severe stroke hit me hours later, causing 50% paralysis.

My passengers, a group of English doctors, must have thought I was rude when I said nothing after they thanked me for the day – they don’t know how lucky they were.

I had been a very fit diver and played squash over many years, and had just had my aviation sixmonthly medical.

Any airline flying single-pilot would not last long because the public would not support them. As