‘THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING’

IT WAS COMMON FOR THE OLDER PILOTS TO HAVE AIR-HOSTESS GIRLFRIENDS

IT’S hard to imagine it: pilots smoking in the cockpit, flirting with air hostesses and flying their planes like cowboys with absolutely no regard for the comfort or safety of their passengers.

IT WAS A DIFFERENT ERA AND WORKPLACE CULTURE. SAA THEN WAS THE ULTIMATE BOYS’ CLUB

Back in the ’80s, SAA was the “ultimate boys’ club”, says Robert Schapiro – and he should know because as a co-pilot he saw it all. And often it wasn’t just the pilots who were behaving badly but the passengers as well.

In this extract from his new memoir, Secrets from the Cockpit: Pilots Behaving Badly and Other Flying Stories, he lifts the lid on some of the crazy antics he witnessed.

CHICKEN OR BEEF?

It wasn’t unusual for pilots and cabin staff to gain 10 kilograms or more in their first year of working for SAA. It may come as a shock to today’s traveller but airline food used to be surprisingly good – even in economy class.

First-class food, though, was in a league of its own. Canapés, appetisers such as caviar and foie gras, soups, main courses such as lobster and fillet steak, lavish desserts and rich cheese and fruit trays were of fine-restaurant quality.

Meats such as rare roast beef, game or duck would be carved to order on board; nothing was pre-packed.

We had crew meals provided for us, but I was advised by another pilot on my very first flight that I should wait until