Much like hospitality and facility management professionals who work seamlessly — anticipating needs, upholding standards and staying composed under pressure — Mervyn Fernandis carried these very traits from the hockey field to the skies. His transition from a celebrated forward on the Indian hockey team to a mentor and leader in Indian Airlines’ cabin crew training was not just a shift in role, but a continuation of a discipline where every detail matters, every second counts, and composure is key. Nandakumar Marar, Consulting Editor, Clean India Journal, shares with you the reflections of the one-to-one interaction with the legend.
Competitive sport is educational about the qualities needed to succeed in life, from self-discipline to coping with the pressure to perform and bouncing back from failure.”
Mervyn Fernandis
Armed with the insights gained while excelling in hockey, forward-line player Mervyn Fernandis began his career with Indian Airlines in 1979 as a sports recruit. He was also posted later as a flight crew member. His experience of handling pressures on the field prepared him for managing flight crews as Mumbai Base In-charge post-retirement, followed by overseeing inflight crew training at the Cabin Crew Training School (CCTS) in Hyderabad from 2014 to 2017.
The focus at CCTS was on discipline: punctuality, neat dressing during training to simulate post-training routines and learning to deal with passengers firmly yet courteously. Serving three years as Principal at CCTS was both an opportunity and a challenge for the sporting achiever — to apply his team sport experience while shaping a diverse group of trainees for passenger-facing responsibilities.
“Timekeeping was the first thing I focused on. In both hockey and aviation, every minute matters. I had to explain this to the flight crew who were often late. In hockey, if the coach said 3:30pm, I had to be ready by 3:20. Similarly, for a 10:30am class at CCTS, trainees had to be seated by 10:20am.
“You represent Indian Airlines. People are watching you on the aircraft. Uniforms had to be neat — even in training — because professionalism begins there. We trained them to be polite yet firm, to speak and carry themselves well in the corridors and training centre. In sports, you lose at times but bounce back. The same applies to flight crew: anyone can have a bad day, but the next day must be better, to ensure good flying experience for passengers. That was my aim as Principal — just as it was when representing India in hockey.”
Emphasizing the importance of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for flight crews, Mervyn said safety was the top priority: “Safety was not central to my hockey career, but in aviation, it is the most critical aspect. I studied several manuals.”
When asked if hygiene was a part of training, he responded, “Absolutely. During observation flights, I would deliberately drop a fork or tissue in the aisle to see if the crew noticed and acted. The workspace had to be clean. Trays were to be cleared carefully. We even trained them in proper behaviour at hotels — not to be loud or draw unnecessary attention.”
Reflecting on his transition from sport to aviation management after his 1992 retirement, Mervyn said: “It was not easy. We, as sportspersons, had not undergone formal training to lead departments. Suddenly, I was overseeing operations with many hostesses under me. One had to be careful — being too firm could be misunderstood. In hockey, we were aggressive in camps — in how we walked, talked, interacted. It was tough to change that mindset.”
His transformation was gradual — from an inside-forward who lit up India’s attack until 1988 and the IA team until 1992, to IA hockey coach and national selector for the 1996 Bangkok Asian Games. “Sport builds character. Competitive sport develops personality. Even if you are not at the world level, sport teaches you resilience. After the 1982 Asian Games final, when Pakistan beat India 7-1 in New Delhi, there was public outrage. But within a month, at the Esanda Cup in Melbourne, we defeated Pakistan 2-1 with almost the same team. There will be bad days. The key is to bounce back.”
Highlighting the value of competition, the three-time Olympian said: “It is essential. In 1975, during my first overseas tour, the size and strength of European players were intimidating. But you must overcome fear and compete. Today, leagues like the Hockey India League, IPL, ISL and PBL have given our youngsters opportunities to face international players. That confidence carries over into international events. Indian hockey has benefitted.”
A frequent traveller with the national teams and on private trips — often to watch global sporting events like the Australian Open in Melbourne — Mervyn observed changes in passenger expectations. “Today, passengers prefer cleanliness and punctuality over food. They want clean seats and spotless washrooms. Airlines have rightly shifted focus.”
As a veteran in aviation, Mervyn shared an important observation: “It is not necessary for inflight crew to be young to impress passengers. Experienced crew members know how to handle difficult situations better. A younger crew member might struggle, while a senior one knows how to diffuse tension with tact.”
Now 66, Mervyn continues to stay active, playing tennis in the veterans’ category and organising hockey events at Willingdon Catholic Gymkhana, Santacruz. “My father, Joe Fernandis, inspired me to take up hockey. At the Ordnance Factory club in Ambernath, I picked up badminton and table tennis to stay fit in the off-season. Post-retirement, staying fit was a challenge. Badminton was too demanding, so I switched to tennis. Singles initially, then doubles to maintain fitness.”
He admits: “I was a difficult partner. My tennis partner Rafik Khotu reminds me how I hated losing. Over time, I learned that you cannot win every time. Now, we just enjoy playing and staying fit. I also love racketlon and pickleball — great for hand-eye coordination and reflexes.” On the Clean India Mission, Mervyn believes the message needs stronger implementation. “We can do more. When I see Indians following civic rules in Singapore, it shows we are capable. Every one of us can contribute in small ways. For me, even a small space must be kept clean — it makes a difference.”
