Happy retirement Captain Georgina Sutton
From flying the Queen of England, to instructing glider planes, to becoming the first woman to be appointed as chief pilot for an Australian airline.
Earlier this month, Captain Georgina Sutton operated her final flight after 36 years as a Qantas Group pilot.
“I have been obsessed with flying since I was just 15 years old,” Georgina reflected. “I was up in a vintage wood and fabric ES49 glider, looking for rising columns of air and thermals to stay aloft. I came back from that flight in awe and knew that I wanted to be a glider pilot!
“My first commercial job was operating scenic flights over Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, and that part of my career saw me in roles around Broome, Darwin, Port Augusta, Leigh Creek and Adelaide.
“In 1989 I realised a dream in joining Qantas as a pilot. I could not believe it when I received the acceptance call when I was in transit in Port Augusta. I ran out and told my regular customers and we were all thrilled! I was fortunate enough to attend the first course for the Boeing 747-400, and crewed one of the inaugural B744 flights to London.
“As well as the 747, I flew the Boeing 767, and was appointed Chief Pilot for Jetstar for their Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, before returning to Qantas to fly the 787s.
“Over my time at Qantas I was lucky enough to fly Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to Australia, fly my dad on a charter over Antarctica, operate repatriation flights to bring Australians home, and so many more incredible moments.
“I completed my last flight earlier this month as part of a pattern to New York and back via Auckland. We had fire truck salutes, cakes in the galley, balloons and so much more. It was a trip of a lifetime.
“I will miss being a part of this wonderful Qantas family and flying with my colleagues over the last 36 years. I will be spending my time on the River Murray at Sunnyside and reacquainting myself with the Flinders Ranges and other outback wonders.”
– Captain Georgina Sutton
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