AN airline’s only father and daughter pilot team have flown together for the last time.

David and Kat Woodruffe flew a Boeing 777 into the UK on Thursday.

The pair, who both live in Horsham, were on the British Airways route from New York.

It was marked as Mr Woodruffe’s retirement flight.

Mr Woodruffe, who joined the airline in 1984 and held the role of captain, said he felt mixed emotions after landing the plane.

The 64-year-old said: “I’m sorry to be leaving BA after so many years.

“However I’m equally glad Kat will be remaining in the airline to continue our legacy.

“She is doing a job I know she has the same passion and enthusiasm for as I do.”

Mother-of-two Miss Woodruffe, 35, believes the father-daughter bond helped them in the cockpit.

She said they were familiar with each other and communication was very easy for them.

The pair have operated about a dozen flights together for BA.

Miss Woodruffe said during the trips she would switch quite happily between calling him captain, Dad and occasionally Dave.

Mr Woodruffe said the two of them were always 100 per cent professional on the flight deck.

But he said that like any father, he ended up paying when they went out for post-flight meals.

His daughter, a senior first officer, described being alongside Mr Woodruffe for his last flight as wonderful.

She said: “Dad and flying have influenced my life massively.

“It is really special to have been with him at the end of his amazing career.

“I promised him I will carry on the good Woodruffe name.”

By the age of 12, Miss Woodruffe said she was absolutely adamant she would follow in her father’s footsteps and take to the skies.

She said she had grown up with him “grabbing his pilot’s hat on his way out the door to fly around the world” and she wanted to do the same.

Miss Woodruffe said: “My GCSEs and A-levels were picked in order to help me into aviation.

“Dad insisted on physics and maths.

“I also used to go away with him on his trips as much as possible.

“This wasn’t a chore of course.

“It involved spending an inordinate amount of my childhood in the paradise islands of Barbados, Grand Cayman and Tobago.”

Mr Woodruffe, whose other daughter is a former BA cabin crew member, said he was proud of Miss Woodruffe.

He said: “She has wanted to be a pilot since a child and I have always encouraged her to fulfil her ambition.”