Blind pilot aims for record books

Blind pilot aims for record books

A blind Belgian pilot wants to get into the record books by flying more than 1,100 miles.

Luc Costermans, 40, wants to set two world records - the longest flight by a blind pilot and also the most hours in the air.

He has been flying a Robin DR-400 above the French wine region of Vaucluse every week since last November.

Mr Costermans, who was blinded in an accident two years ago, started flying when a friend bought him a lesson for his birthday.

His instructor, Jean Andrieu, takes off but Mr Costermans takes over the controls once the plane is airborne.

He is planning his record-breaking flight in July when he hopes to fly for 1,123 miles over France.

Mr Costermans, who now lives in Visan in the south of France, told Het Laatste Nieuws that he hoped the record bid would give hope to other handicapped people.