Watch: East Lothian boy with rare heart condition becomes pilot for a day
Christmas came early for a young East Lothian boy when a leading charity joined forces with Loganair to make his dream of flying a reality.
Josh Narrie, 8, who loves aeroplanes and all things to do with aviation and transport, has never been able to fly due to his complex heart condition.
But the brave youngster’s face lit up when Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) arranged for him to spend a morning at Loganair’s Glasgow Hangar where he got to board a plane for the first time, meet aircraft mechanics and even sit in the cockpit and see all the controls up close.
As well as being made an honorary pilot on an ATR-72 aircraft, Josh was given a festive goody bag to take home with a toy plane inside and other treats.
You can watch a video taken on the day showing Josh and his family visiting the Loganair hangar - a very special day for the eight-year-old with his mum describing the experience as ‘a dream come true.’
Josh, who is on 24-hour oxygen and bipap overnight and during periods throughout the day, has spent much of his life in and out of hospital, including periods in intensive care. This visit was therefore extra special as it provided a chance for Josh and his mum and dad Claire and John to make precious memories together.
Speaking afterwards, Claire said: “We can’t thank CHAS and Loganair enough for this amazing early Christmas present which meant so much to Josh and to us as his parents. He is our cheeky, happy chap who loves to be naughty and enjoys pretty much anything that moves especially aeroplanes. Sadly he has never been able to fly due to his low oxygen saturation levels and perhaps will never be deemed fit to fly which is why this experience was extra special.
“Josh spends so much time in hospital and the days can be very long and isolating so days out together are very special, especially ones like this. CHAS always goes above and beyond for us and we think of them as family. We would honestly be completely lost without their support. We are so grateful to both CHAS and to Loganair for making Josh’s dream of finally boarding a plane come true. Seeing his wee face light up meant the absolute world.”
CHAS Senior Partnership Executive Linsey Cairns said: “For many families supported by CHAS, it is often difficult to fly or use other forms of transport because of their child’s complex needs.
“Our important partnership with Loganair means we can bring smiles, comfort, and precious memories to children and we are so grateful to them for facilitating this special visit for Josh and his mum. These are the moments that matter - moments where families can simply enjoy being together and create happy memories that they’ll treasure forever.”
Alex Bridgewater, Communications Manager at Loganair, said: “As part of our continued support for CHAS, Josh’s visit to the Glasgow hangar was a special opportunity for our team to create a memorable experience ahead of Christmas. After he was unable to take part in our annual CHAS flight, the team worked hard to create an alternative event that allowed Josh and his family to enjoy something unique, at his own pace.
“The Loganair Glasgow Hangar team, led by aircraft mechanic Jack Wright, welcomed Josh to the hangar with a personal tour and the opportunity to see the aircraft up close. Supporting initiatives like this is an important part of our commitment to the communities we serve, and partnering with CHAS allows us to make these remarkable experiences possible.”
CHAS’s partnership with Loganair is now in its fourth year. In 2024, the airline introduced a voluntary £2 donation option to online bookings to raise additional funds for the charity. The airline also supports the charity's outreach service CHAS at Home, which has made 1,951 visits in the past year, by providing vital flights for CHAS at Home nurses supporting families in remote and island communities.
For over 30 years CHAS has been caring for vulnerable children like Josh nationwide through a wide range of dedicated services including respite and palliative care at Rachel House and at Robin House in Balloch. The charity also offers a CHAS at Home service that brings specialist nursing care into the homes of children and has doctors and nurses based in hospitals across the country.
The charity recently launched The Christmas That Couldn’t Wait Appeal to bring moments of joy and comfort to children with life-shortening conditions and their families, at a time when they need it most. You can donate to the life-changing charity by visiting the CHAS website.