From Nose To Tale

Capt. Gihan A. ‘GAF’ Fernando is a retired international airline pilot with more than 23,000 flying hours to his credit. Commencing in 1969, he took his early passion for aviation and childhood aeromodelling hobby to the next level by learning to fly in a Tiger Moth.

A career in commercial aviation followed with four different international airlines, flying aircraft ranging from Hawker Siddeley (Avro) 748 through to Boeing 707, Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, Boeing 737, Airbus A320 and A340-300, Boeing 747-400, Airbus A340-500 and Airbus A330. ‘GAF’ attained captaincy on all those types except for HS 748 and 707.

A keen interest in aviation safety, with emphasis on Human Factors in Aircraft Accidents and Cockpit Resource Management, led to a supplementary role for ‘GAF’ as facilitator of training courses in those disciplines. He has also been involved in aircraft accident investigation at theoretical and practical levels.

Retiring from airline flying in 2014 at the compulsory age of 65, ‘GAF’ now serves as an office-bearer in various aviation associations and other professional bodies, while continuing to fly as a recreational pilot.

From Nose to Tale is a collection of stories garnered from the author’s long and distinguished membership of the piloting profession: as a fledgling flyer, senior airline captain, and the period in-between. Most are personal experiences, or anecdotes about his fellow pupils from their days at the Ratmalana Flying Training School. Others describe air accidents, fatal or otherwise, always with a ‘safety message’ in summary.

But it’s not all serious stuff. Many yarns are amusing, conveying a sense of the author’s personality, wit, and flair for storytelling. All of which recommends From Nose to Tale as entertaining and enlightening reading for not only pilots and other aeronautical professionals, or those contemplating a career in some aspect of aviation, but also for anyone else who is merely fascinated by flight.