A pilot, Captain Peter Elliott, was joined on a flight from Birmingham to Tenerife by a co-pilot who had a familiar face: his daughter.
The father and daughter have made history by becoming the youngest in the UK to fly a commercial airliner together.
Senior First Officer Laura Elliott and dad Captain Peter Elliott took to the skies for the first time on a flight from Birmingham to Tenerife.
Senior First Officer Laura Elliott and dad Captain Peter Elliott
Laura, 30, from Birmingham, decided to follow in her father’s footsteps when he bought her a trial flight for her 18th birthday.
She joined Thomas Cook in 2009 but because she was trained to fly Airbus planes, she never got the chance to fly with her Boeing-trained dad.
But after Peter, 59, retrained to fly Airbuses, their dreams of sitting together in the cockpit finally came true
Elliott, who has been a pilot for over 30 years, announced to passengers that he was flying the plane with his daughter Laura, a senior first officer who has been flying for six years.
Record breakers: The piloting pair are the father-daughter team to fly a commercial plane together
Peter made an announcement to delighted passengers that the flight made it a special day for him as he was flying with his daughter.Laura said: « It’s a dream come true to be able to fly with my Dad – even if he was still checking up on me.
« Becoming a pilot was never something I had considered, even though Dad had been a pilot since before I was born.
« It was only when my Dad bought me trial flight as a birthday present that I got the bug.
« I applied for a flying course and spent 14 months in southern Spain getting my license and then started with Thomas Cook in 2009.
« Dad and I are really similar – he hadn’t planned on being a pilot at the beginning either and was an accountant before but Mum encouraged us both.
« I’m not surprised that we’re the first father-daughter flight team Thomas Cook has ever had – female pilots are still very unusual.
« The airline industry is still a bit of a mystery for some people and nationally just 3% of pilots are women.
« Luckily I had my Dad to guide me through. »
Recalling the unique flight, she added: « It just popped up on the rota that we were due to fly together, simply by chance.
« It was quite a surprise because Dad’s based in Birmingham and my base is East Midlands Airport, but when we realise I was so pleased I’d finally get to fulfil my wish.
Proud: Peter with Laura when she was little
« When it came to getting on the plane, I was really excited, but also a bit nervous.
« Dad is one of the most senior pilots in the company, and he’s been a training captain for 23 years.
« He kept asking if I was nervous. It is like the feeling of having your Dad take you for a driving lesson.
« Thankfully everything went smoothly and the passengers loved it. If it ever happens again, I’ll definitely be a lot more relaxed next time. »
“I always thought that Dad would have retired by the time I got back to work and so we thought that we’d never get the opportunity.” She is over joyed that they finally got the chance to fly together and it may not be their last.
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