PAL mounts special flight to Rome for Francis

MANILA, Philippines - National flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) of taipan Lucio Tan laid out the best team to bring back Pope Francis to Rome yesterday following a five-day visit to the country.

Thousands of Filipinos gathered along the streets leading to Villamor Air Base for a last glimpse of the pope.

After a brief send-off led by President Aquino, the pontiff boarded the Airbus A340 plane at 9:50 a.m.

Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo was the pilot-in-command and flight commander of the papal plane dubbed “Shepherd One,” which took off from the Villamor Air Base a little past 10 a.m.

Tamayo, PAL’s vice president for flight operations, has been flying for 41 years. Among his passengers were former Presidents Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

PAL’s deputy chief pilot for A340-A330 division Capt. Eric Isaac was also in control of the 14-hour flight to Rome’s Ciampino Airport.

Also part of the flight deck were First Officers Marlowe Valencia and Anthony Atendido.

PAL flight purser Jeanette Perez led the cabin crew composed of flight attendants Millicent Reyes and Jan Mara Corteza; flight stewards Francis Aduna and Michael Macaraeg; cabin services managers Ruby Carol Manzano, Rowena Clemente, Jacquiline Burgos and Evangeline Recio, and inflight service training specialists Lorenza Sarza and Aris Obeso.

Cielo Villaluna, spokesperson for PAL, said the flag carrier embarked on a special flight to Rome for Pope Francis in coordination with the national government.

There are currently no direct flights between the Philippines and Italy by a Philippine carrier. In 2013, the two countries agreed to launch direc flights after the European Union lifted a ban it imposed preventing airlines from the Philippines from operating in Europe.

PAL had earlier announced it was planning to fly to Rome and other European destinations. So far, PAL has direct flights only between Manila and London.

Pope Francis flew to Tacloban on a Philippine Airlines A320 jet on Saturday despite bad weather brought by Tropical Storm Amang.

PAL chief pilot for A320 division Capt. Roland Narciso took control of the A320 aircraft that landed safely at the Daniel Z. Romualdez airport in Tacloban. His co-pilot was Capt. George Alvarez.

The pontiff’s visit to typhoon-devastated Tacloban was cut short due to inclement weather.

PAL flight purser Carol Uy headed the five-member cabin crew for the Tacloban trip composed of flight attendants Ana Alvarez, Michael Chincuangco, Elsa Yuson and Vina Reyes.

Honors for PAL

PAL president Jaime Bautista said in an earlier interview with The STAR that it is an honor for PAL to serve as the official carrier of Pope Francis.

“It is our honor and pride to fly Pope Francis to and from Tacloban City so we formed the best team for the flight,” Bautista said.

PAL had also flown Pope John Paul II during his 1981 and 1995 pastoral visits to the Philippines.

In 1981, PAL flew Pope John Paul II to six provincial stations within three days. A special papal chamber was fitted on the DC-10 aircraft that flew him to Guam and Haneda after his visit.

In 1995, PAL again flew Pope John Paul II to Port Moresby after a four-day visit that was restricted to Manila due to his health.

PAL has a collection of memorabilia of inflight items used by Pope John Paul II on his flights. – With Jaime Laude