Dear Editor,

What follows is an edited version of my tribute to the late Fazel Khan at his funeral:

While we cannot be unmindful of the realities of death, we must at the same time reminisce on the life of the person. What kind of life did Fazel Khan live?  I stand here on behalf of the former members of the Guyana Airline Pilots Association to reflect on the professional aspect of Captain Khan’s life.

I formally met Capt Khan in April 1971 when I joined Guyana Airways as a Cadet pilot. However, I already had some insight into the persona of this professional pilot. Three years before I started my flying career, I worked as an Air Traffic Controller. In those days, the pilots would visit the Flight Information Centre in order to file their flight plans for overseas flights (these days it is done electronically). The completed plans when submitted to the controller were many times found to have errors, omissions and sometimes were not quite legible.  However, the completed plans submitted by Fazel Khan were always immaculate, without errors and legible.  So when I met him at GAC I already had some professional respect for him.

It was quite a challenge being a young pilot at Guyana Airways at that time. Fortunately, Fazel Khan was there since 1967, and he had already run the gauntlet. He would drop a hint here, and give some advice there to help youngsters adjust and merge into this new world. We were always thankful to him for that help. And so, when he was promoted to Captain in 1972 we were all happy and eager to fly with him. He gave us a lot of flying and we learnt a lot while flying under his command.  But there was more to come for me. In 1976, when my time came for an upgrade to Captain on the Twin Otter, the Chief Pilot informed me that Captain Khan had been designated to be the Training Captain for my upgrade and command training. That was good news, and I am eternally grateful for the training I received during that period because it set the platform for my professional life as an airline captain.

As Captain Khan matured in the airline, he became a champion for workers’ rights, a voice for the voiceless, always willing to listen and give advice when necessary. And so, it was not surprising when he was elected as Chairman of the Guyana Airline Pilots Association. His pronouncements were always based on his principles of what was right and what was just and what was fair. Year after year he was re-elected Chairman until he voluntarily resigned the office.   There was a controversial issue which the Association had to deal with and Khan requested the unanimous support of the members in order to have his way in dealing with the matter. He did not get that support. There and then he resigned the chairmanship and adopted the view of the majority on the matter. That was the nature of the man.

When he was appointed General Manager, he had the wide support of all departments. He always felt that Guyana Airways was primarily a domestic airline. He noted that there was under capacity in that sector and immediately began to present the case for another Twin Otter. He encountered tremendous hurdles, but he maintained his position and eventually he prevailed. He was extremely happy when that additional Twin Otter entered service and so were the residents in the interior, for the service to their communities was significantly enhanced.  He next turned his attention to the international sector. The aircraft in service at that time was the Boeing 707. The aircraft was operated with expatriate Captains and Guyanese First Officers. The way the contract was written, Guyanese were precluded from becoming Captains. The General Manager sought to change that arrangement and encountered a brick wall.  The contractor who supplied the pilots threatened to withdraw his crew and close down the operations.  Fazel Khan told him to go ahead with his plan and he immediately called in the Captains and offered them individual employment contracts directly with Guyana Airways. They all accepted and the bewildered contractor faded away into the sunset. In due time, two Guyanese were appointed as Captains on the Boeing 707.

The next thorny issue was equipment change. This matter had been shelved for some time but was inevitable. Study after study had revealed that the Boeing 757 was the best aircraft for Guyana Airways routes. Capt Khan worked tirelessly on this project and eventually through the ILFC (International Lease Finance Corporation) obtained a fairly young B757 for GAC. He added CuraÇao to the route structure and within two-and-a-half years the aircraft was being operated with an all Guyanese crew.

Fazel Khan then turned his attention to the Maintenance Department. The B757 was American registered and therefore had to be compliant with an approved FAA (Federal Aviation Admistration) maintenance programme. America West Airlines based in Phoenix, Arizona was the contractor for the maintenance of the B757. Our General Manager with a team of local senior engineers worked with the America West team and finally obtained a Guyana Airways Maintenance Programme approved by the FAA. That was a landmark achievement.

The stage was now set for the show to begin. The infrastructure was in place. The systems were up to the required standard. The technical personnel were all Guyanese and properly trained.  All the employees were upbeat and ready. The General Manager had the vision and plans. But it was not to be. It was a sad day when Fazel Khan departed from Guyana Airways and it was the nadir of his professional career.

Capt Khan later joined Air Services Limited as General Manager. He shared his experience, expertise, professionalism and managerial skills with that organization. Capt Khan committed himself to the task of upgrading the Air Services Flight School. He worked unswervingly and assiduously with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority to achieve the goal for that institution to be compliant, licensed and certified in accordance with the SARPS (Standards And Recommended Practices) of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation). The ASL Flight School holds that status at this time and I think that the school should be renamed ‘The Fazel Khan Flight Training Academy.’  Capt Khan then served as Safety Manager of Air Services until his retirement earlier this year.

Captain Fazel Khan ‒ competent professional pilot; successful airline manager; valiant advocate for workers’ rights; and avowed patriot.  On behalf of the former members of the Guyana Airline Pilots Association and indeed on behalf of all former employees of Guyana Airways Corporation, the one and only, never to be forgotten national airline, Flag Carrier of Guyana, I extend sincere condolences to the family, relatives and friends of Captain Fazel Khan.

Yours faithfully,

Lloyd Marshall

[Source: STABROEK NEWS]