Jean de Looze has been instrumental in the development of BeCA, as he put into place the merging of the two pilots’ associations in 1998 (BFCA and ABPNL). He presided BeCA for many years and he has always been promoting cohesion within pilots in Belgium and believes that together we are stronger. BeCA wishes him the best for his retirement.

My dear colleagues, my dear friends,

It’s now my turn to say goodbye, reaching the fateful age where I cannot operate anymore as a pilot on commercial routes.

I started as co-pilot in 1977… it’s a long time ago, it’s like yesterday!

I consider myself as very lucky, having had the privilege to be a crew member flying for many airlines, being a member of the aviation family: with you, my flying colleagues in the company, but also with the colleagues in the office, the rostering, the ground handling personnel, the flight ops, the ATC controllers, the engineers, the fuel providers, the firemen…

During these thirty-nine years of flying I have had seldom the impression to go to work… even when I was performing in the simulator with some frustrated trainers!
Apart from the technical side of the job, every flight was, for me, a short story, an opportunity to discover new people and new places…

I would like to thank you all, for making this wonderful dream possible, for your professionalism, your kindness, your support and your legendary willingness.

My thanks go also to the management whom I would like to remind that the real value of the company is the people working for it: in our airline, we have so many extraordinary people… Try to keep them motivated, to use their talents, their energy and their differences, you will be surprised with the results!

Some of you will say that I am still dreaming…

Don’t worry, I will continue like that in my “new” life!

My last words are to tell you how it was nice to be welcomed by so many colleagues in the arrival hall in Brussels Airport, arriving from my last flight!

Many thanks also to my wonderful crew, on this flight: Nadine, Brigitte, Sophie, Monia… and my favourite co-pilot: Carina!

See you very soon!
Jean de Looze