Robert Piché hung up his wings

Photo courtesy
The captain Robert Piché was feverish before taking the controls of an Airbus A-330 for the last time Thursday.

Catherine Montambeault

Thursday, 12 October 2017 20:35

UPDATE
Thursday, 12 October 2017 23:07

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Landing gently under a thunder of applause. That’s how we concluded on Thursday, the last flight in the career of the commander Piché.

“I’m glad that everything went so well,” he puffed after having put down the Airbus A-330 Air Transat, he was flying in for one last time.

“I don’t realize quite yet that I am retiring, but I feel good ! “

Before hanging up its wings for good, the pilot, the most famous of Quebec has decided to make a short round-trip Montreal–Quebec for the benefit of his foundation, which works with people struggling with addictions.

Some 375 people responded to the call and have paid between $ 500 and $ 1,000 for a plane ride in his company.

His savior

Photo courtesy

On the flight included Elisa Bernard, one of the 306 people that Robert Piché has saved my life in 2001 when he landed a emergency of an aircraft whose fuel tanks were emptied

Among them was Elisa Bernard, one of the passengers of the famous flight 236, that the commander has landed emergency in the Azores in 2001. By saving the life of Ms. Bernard and 305 other people, Robert Piché, has been propelled to the rank of national hero.

Sixteen years later, the wife of Toronto, who has the number 236 tattooed on the nape of the neck, is still grateful to the one that she calls ” the commander “.

“For me, it was extremely important to close the loop by attending its last flight today [Thursday], she confided, visibly moved. I wanted to see and enjoy this beautiful moment surrounded by his family, because he fully deserves it. “

Several public personalities have also taken part in the celebration, including actor Michel Côté, who played the pilot in the film Piché : between heaven and earth.

“It is not everyone who has lived a life like him, he underlined. […] Everything he did to fight his demons and get to where it is made, it is remarkable. “

Generous

Presenter and comedian Paul Houde, a great passion for aviation, it was an event not to be missed.

“At 17: 40, when Robert landed the aircraft on the runway 06 left, and he has told us for the last time “ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Montreal”, it has given me a little kick in the heart “, he told.

Mr. Houde pointed out that even if the career of pilot Robert Piché is complete, the man who has conquered her alcohol dependency will continue to provide assistance to ” raw life “.

“Of all the ones I’ve met, Robert is probably the person who most helped people at a distance, by his image and his charisma,” he mentioned.

Song

Sister Angèle, who has done well laugh at the passengers, taking the microphone to sing in Italian, shares the same opinion.

“This is a man who has managed to make the right decisions in spite of fear and anxiety, she said. And there he embarked in a cause to help people who are in need of a boost, then I say bravo. “