LOGANAIR’S longest serving employee has hung up his tools after 50 years and five days on the job, working on the aircraft that fly the world’s shortest scheduled flight.

Bryan Sutherland, 67, from Orkney, has retired from his role in Loganair’s engineering team in Kirkwall, where he has worked in since July 17, 1967 – the year Loganair started operations on the Inter Island service which includes the two-minute hop between Westray and Papa Westray.

Sutherland said: “I’m officially the airline’s longest serving employee, part of the team since just after the company formed in 1962.

“While that’s quite an achievement, it is still really sad to step down as I always considered it more of a hobby than a job. Obviously, some days were more demanding than others but overall I was doing something I loved and made some friends which I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.

“Aviation has been a major part in my life and to be honest, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”