THIS month Hovertravel says goodbye to one of its longest serving pilots; Captain Barrie Jehan. In Barrie’s time at Hovertravel, which started when he left school in 1968, he has completed over 21,000 hours flying hovercraft (which equates to 84,000 crossing of the Solent!)
Neil Chapman, managing director at Hovertravel said, “Barrie has been at Hovertravel for over 43 years and has been part of the evolution of the company. As one of the world’s most experienced hovercraft pilots, he has often piloted craft in different countries, taking this amazing Isle of Wight invention across the globe. Barrie has seen the Isle of Wight Festival start, stop and then start again and he has always been a great ambassador for the company and the Island itself. We wish him well in his retirement.”
Barrie has piloted hovercraft in 32 countries across the globe and has some great memories. ” I will never forget operating between Victoria and Vancouver through the Gulf Islands or being ambushed and receiving 132 bullet holes in my hovercraft while training foreign navy personnel.”
As well as piloting overseas, Barrie has experienced the evolution of the hovercraft and the way Hovertravel has changed over the years. He explains, ” The operation of the service has become far more formalised with the new regulations that have come in over the last 25 years. Health & Safety has made our lives safer thanks to the training we all are required to complete.”
Along with his responsibilities for security, health and safety, Barrie has been operating the craft on an almost daily basis, probably crossing the Solent more than anyone else ever has. He said “The best part of working at Hovertravel has been the opportunity to work with such a great team of people.”
