Flight across the Decades

When Tom Taylor began his commercial flying career in 1983, the aviation landscape looked dramatically different than today. His 42-year journey through the skies offers a fascinating window into how the industry has evolved through economic cycles, technological advancements, and global crises.

Tom’s aviation journey began like many pilots of his generation—flying lessons as a teenager in the 1970s, inspired by a memorable flight in a P-51 Mustang with family friend and air racer Steve Hinton. In those days, formal aviation colleges were scarce, so Tom pursued his licenses independently at local airports in British Columbia. The early 1980s presented a challenging job market for new commercial pilots, forcing creativity in career development. Like many aspiring aviators, Taylor took an instructor position to build hours and experience before landing his first commercial opportunities.

His path illuminates the regional airline ecosystem that once dominated North American aviation. Starting at Burrard Air in the mid-1980s, Tom flew an eclectic fleet of aircraft including single Otters, Beavers, Islanders, and eventually Metroliners, gaining the diverse operational experience that defined pilots of that era. The progression to Time Air in 1989 brought him to the Dash 8, where he witnessed firsthand the consolidation trend that would reshape Canadian aviation as Time Air evolved into Canadian Regional Airlines.

What makes Tom's story particularly valuable is his perspective on the shifting international landscape. After moving to Canadian Airlines and ultimately Air Canada, he made a pivotal decision in the early 2000s to pursue opportunities in Asia. His experiences at China Airlines and later Cathay Pacific Airways showcase how globalization transformed aviation careers. Based in Los Angeles before transferring to Hong Kong in 2008, Tom navigated the challenges of expatriate life, maintaining family connections in Canada while building an international career spanning two decades.

Perhaps most compelling is Tom's account of aviation during unprecedented crises. He flew through Hong Kong's political transformation as Beijing implemented the national security law in 2019, witnessing firsthand how geopolitical shifts impacted airline operations and personnel. This tumultuous period flowed directly into the COVID-19 pandemic, where Tom provides extraordinary insight into how Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong's strict quarantine measures created unique challenges for flight crews.

The pandemic experience for international pilots based in Asia differed dramatically from their Western counterparts. Tom describes the "loop" system Cathay developed—30-day patterns of flying around the world followed by hotel quarantines—and the extreme isolation measures that separated families for extended periods. His personal experience of being away from home for eight and a half months while continuing to operate flights globally illuminates the human cost behind maintaining essential air cargo operations during a global crisis.

Tom's journey represents the resilience required in aviation careers—adapting to industry consolidation, embracing international opportunities, and navigating through unprecedented challenges. His story concludes with his strategic exit from Cathay Pacific in late 2021, bringing his Asian aviation chapter to a close while setting the stage for future flying adventures. For anyone interested in understanding how aviation careers evolve across decades of industry transformation, Tom Taylor's experience provides an invaluable perspective on the determination and adaptability required to sustain a lifelong passion for flight.