When Guillaume Féral and Mike Lomberg land their flight at an airport, they end up surprising the ground staff and Air Traffic Controllers for, the pilots are paraplegic. "It is often a good conversation starter. The ground staff, the security and everyone else gets surprised to find that I am on a wheelchair and I was the pilot. The surprise also means that people talk to me as they want to know how do I do it. It is a good ice-breaker and conversation starter," said Lomberg laughingly. The two were Ahmedabad as part of their efforts to fly across 40 countries and 80,000 km to help wipe out disability-related stereotypes, including the one that those with disabilities can't fly a plane. So far, the two have covered eight countries and 10,000 km. Both Lomberg and Féral fly their own individual two-seater plane. "The passenger seat has life boats and other equipment," said Féral. The duo became paraplegic following a motor vehicle and glider accident respectively. On the challenges of flying for those with a disability, Féral says the planes have to be adapted to suit the pilot's disabilities. "This means the controls that are usually managed by foot have to be managed by hands," said Féral. The duo will be joined by other paraplegic pilots in South America and Australia. They also have an accompanying pilot, Joseph Rais, and Daniel Ramseier, co-founder and president of Handflight, following them in a third plane. Handiflight is a Switzerland-based non-profit that works with and encourages disabled pilots around the world. The duo, who also talk about disabilities during their visit to the countries, said that often the perception is that not enough is being done for disabled people. "In Saudi Arabia, Greece and India we have come across some excellent initiatives for the disabled people . In India, the focus is on individuals. I visited the Polio Foundation in Ahmedabad and the sort of facilities being provided there is amazing," said Lomberg. LOOKING AHEAD They became paraplegic following a motor vehicle and glider accident respectively. Féral says planes have to be adapted to suit the pilot’s disabilities.

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