26/08/2016
wow😮
Capt. Franklyn Desiderio: The first and only Filipino in the world to fly Airbus 380
If you happen to fly via one of the UAE’s Airbus A380, chances are you will hear the voice of 41-year-old Capt. Franklyn Mallari Desiderio welcoming you and the other passengers.
What are the odds? Well, only a few pilots are qualified to fly the extremely huge double-decker aircraft.
And for this particular plane, Desiderio is the first and only Filipino. In fact, he is the only Filipino in the world commanding an Airbus 380.
As a child, Desiderio dreamt of flying an airplane back in his native hometown of Meycauayan, Bulacan. He used to stare at passing airplanes and helicopter in the sky.
He fulfilled his dream early and flew his first plane at 16. He later on took upBachelor of Science in Aviation Major in Flying at Airlink International Aviation School to become a commercial pilot.
“My fascination with airplanes started when I was just a little boy. I love the sound of those big engines and the science behind for me is just awesome that even up to now it never ceases to amaze me,”Desiderio told The Filipino Times.
After finishing college, the 23-year-old Desiderio started working as a commercial pilot for Philippine Airlines, the Philippines’ flag carrier. He considered first flight a non-event but nonetheless a memorable one.
“My First commercial flight was a Manila-Catarman-Manila round trip flight on January 30, 1997. It was on the Fokker-50 Aircraft that was then commonly used for domestic flights. I was so excited because I just completed my initial training being a new hire,” he recalled.
“I was a little bit scared as well, because of the people that I will be flying along. Pilot culture in PAL was a little bit harsh back in the days, as some senior pilots tend to show off and impose their seniority,” he added.
Eight years after, Desiderio decided to make a significant move by joining one of the biggest and well-reputed airlines in the world. The move brought him and his family to Dubai.
“My wife Rebecca, played a major role in my move abroad because she really supported my plans to venture out of the Philippines. I remember her saying to me, “Walang iwanan, sama-sama tayo (We’re all in this together),”said Desiderio about his wife, the 37-year-old Dr. Rebecca Oandasan-Desiderio, currently CEO of soon-to-open The Medical City Dubai (TMC Dubai).
Together they have two children, Ralph, 16 and Alfonso, 11.
His 25 years of being a pilot surely did bring Desiderio a life filled with success and prestige. But he never bragged about it as he believes that everyone with a decent job is dignified.
“We are all equal. It doesn’t [really matter] what job [you do]. The most important thing is how you treat others; to always address them with respect and courtesy. I have high regards especially with our fellow Filipinos who work as domestic helpers because I know that theirs is not an easy job at all but they have to do it for their families back in the Philippines,” he said.
He is also one who never keeps his affluence to himself. He believes that blessings are worth sharing to others.
“It’s natural for us Filipinos to support our extended families in the Philippines. I am supporting my extended family: my mom, my sister, my aunt, and my grandparents. I also do charity work like giving donations to calamity victims in the Philippines,” he shared.
“With the younger ones, like the student pilots, I always try my best to share my experiences and the things that I learned from my job. I try to guide them on the goals of flight and on how to achieve their dreams,” he added.
(Source: The Filipino Times)
