Schedule 'Fluke' Put The Two In The Same Cockpit

Thomas Cook Airline captain Peter Elliot flies Boeing airplanes, while his daughter Laura, whom he inspired to fly in 2009, is generally assigned to Airbus airplanes as a first officer. But a recent "schedule fluke" put the two in the same cockpit on a flight from Birmingham, U.K. to Tenerife, allowing the two to fly together for the first time for the airline.

The U.K. newspaper The Daily Mail reports that the pairing became possible when Laura took a break from Thomas Cook, during which time Peter cross-trained in Airbus airplanes. "It's a dream come true to be able to fly with my Dad - even if he was still checking up on me," Laura Elliot said.

Laura was inspired by her dad to learn to fly after he gave her a trial flight for her 18th birthday. She said she never really considered an aviation career despite her father being a pilot her entire life.

She went on to college to study sport and exercise science, but after graduation, she went to Spain to get her pilot certificate and wound up flying for Thomas Cook in 2009.

Peter and Laura Elliot are reportedly the only father and daughter pilots on the airline's roster. It was on her second flight back with the airline that the pairing popped up. On that February 6th flight, Captain Elliot announced to the passengers that his first officer was also his daughter. "This is your captain speaking... my co-pilot's my little girl," he reportedly said over the PA.

Laura Elliot said she was a little nervous about flying with her dad, saying it was a bit like having a driving lesson with him. But the flight went well, and both say they hope such a schedule "fluke" will happen again.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.thomascookairlines.com