I've read that Mr Walsh was a pilot with Aer Lingus and joined their cadet scheme when he was 17 but I have some questions:

- What aircraft did he fly?
- How long did he fly with Aer Lingus and did he fly with any other airline?
- Does he still fly today and is their any chance of seeing him fly a BA plane? (prob too busy)
- Does he fly himself privately in general aviation?

Are there any other Airline CEO's that were ex pilots?

I don't know the answers regarding Willie Walsh, but I can think of a few other current pilot CEOs.
-Gordon Bethune, Continental: had an ATP and I believe flew the first delivered 767-400ER?
-Gerard Arpey, American: PPL at least

Also of interest: King Hussein of Jordan flew for Royal Jordanian.

Quoting Gulfstream650 (Thread starter): - What aircraft did he fly? - How long did he fly with Aer Lingus and did he fly with any other airline? - Does he still fly today and is their any chance of seeing him fly a BA plane? (prob too busy) - Does he fly himself privately in general aviation?

Think it was B737, he rose to captain so probaly 10-15 years.
No flying at moment....stopped when he became flight ops mangment
No.

As far as I'm aware, it was just 737s; I recall, before he became CEO, there was an EI billboard ad showing a 737 and naming the pilot as Capt. William Walsh!

He was quite young when he became a captain too; 29, I think.

Quoting Simairlinenet (Reply 1): Also of interest: King Hussein of Jordan flew for Royal Jordanian.

Interesting, I knew flies military a/c. The Sultan of Brunei also flies Royal Brunei heavy metal from time to time I believe.

Quoting Simairlinenet (Reply 1): Also of interest: King Hussein of Jordan flew for Royal Jordanian.

As an aside, his wife (quite the attractive lady) apparently designed the latest version of the RJ livery.

Quoting Kaitak (Reply 3): He was quite young when he became a captain too; 29, I think.

Quite young when he become CEO of EI, but he worked as CEO of Futura for 4 years, I think. FUA was still owned by EI at than point, of course.

Brian.

Quoting Gulfstream650 (Reply 4): The Sultan of Brunei also flies Royal Brunei heavy metal from time to time I believe.

No need to fly Royal Brunei. He flies his own fleet of VIP airliners, biggest is a B744.

There is actually an article in tonights evening herald regarding the possible merger of BA & QF (only in the paper because both airlines CEO's are Dubliners). Has a small bit of info which says he joined Aer Lingus as a cadet pilot in 1978 & was made a captain in 1990.

Wasnt the CEO of TWA at one point also an acting pilot, flying every once in awhile?

Can someone confirm that?

'902

Quoting EarlyNFF (Reply 6): No need to fly Royal Brunei. He flies his own fleet of VIP airliners, biggest is a B744.

And I think he often flies them himself too.

Quoting Simairlinenet (Reply 1): Gerard Arpey, American: PPL at least

Gerard Arpey has (at least a year ago or so) a couple of private planes in a hangar near mine...a light single and a light twin. He used to get out on a regular basis and shoot touch and go's on the weekends.

Quoting Twa902fly (Reply 8): Wasnt the CEO of TWA at one point also an acting pilot, flying every once in awhile?

Yes - I forget his name (was CEO in the late '90s) but he was an MD-80 Captain - I think he did one flight a month (one take-off/landing) to keep current.

The CEO of TAM David Barioni Neto is an active pilot.

I believe it was written into his contract that he would pilot some scheduled flights from time to time.

Actually he did the delivery flight of one of TAM's new 777 from Seattle to Sao Paulo. On TAM's inflight IFE there is a nice video of this, and here is the link to youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUFsFmmqvMY
[i]O Presidente da TAM, Comandante David Barioni Neto, volta para o Brasil pilotando o primeiro Boeing 777-300 ER retirado direto da fábrica da Boeing em Seattle/USA.[/]


Rob

Quoting Simairlinenet (Reply 1): Also of interest: King Hussein of Jordan flew for Royal Jordanian.

His father the late King Hussein also flew the Jordanian Royal Flight Tristar that was in basic Royal Jordanian livery.
There is also an aviation connection with the late Kings wife Queen Noor. She was born Lisa Halaby, an American who's father was the former CEO of Pan-Am. She was an Architect who met the late king while designing Amman International Airport!

Dave(SAAB900)

As this has gone off thread from talking purely about Willie Walsh, to other airline CEO who fly, I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Niki Lauda yet.

Used to fly the line quite a bit on the 737 and 767 going back a few years IIRC

Quoting NZaholic (Reply 14): I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Niki Lauda yet.

How could I forget the great Mr Lauda, being both an aviation & F1 fan that I am!   I think he was also qualified on the B777 as well! Now he has changed to Airbus & is both qualified on the A320/1! I believe that he still takes charge of some flights like he did with Lauda Air to keep his ratings current!

Dave(SAAB900)

Quoting SAAB900 (Reply 15): I believe that he still takes charge of some flights like he did with Lauda Air to keep his ratings current!

Correct!

He was the PIC when my girlfriend flew IBZ-VIE with NIKI.

Regards Tom

Didn't Richard Branson hold some sort of Commercial licence?


I'm sure i heard somewhere he took time to fly one of his 747's from time to time, or was that more spin from the Virgin publicity dept?

Quoting Dano1977 (Reply 17): Didn't Richard Branson hold some sort of Commercial licence?

No, he never did.

Quoting Simairlinenet (Reply 1): Also of interest: King Hussein of Jordan flew for Royal Jordanian.

He may have flown their aircraft, or aircraft in their livery (such as the L1011), but he was never actually a line pilot for RJ.

His widow, Lisa, was a daughter of the late Najeeb Halaby, a former FAA administrator and senior PA executive; he was a pilot and was qualified on the 747, among other types.

Quoting Robffm2 (Reply 12): Actually he did the delivery flight of one of TAM's new 777 from Seattle to Sao Paulo. On TAM's inflight IFE there is a nice video of this, and here is the link to youtube

Fantastic video, thanks for posting. Must be nice for airlines to have top brass that the other employees can relate to.

Quoting Gulfstream650 (Thread starter): Are there any other Airline CEO's that were ex pilots?

George Mikelsons, ATA's founder and CEO for a number of years, was a pilot for Voyager 1000 (a travel club) and routinely flew ATA flights in the early days. He also flew troops home at the end of the first Gulf War, being the first airplane to land back on U.S. soil bringing troops back from the Gulf...landed the L1011 in BGR.

Ed Daly, World Airways I believe was 727 rated.

Quoting Twa902fly (Reply 8): Wasnt the CEO of TWA at one point also an acting pilot, flying every once in awhile? Can someone confirm that?

When Howard Hughes ran TWA he'd pop in now and then and fly a Constellation flight now and then. He always wanted a grilled cheese sandwich and glass of milk ready before each flight, but he never ate any of them!

The CEO of Cape air is current on the 402 in the left seat.

Hunter