A memorable flight for the differently abled

KOCHI: Nisa Madhu from the special school Anthikkadu, Thrissur, was on cloud nine for she had never dreamt of celebrating her birthday airborne. She was one of the passengers in the flight organised by Air India for differently abled children and elders. The special journey titled ‘Flight with Memories - AI 2011’ was an initiative by Air India and Rotary Club of Cochin Airport to open up the arena of aviation to the differently abled and aged. The initiative was to commemorate the World Disabled Day on December 3.Most of the faces, eagerly awaiting their first flight of their life, lit up with the glimpse of their aircraft. There were no anxieties and worries as they knew it was going to be the most memorable moment of their life. “It was a dream come true. I never thought that I would be airborne ever in my life,” said Sathyavelu, an inmate of Santhwanam Bharatiya Charitable Trust.The aircraft took off from Nedumbassery airport to Kanyakumari with 425 passengers on board at 1.10 pm on Sunday. It was an hour-long flight. It returned after flying around the west coast of Kanyakumari, giving a bird’s eye view of the Vivekakananda Rock and Triveni Sangamam. This is the sixth time that such a special fight is being organised and for the first time the aged   were also included. Sixteen of them came from Pambadi Mar Gregorios Abhaya Bhavan, Kottayam. Though some had already experienced flight journeys before, they were excited. Former minister and Angamaly MLA Jose Thettayil, Aluva MLA Anwar Sadat, actors Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Meera Nandan, Tini Tom were also on board to give company to the passengers.“This is a noble cause. I really have a hectic schedule ahead. But I did not want to miss it,” Captain Sarin, who piloted the flight said. Despite their hectic work, the cabin crew headed by Balakrishnan was always available to offer any help to the passengers. “We were working continuously for about seventeen hours. The flight was from Jeddah to Kochi. We are dead tired, but the excitement over their faces made us forget our weariness,” said Balakrishnan.‘AI 2011’ was co-sponsored by the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, BPCL, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, CIAL, Casino Air Flight Services and CIAL Officers’ Association.