Stanley Stewart was born and educated in Glasgow, where he learned to fly in the University Air Squadron. After graduating with a BSc in mechanical engineering he entered air training school and, one year later, qualified for his commercial pilot's licence and instrument rating. He joined the then BOAC as a second officer in 1970 with a grand total of 350 flying hours. In 1973 he obtained his flight navigator's licence and for three years navigated the world's air routes as part of his duties. In 1977 he qualified for his UK airline transport pilot's licence and, in 1979 also obtained a Canadian airline transport rating. In 1990 he gained his command on the Boeing 747 and now has over 15,000 flying hours on heavy jets and more than thirty years' experience flying around the world. In 1999 he retired from British Airways and at present he is a captain with Airfreight Express flying 747 cargo aircraft on world-wide routes.