From Tirvengadum to Viljoen

14 June 2017, Air Mauritius is celebrating its 50 years of existence. Having been with the airline for 33 years from 1978 to 2011, I thought it would be an opportunity to review in pictures these years of service with the ‘National’ airline. A picture is worth a thousand words. When I joined Air Mauritius from Qantas, Amédée Maingard was the Chairman but I did not get the chance to know him personally. Most of the pictures in this blog are mine and the others were obtained from the Internet. Thank you to those persons who shared their pictures. Unfortunately in the early years of my career it was not as easy to take pictures as we do today. I would welcome pictures from 1978 to 2011 to add to this post, so as to have a more balanced view of the period.

The experience obtained in a vital department such as the Technical Services is priceless. The challenges are many and rewarding. For example reorganisation of the Technical Department, approval Jar 145, entry into service of new aircraft and helicopters, return of leased aircraft, negotiation of maintenance contracts for the fleet, cost reduction programme, third party maintenance, Company wide improvement programmes, implementation of maintenance information system Maintenix, IOSA certification, developing and maintaining staff competence, Part 147 approval for MK training school, ensure of course that everyday a safe aircraft is delivered for service on time.

What is interesting, is everyday is different and if sometimes it goes too quiet, you can bet that there is an event or series of events coming your way, be ready for it, the adrenaline rush is guaranteed! I would not change anything if I had to do it over again. Of course in life there are good and bad times, but the key is to know how to handle it and come out greater and wiser.

Over time having worked with two Chairman and Managing Directors, four Managing Directors and three Chief Executive Officers, required a lot of flexibility and adaptability. It gave me a new impulse each time and kept my mind ticking in overclocking mode. It was fun!

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Please feel free to comment and help me add the missing names.

10 thoughts on “My Air Mauritius”

  • Sushil Baguant
    June 14, 2017 at 7:49 pm
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    Thanks Jacques for sharing these great moments

  • Vasan Bulramaya
    June 14, 2017 at 10:01 pm
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    Thank you Jacques for those nostalgic pictures. I really felt great going through those pictures especially when being away from back home. It brought me back to the old good days.
    P.s got them from Helene.
    All the best!
    Take care

  • Ulrich Pinkepank
    June 15, 2017 at 11:55 am
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    What a history…
    The persons at the ceremony of the A340 contract signature with Lufthansa are:
    Standing left to right: Volker Bilet, Heinz Göring, Ulli Pinkepank and you.
    Sitting person`s are as given.
    All the best Ulli

    • adminPost author
      June 15, 2017 at 12:38 pm
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      Thks Ulli.

  • Dick Twomey, (MK Flt Ops 1991-94)
    June 15, 2017 at 3:41 pm
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    Great to share your reminiscences, Jacques, and I enjoyed working in Flight Ops alongside yourself and your magnificent team at Technical in the early ‘nineties.

    The photos of your beard doing a normal colour-change matches the progress of my hair too! Who can stop it?

    Take care, no more fish-bones please!
    regards, Dick.

  • Henry Pelte
    June 15, 2017 at 7:58 pm
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    Vu par un vieux “cousin” bourbonnais, mari intéressant, vous autres… merci

  • Gennaro
    June 20, 2017 at 2:20 pm
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    Thank you very much Jacques very good souvenirs
    All the best and hoping one day I will be back to Mauritius and meet you again
    Gennaro

  • Alain Wong
    April 10, 2019 at 9:52 am
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    I spent the best moments of my life with the MK family.
    Thank you Jacques.

    • adminPost author
      April 10, 2019 at 1:59 pm
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      Agree Alain, it was fun!

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