Anyone who flies regularly between the Balearic Islands on Air Nostrum will have met a somewhat special pilot on one occasion or another. He is Toni Pericàs (Palma, 1971), a commander who is known for livening up takeoffs and landings with ingenious unconventional messages, far from the usual formalism, and with which he seeks to reduce the tension of those passengers, more than it seems, who are afraid of flying.
With his natural friendliness and a touch of humor that breaks with the usual seriousness of flying and being at the controls of an aircraft worth 30 million dollars and having the lives of a hundred people in his hands, Toni Pericàs has earned a special place in the skies of the Balearic Islands. A native of Mallorca with 25 years of experience as a pilot, Pericàs is not only dedicated to flying, but also to connecting with his passengers, helping them overcome their fear of flying and transforming each journey into an enjoyable and memorable experience. The commander of Air Nostrum, Iberia’s franchisee for regional flights, shares his vision of aviation and his unique style in the cockpit, which combines relaxed messages, the occasional joke and the ability to convey calm to even the most nervous passengers. ” You take away the passenger’s fear when you bring a smile to their face,” says Pericàs, who sometimes doesn’t hesitate to use Mallorcan in her speeches to create a closer connection with local travelers.
The coincidences of destiny
Pericàs’ career as a pilot was not planned from the beginning. “As a child I dreamed of becoming an aeronautical engineer, but aviation seemed unattainable, almost like being an astronaut,” he recalls. However, a mix-up in his SAT scores changed the course of his life: “Someone with the same name as me submitted another application and I was failed by mistake. During those months of waiting, my father said to me: ‘What if you try the pilot thing? You’ve always liked it’. . Una vez que lo probé, ya no hubo vuelta atrás”, explica entre risas. Tras sus inicios en vuelos cargueros nocturnos por Europa, donde transportaba piezas de automóviles, y años de experiencia en distintas aerolíneas, Pericàs se siente agradecido de poder trabajar en su tierra natal. “Hacer vuelos interislas y dormir en casa la mayoría de los días es un privilegio. No podría pedir más”, comenta con satisfacción.
Extroverted in the cockpit, but down to earth
If anything sets Toni apart, it’s his ability to break the tension on his flights with witty messages. “Sometimes I say: ‘If the plane moves, don’t scratch the person next to you, you might not know him’, or ‘Thank you for boarding quickly, so I can get home earlier because my wife is waiting for me alone'”. Although he doesn’t assume himself to be a funny person, his experience giving courses for people with a fear of flying allowed him to develop a special empathy. “One in five people has a fear of flying, and many don’t express it. Talking to them and explaining what happens in flight reassures them. It’s something they really appreciate, and that motivates me to keep doing it.”
Helping to overcome fear of flying
In addition to his facet as a pilot, Pericàs actively collaborates with Vive tu vida, a family organization dedicated to helping people with a fear of flying. For more than 20 years, this initiative has combined aeronautical expertise and psychology to provide practical tools that enable participants to face their anxieties and enjoy a stress-free flight. The organization, led by psychologist sisters Luisa and Isabel del Campo Martín-Cobos, teaches courses designed to demystify flight-related fears and build confidence in the process. “Flying can be intimidating for some, but with the right information and a structured approach, most people overcome their fears. For me, being part of that change is one of the most rewarding things I’ve done,” says Pericàs.
