Robert Cassidy inspects the
plane before passengers aboard. Photos by Jiang
Dong
Captain Robert Cassidy waits for his passengers to
board the Boeing 737-800 from Shanghai to Tianjin. Inside the 1.5 m
wide cockpit there are hundreds of switches and complicated
instruments, even on the ceiling.
The cockpit is so small the Australian can't stretch out his
legs properly and places papers on his lap to take notes. It's far
less comfortable than economy class, but Cassidy enjoys it.
"The cockpit has been my home away from home for nearly 30
years. I am most comfortable here," the 53-year-old says.
Cassidy started working for Shanghai Airlines Co Ltd (SAL) in
June. He and a South Korean pilot were the company's first foreign
captains of a passenger plane.
He has flown about 130 different kinds of airplanes and
helicopters, with an accumulated 13,000 hours in the air and says
he has never encountered an emergency situation. Even so, he has
flown through three typhoons over Shanghai in the past six
months.
"Nothing is dangerous as long as the flight is well-planned and
follows procedures. It is much safer than crossing a street in
Shanghai," Cassidy says.
He looks a bit like the American film star Richard Gere and
dresses formally even when he is off work. His shoes are
immaculate.
"I never ask my wife to polish them for me. I do it myself to
maintain a military kind of discipline," he explains.
Born in New York, Cassidy started flying helicopters when he
served in the US military, from 1974 to 1994. He worked as a
corporate pilot and did medical rescue. He has flown company
executives, VIPs, including popular screen stars, singers and even
astronauts.
He became a civil aviator after he left the army and has worked
for American Southern Air Transport, Taiwan China Airlines and Air
Atlanta Icelandic. The largest airplane he has flown, as a captain,
is the Boeing 747-400, which carries 400 passengers.
Cassidy emigrated to Australia three years ago and is now a
citizen. Even so, he has been dreaming of flying in China since he
was 10 years old.
His parents, he says, were not rich and could not give him much
except inspiration. They bought him a book about general Claire Lee
Chennault and the Flying Tigers, based in Kunming, capital of
Yunnan province.
Cassidy was inspired and has been looking for a flying job in
China for many years. He wrote directly to airlines, but his break
came when a British contract agency suggested the time was
right.
Though he holds Airline Transport Pilot Licenses from several
nations, he says getting a license from China was the most
difficult. According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China
(CAAC), foreign pilots must receive two months of intensive
training and pass 48 courses, including flying management, warning
systems, government culture and the aviation security manual.
Exam pressure turned him into a bookworm who hesitated to leave
classes during breaks but carried on studying instead. He says he
used every waking moment to study.
Last May, Cassidy and three other foreign candidates sat the
Airline Transport Pilot License written examination, administered
by the CAAC, but he was the only one to pass it.
"I feel I have reached heaven by eventually flying in China. My
dream has come true after more than 40 years."
Cassidy regards flying as a kind of religion. "I am that
dedicated to my career, like a monk."
As such he has to be disciplined with his habits. He eats more
fish and vegetables, rather than meat and is forbidden to drink
alcohol at least eight hours before departure.
Normally, a captain checks in about an hour and a half before
departure at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport or Shanghai Pudong Airport.
Cassidy hangs a crew pass around his neck and carries a big black
suitcase.
"It weighs about 17 kg. That's why my right arm is longer than
the left one," he jokes.
It includes pilot's licenses, a flying map of China, an airport
diagram, flight logbooks and a flashlight. Other items include a
special calculator, his favorite sunglasses, an overnight bag, an
umbrella, rain coat and personal items.
Half an hour after arriving he performs a safety inspection, but
rather than going straight to his cockpit, Cassidy first greets
every crewmember and introduces himself.
"I am not a one person band, it's team work," he says.
Searching for good
restaurants is a hobby of Cassidy in Shanghai.
Then he programs the computers on the airplane with an
electronic flight plan and gauges the airplane performance, to get
ready for take off.
He can fly to five major cities across the country - Beijing,
Tianjin, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Chongqing. He says he enjoys every
route and is fascinated by the texture of the landscape when the
aircraft lifts off or comes in to land. Pollution, however,
frustrates him.
"I can see the air in Beijing is getting cleaner, however, other
cities are still generating smoke up to 48 km away and the wind
blows the fumes to the capital," he says, narrowing his eyes. "It
is not enough to reduce the pollution in Beijing, the neighboring
cities should also be included."
Cassidy is never happier than when he is talking about aviation
and believes everyone should be given an opportunity to fly.
"I always notice some people are observing the planes. I am sure
some of them want to fly. Scholarships should be set up for people
from poor areas to help realize their dreams of flying," he
suggests.
Last October, Cassidy donated 3,000 yuan ($412) to Fengliang
Primary School in Wuning county, Jiangxi province, to help the
school get an electricity connection.
Currently, Cassidy and his wife live in Shanghai. He says he
loves the way Shanghai comes alive at night and likes photographing
the city.
"I regret that I did not come to China earlier in life. I pray
my one-year contract with SAL will be renewed and I hope to retire
and remain in China for the rest of life," he says.
(China Daily January 12, 2008)
