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Britain's youngest airline pilot: meet the 20-year-old who flies holiday jets to the sun
Last updated at 00:07am on 15.01.08At the age of 19, Ed Gardner wasn't old enough to drive a bus, and in most countries he would have been too young to hire a car.
Yet, despite his youth, he was cleared to take the controls of a Boeing 737 and for the past three months has been flying tourists off on their holidays.
Mr Gardner, who turned 20 in December, is thought to be the youngest passenger pilot in the country.
He received his commercial licence on October 5 while still a teenager. Within a day, he had started work with Stansted-based charter firm, Titan Airways.
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Ed Gardner, 20, is the UK's youngest ever commercial pilot
Since then, he has been sharing the cockpit with his father, Bob, 55, who is an experienced airline captain.
Mr Gardner, who comes from Stebbing near Stansted in Essex and who started flying at 14, said: "My dad never pushed for me to become a pilot but as soon as I said I wanted to do it he was pleased.
"He put up the money to do it and I'm paying him back. He's been very helpful. I flew solo at 16 and got my private pilot's licence on my 17th birthday."
He has passed a number of exams including instrument training and instruction on flying a Boeing 737, which holds up to 200 passengers.
Mr Gardner was so keen on flying, he was able to pilot a plane before he had even started learning to drive a car.
After studying A-levels at the Helena Romanes School in Dunmow, he went to the Metropolitan University in London for his air transport pilot's licence written exams, passing first time.
He then went on to Stapleford Flight Centre for instrument rating, another pilot's training course and then Boeing 737 training.
His first job with Titan Airways was flying mail between Stansted and Exeter. The first passenger flight he piloted was to Rostock in Germany.
Mr Gardner said: "I was excited but you don't really get to interact with the passengers.
"As first officer, you do pretty much the same as the captain except you can't taxi on the runway.
"Of course, the captain is in charge overall but if they fly to Malaga, you fly the plane back, for example."
He said he had not told his passengers how young he was.
Mr Gardner, who now flies regularly to Europe and Africa, said simply about the way his career had taken off: "I think I just came along at the right time." As for his father, he added: "I think he's very proud."
Rob Giles, 737 fleet manager for Titan Airways, said Mr Gardner was the youngest commercial pilot he had heard of.
"It is not without precedent at 21 or 22 but most people do something else and then come to flying so they tend to be older," he said.
"But there is no reason why a teenager shouldn't be able to do the job. Ed is a very competent pilot and ticked all the boxes. It's good getting youngsters into the company - we need some new blood."
A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said that although it was possible for a 19-year-old to fly a passenger jet, they would not usually be given the chance to do so until they were a few years older.
The authority's records show that no teenagers were given the right to carry passengers in the years 2004 and 2005. Pilots need to be at least 18 to hold a commercial licence.
Reader views (11)
Daddy's boy! It's not a miracle, if your dad is a captain of course he can hook you up with the same thing. Yeah he passed the exams... right.... he would have been a idiot if he couldn't. Although i wish my dad was a captain too...
- Matt, London
Strange, as it was 18 and 19 year olds that defended your country in the Battle of Britain in WWII. I would say they did an outstanding job.
- Jc, US
This is absolute nonesense. I know a guy who was Captain on an Embrear E110 passenger plane at 18 years old and at 21 he was a Captain on the BAe146 Aircraft.
- Julie Milton, Durham, tyne and wear
He has helped me believe in what i want to do in the future and i owe it all to him. Thank You
- Dylan, Widnes, England
I strongly believe in the importance of age and experience. Getting the resposibility of 200 lives for a teenager, for me, is a paradox waiting to be answered.
- Mert Ozbudak, TRNC (North Cyprus)
Does the stewardess make him have a nap after his morning milk?
- George, London
Here is an example of what I want to do in the future.
- Jessica Lewis, Port Talbot
I hope he doesn't carry on ageing at this rate! This morning he was 19 according to The Sun...
- Mike, London
Good on him, as long as he doesn't go for the alloy wheels and outrageous body kit.
- Paul, London
Good on him! Doing your ATPL and all the associated hour building isn't easy so congrats on passing and good luck with the career.
- Crm, London
The strange thing about British society is that there is a general perception that unless one is of mature years one is not fit for responsibility. Unless, of course it is in the interests of the Powers that Be - for example during the Second World War many of the Sergeant pilots who were in the front line of the Battle of Britain, and who gave their lives were often teenagers, the same age as Mr Gardner.
- Neil, Gloucestershire, England.
