"Gentleman Pilot"

Aloha o'e to our friend and colleague Captain Phil Bohner (777) who will be operating his final UNITED flight tomorrow from Narita to Houston.  

I can't truthfully say that Phil and I are great friends; more, we are respectful colleagues.  Phil is the affable, collegial sort who never fails to smile when you pass, to ask how things are going, to be concerned when concern is merited and to be a calm, reassuring force in the face of any storm, either figurative or literal.  He is a "gentleman pilot" to use a term I've reserved for very few.  And I, for one, will be sad to see him leave us.  Phil Bohner is a Mensch whose contributions to who and what we are are noted and appreciated.

When I asked if he minded if I took a quick photo to memorialize his retirement, I couldn't imagine him agreeing to any more apt pose than this!  ("2 creams, extra sugar")