A YOUNG BOY’S DREAM

Nineteen forty-three, a baby boy was born in a small town of New-Brunswick called Dalhousie. At 6 years old he had a wish; one day, he would fly. At 13 his father paid him his first flight and throughout his teen years his wish remained unchanged. His one and only ambition was to one day become a pilot.

After completing high school, he set out for Sept-Iles, worked in an Ore company and saved his money to pay for flying lessons. He studied to become an electrician but never lost his dream.  Living on a tight budget for 5 years, he gave his paychecks to the flying school and obtained his long awaited Pilot’s license. What a joy on his first solo. Many sacrifices and studying had paid off, his dream finally within reach.

His career began flying fire patrols and then to the airlines. From co-pilot to Captain, to instructor and check pilot, he has flown the smallest and the largest up to the magnificent Boeing 747, which he commands today.

Throughout his career he saw the world, distances were relative. He covered the whole of North and South America, the Atlantic Ocean nothing but a small pond. From the northern shores of Scotland to the southern tip of Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, he saw the beauty of the world.  Paris, London, Rome, Frankfurt were as familiar to him as his hometown. Then came the Orient and it’s wonders; Tokyo, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Seoul, and Bombay to name just a few.

In November 1996, looking back, he wrote the following:

I have seen the ruins in Athens, the home of civilization and Rome. I have walked along the Nile, saw the great Pyramids, and swam in the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. I have cruised the Amazon river and saw nature at it’s best.

I have flown over the Alps, the Himalayas and the Andes. I have been to the Caribbean islands, and Polynesia, eaten with the natives in the heart of Africa, was entertained by the friendliness of the Asians and sat in friendship sipping a beer with people from all parts of the world. White, Black, or Yellow, all had values pertaining to the different cultures, and I have learned to respect them even though some were different than mine.

The rising sun over the Atlantic at the beginning of a new day and the sunset over the Pacific were beauty to behold. Ever changing, it gave me hope and the courage to believe that life is worth living. From the Northern lights of Alaska, the Southern Cross in the south and the snowcaps of the Himalayas to the torrid heat of the deserts; yes, I have seen it all. I found peace within, marveling at the beauty of this earth, yet sadden by how we are destroying it.

I have met and worked with the most wonderful people and shared their emotions.  I have shed tears and wept with those in pain; smiled, laughed and shared their joy and sadness.

I have seen hardship and sorrow.  People dying on the streets from starvation, children going to bed hungry, the homeless, families breaking up and the devastation of war, the greed of mankind, the breakdown of values.

Fortunately, I have, also witness the joys of life, the kindness on many individuals, and truly believe that there is happiness and goodness on earth.

I have listened and conversed with prominent people from all over this wonderful World, learnt the meaning of life. I made friends, whom I shall never forget.

As my career unfolded, life didn’t pass me by. I have experienced the joys and sorrows of many. I have laughed, I have cried.  Married to a wonderful woman, I have seen the birth of our two great children and experienced the hardships and rewards of raising them.

I have lived through the pain of seeing the ravage of cancer on my wife and son, losing her and yet finding the strength to continue. The everlasting cycle of life, defined through birth and death of loved ones.  I have known the joys of love, the sadness of broken relationships, the happiness and support from my children, family and friends through the difficult years. The fondest memories of the greatest woman called Mom, who raised a young boy with values he could carry throughout his life.

I have enjoyed life fully. Quite often lonesome, I have also cried myself to sleep around the world, thinking of the ones I loved and missed.  All along, my love of flying and caring for the ones I loved have provided the ever-constant motivation to continue.

Forty years have now gone by since my first flight. Not one day has passed without me wishing to have my own airplane. When this happens, my dream will be complete, and I will continue sharing my life with the one I love, because if I had to do it all over again, I would do it the same way with no regrets.

In a small town called Dalhousie, a baby boy was born to fly.

PS: In February 1997, my dream came true. I became the proud owner of a Piper Twin Comanche and registered it: C-GNDL. My wife, son and daughter or short for NEVER DESTROY LIFE.

I will retire in April 2003 with 24,000 hours of flying all of which I have enjoyed. The Comanche has been sold and to fully appreciate the pleasures of flight, I have purchased an Aviat Husky.

Fly safely my friends.

Captain G. Champoux

Korean Air

B-747