AmWest Pilot, Aircraft, Make Last Flight Together

When Capt. Tom Townsend pulled up to the gate at Sky Harbor last month, it was time to say goodbye -- not just for the retiring America West pilot, but for the plane he had just flown from Kansas City International.

The goodbye was spectacular.

As he pulled up to the terminal in the Boeing 737-200, N189AW, he taxied under a double arc of water from two firefighting vehicles based at the airport. From the aircraft's nose to its front passenger door, hundreds of well-wishers had signed their autographs, saying goodbye to a reliable jet with about 20 million miles on the odometer. See, N189AW was also retiring with the termination of Flight 593.

"More reliable than an Airbus any day," said one of the scrawls on the nose of the aircraft, written by America West employees. "Fly the last one for the Gipper," said another. "See you in the field of dreams." The writings were quoted by the Arizona Republic.

"It's certainly humbling," Townsend said in the concourse as he was swamped by well-wishers. "I thought I would be more melancholy, but I wasn't. It's been a great career."

No, like a lot of commercial pilots, Townsend isn't thrilled at the idea of mandatory retirement. But he's turning 60 now. "I wouldn't have retired had it not been for that rule," he told the Republic. "It should be based on mental capacity and health. If they can't meet those standards, age should have nothing to do with it."

FMI: www.americawest.com