Save Bahrain’s Gulf Air Experience

[Letter by Marietta Dias]
[Acknowledgement: Letter of Marietta Dias published under heading "Looking back on the experience of a lifetime" in Gulf Daily News Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010]
Reading Michael Stokes' vibrant memories of the early days of Gulf Aviation (GDN, March 27) brought back my own wonderful recollections of the 36 productive and memorable years I spent with the airline from 1967 to 2003.

When I joined the airline on May 1 1967 as a clerk/typist at a princely salary of Rs330 per month and then went on to become secretary to chief pilot Captain James Madle, little did I imagine that I would remain with the airline for so many years and be personally involved in the major projects that turned it into an international carrier.

At the time, the DC3s were being phased out of service to be replaced by the more sophisticated Fokker Friendship F27 aircraft.
The 40-seat airplanes were more than adequate for the flights that only went as far as Oman in one direction, with stops at Doha, Dubai, Sharjah and Dhahran in the other. Captain Alan Bodger was general manager at the time and the headquarters were at Speedbird House, Hoora. This was a famous landmark in the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Flight operations and reservations occupied four small offices at the old Bahrain Airport in Muharraq and were manned by about 15 ground staff, including myself.
I remember Captain James 'Jim' Stokes, who was one of only 18 pilots employed by the airline at the time of my recruitment. Except for a few Indian and Pakistani men whose primary duty was to open and close the aircraft doors, make sure that all passengers were accounted for and strapped into their seats and serve light refreshments when time permitted, the airline did not employ any formally-trained cabin crew in the 60s.
The decision to go 'international' came with the purchase of British Aircraft Corporation's short range BAC 1-11 aircraft.
By then I had been promoted as personal assistant to operations manager Captain John Morgan and was considered experienced enough to be sent off to Bombay to set up flight catering/ground operations, etc. at Santa Cruz Airport and arrange crew accommodation at Taj Hotel.
A few months later Gulf Aviation's first international flight landed at Santa Cruz Airport and I had the privilege with my family, to be on board this memorable maiden flight. I still fondly remember the grand welcome we received on the tarmac.
Thus began the journey which saw the airline change its name to Gulf Air, rapidly expand its operations and facilities and purchase larger, long-range aircraft which enabled it to add far-off destinations to its timetable.
Working in the operations department came with its own thrills and spills. I was so fortunate to be part of the operations/engineering team that was involved in the purchase of new airplanes and putting them into service.
This was indeed an exciting and busy period in the history of the airline. Highly-trained and competent pilots were recruited from the RAF 10th Squadron and BOAC (now British Airways) when the VC10s were added to our fleet. The professionalism and experience of these pilots contributed greatly to the airline gaining prestige in the flying world.
The Lockheed Tristar 1011s were introduced a few years later and these aircraft were fondly known as the 'workhorses' of the airline.
A printing Press was established within the operations department, to take care of internal stationery needs of the company and I had the good fortune of heading this section, thereby learning a new skill along the way.
Gulf Air, without a doubt, became one of the finest airlines in the region during the 70s and 80s, extending superb in-flight and ground services to its passengers and taking good care of staff.
I continued to spend several more fruitful and enjoyable years with the company till I was seconded in 1980 to the Bahrain Royal Flight from where I retired in 2003.
It was the experience of a lifetime and indeed a great privilege to have been part of the growing and expanding years of Gulf Air and I wish it will someday regain its rightful place in the aviation world.
[Thanx Marietta – These kind of memories of Bahrain we want to preserve through this blog]