Norwegian’s first father and son flight crew take to the skies.
Low-cost airline Norwegian marks a momentous milestone completing its first flight in the airline’s 15-year history flown by a father and son – 54-year old Captain David Kempton and his 19-year old co-pilot and son, Alex Kempton, marking Father’s Day.
Norwegian is Europe’s third largest low-cost airline and is launching more than 15 routes from the UK and Ireland this year including its highly anticipated routes from Gatwick to Seattle, Denver and its first Asian route to Singapore this September from £150 at www.norwegian.com/uk.
The pair from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, flew 180 passengers on a brand-new multi-million pound Boeing 737-800 aircraft, on a 4 1/2-hour flight from Tenerife South Airport to Birmingham.
Alex Kempton became the youngest pilot at Europe’s third largest low-cost airline at the age of 19 last September, just two years after starting flight school. Alex was offered his first professional pilot job from Norwegian at 18, just a week before his 19th birthday, and only two years after watching aircraft at Coventry Airport with his dad as a young aviation enthusiast.
Norwegian arranged for David and Alex to fly together as part of Alex’s flight training as David is a training captain, giving him the chance to train his son at his first airline job.
David Kempton, 54, has thierty years’ flying experience logging more than 14,000 hours which has seen him work for several airlines and fly private jets for the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, 90s pop groups and even a former Prime Minister. David joined Norwegian in 2013 and is currently the most senior pilot at Norwegian’s Tenerife base.
David Kempton, Base Chief Captain, Tenerife at Norwegian said: “It’s truly an honour to take to the skies and share the cockpit with my son as Norwegian pilots. I’ve always been fascinated with flying and I’ve encouraged Alex to share my aviation passion at every opportunity so this is an extremely proud moment. I’m very grateful to Norwegian for not only giving my son the opportunity to take-off his flying career but also arranging for us to fly together on this special flight.”
Alex Kempton, First Officer at Norwegian said: “I never would have thought my first pilot job would involve getting trained by my dad as this has never been done before at Norwegian. From following my dad to work at an early age to flying a brand-new Norwegian aircraft together is a little daunting but very exciting. It’s even more special that I flew alongside my dad into Birmingham Airport where he spent his whole career before joining Norwegian.”
David and Alex grew up in Warwickshire and share many hobbies beyond the cockpit which includes playing rugby, golf and the piano. The pair also like to go from flying to fly-fishing when time allows from their busy schedules.
The Kemptons are truly a ‘high-flying’ family as David’s dad had a passion for flying and his daughter, Alex’s older sister, is currently a cabin crew member with another airline and is married to a pilot.
