NIGHTMARE AT FRANKFURT

28/12/09
STOCKHOLM
Picture Con Air: The ‘Safe’ off shoring of Airline Repair Indonesia
FLYING A BLESSING OR A CURSE.
I was flying the air-bus from Vancouver to Frankfurt, it was a cloudy day still beautiful as I sat on my seat, I was very careful pilot since I am new to this world of aviation, I believed in keeping passengers happy on ground and in the skies, I tried by best when I had to bump into turbulences. I was trained by a senior pilot who worked for more than 30 years with the British air force who has seen various tarmacs all his strength is patience and respect to aviation. The best aviator who has spent most of his life in the skies. Even though I am fresh to the flying profession I was encouraged and given chance to fly the airbus on my own by one of the leading airline owner who has number of antique models and latest ones. He had a great obsession to fly since his childhood. Landing on the frozen run-ways is breath-taking task for inexperienced pilot because the plane has to be brought to standstill at the end of the run-way from the cruising speed of 900 kilometers per hour some minutes earlier. Applying brakes to the plane I have been flying for a couple of months is no less difficult an exercise than stopping simultaneously 4,000 five seater motor cars travelling at the speed of 65 kilometers per hour.

Flying smooth at forty-five thousand feet in a cloudless sky. I lowered the plane down, I saw the city was glittering like millions of stars fallen to earth it was an enormous emporium of glowing lights. The city had its own rhythm a modern metropolis; none could resist the glory of the city as I was nearing the air-port. I pushed the controls down and the plane began to descend, I picked up the microphone waiting for the ground clearance my face was filled with anticipation I was nervous, since I have heard Frankfurt is filled with endless planes and the run-way was soggy. Then I heard a dry voice of Spanish accent Frankfurt main ground on run-way WH34R. I responded in a broken voice seeing the fleet on planes landed in clusters before I could think of landing I heard the wheels touch the exact runway I took a deep breath, the wheels roared, reduction of the speed results in decrease in the force of the opposing wind and decrease in the pressure under the wings. At last I turned to the point and released the exits.

I got down with a satisfaction at last I made it, frisked for my phone, only few passengers flew that day mostly Americans as soon as they deplaned I had to pull the plane aside, then I had to take a semi circle round the terminal saw the planes packed closed adjacent to me. I went round the terminal and was about turn at the edge of the terminal that was never expected since I had my own ways of cruising levels. I felt something unusual had happened to my front was the Airbus-380 behind me was the DHL logistics carrier aborted. I started breathing faster I just pulled back and went forward and rushed to see what had happened, to my surprise I was burnt to shame my face bewildered there was a deep cut on the fuselage few inches away from the left wing. My nerves were set on fire the air in my lungs went hotter trust me I was sweating at a freezing temperature as this would blemish my flying career. I stood helpless leaning to the wheel found myself isolated from everyone.

I pulled the plane to the line of rest cursing myself and was searching answers for the consequences yet to come. I had no sleep that night thinking of the fault and waiting for the verdict I had to go through. Late night I crept into sleep unknowingly, early in the morning I woke the dent flashed on my mind and the day started off with fear and guilt for my negligence. After few minutes my phone was flickering it was a call from the aviation board I started running all around my room squeezing the phone in my palms. I never knew how to start or respond I was not ready to face anyone about last night’s recklessness.

The screen faded off then again I had some life left in my lungs and bounced back to life for few minutes, then again flickered it was probably an omen to me what a fate was mine. I was not ready to be penalized or to be set free for the fault I have committed. Then for the third time I made my mind so strong to talk. Then said hello as if I was still sleeping, it was the chairman of the airline I was working for he said where did it happen my heart froze, I struggled for words to flow out of my mouth I then said at Frankfurt main at the terminal edge Sir he said OK! He did not say anything that made me die with guilt. The flesh under my skin crawled as my flying license would be cancelled. The senior pilots comforted me but I was not able to overcome until I paid for my error. After that I gave up my flying career for some time, it’s not like I will stop flying but just taking a six-month break and will be back into the skies. That was an acid test for me as I learnt to be very keen and accurate, I can’t blame the plane or the terminal. There are good things we learn from the bad things that happen to us.

JUNIOR AVIATOR,
SUMAN.