Kochi: India's national carrier Air India (AI) is all set to bring some cheer into the lives of physically and mentally challenged children.

For this, Air India is organising a special flight for 337 physically and mentally challenged children drawn from 17 different schools in Kochi, for an hour's joy ride, titled 'Moments of Joy', in a B-747 Jumbo aircraft along the Arabian coast on December 2.

The plane would overfly the towns of Alleppey, Kollam, Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kovalam and Kanyakumari in the ride. Three doctors, 27 attendants, besides some media personnel would travel in the flight, being organised for the third consecutive year by the AI.

This is the first time that AI is using a 747 Jumbo aircraft for the ride, Anand Kishore, AI executive head in Kochi, told a press conference.

The programme is being co-ordinated by Rotary Club, Cochin Central and co-sponsored by Escotel, Casino Group of hotels and Trident hotel. Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) will waive off the usual flight operating charges due to them.

AI has been operating the joy ride since the year 2000, when 175 children from different special schools had an hour-long sojourn in an Airbus A-300 aircraft. A similar flight was operated for physically and mentally challenged children in December 2001, to commemorate World Disabled Day in which 161 children participated.

AI is hoping that the operation of the special flights for deprived children for the third consecutive year would find them a place in the Guinness Book of World records.

PTI