Ode to an Airline Captain
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The snow plow crews had earned their pay this Christmas eve day. The runway and taxiway had not a bit of snow. MSP on final seemed to be a black and white photograph as the snow was piled high around and away from the concrete. Approach seemed to be in slow motion as a polar blast had settled in and the winds while weak were down the runway bone dry and frigid. The airplane was going through a whole mass of thick very thick air. Safety margins traditionally wide safety was the official religion of commercial aviation were made morbidly obese by physics and the work of the airport crews. The breaks that dissipated the kinetic energy of the seven thirty seven turning it into heat had the heat was rapidly absorbed into sub zero air temps. The cold dry air was dense so the speed over the ground was less then one hundred twenty miles an hour when the main gear touched. The airplane was full of people heading home for Christmas. As the spoilers deployed and reverse thrust rendered more effective in the cold the large airplane shed speed fast. In his mind the Air Force Academy training he received in the 1970s was still very much in command the goal was perfection.
Contrary to popular belief once the airplane left the runway attention level of the cockpit crew remained the same if not increased. Airports meant airplanes and vehicles around. The fact that airplanes were closer and ground vehicles were closer only meant that eyes had to be open looking out for the other guy. Yes ground control was watching and yes those who were in other airplanes were watching and those in ground vehicles should be watching. The simple fact is pros assumed the worst safety was what was because people assumed the worst. The airplane made it from the runway to the gate. Only when the shutdown checklist was complete did the thought of Christmas eve fully enter Captain John's mind. Christmas eve day 2008 was a day that commercial aviation did not make the news. Thousands of flights full of people no crashes nothing out of the ordinary.
John Smith Air Force academy graduate 1977 from Big Spring Texas dealt with the cold air as he went up the jet way and back out through security catching transportation to his hotel for the night. At check in he made his usual request blocking of all porn channels at room. The flight attendants and even female first officer chuckled a bit. Captain Smith as others had found out was indeed an elder at San Antonio Bible Church.
Captain Smith had made it to the left seat of Southwest Airlines. He had a career that began at the Air Force academy. He had early on in his life at an Air Force base on the high plains of Texas he had been introduced to the T-37 on a school field trip. On that day he vowed to be an Air Force pilot. Captain Smith would cross paths with the airplane he had seen as kid first as a classroom he had to master then as an office where he trained instructors that would train others. Captain Smith finally made it Eagle country and during the end of Cold War he was flying F-15s in a squadron out of Iceland. He knew well the sound of Soviet Bear with its large counter rotating props dubbed one of the nosiest airplanes in the history of aviation. Now he bore a frighten resemblance to George Scharier and Bill Allen. Captain John Smith wore glasses had a balding head and now white hair in his late fifties. He looked like a mousy church elder or an accountant. His reputation was simply that of a good stick.
He ate dinner with the crew at the hotel restaurant. The air was so cold the weather so wicked and Christmas eve meant eating out almost unthinkable. Ah airline flying once thought glamorous now a streak of hotel rooms punctuated by long fun filled days at home and a Piper Arrow in a hangar at Boerne Stage. Elsewhere he did not think what was happening.
Warrant officer Schmit had made it home. He knew about the headwinds and the thick air as the Southwest Airliner made its way westward from Long Island he had gotten some leave from Ft.Dix. His parents were now passed sixty and they stuck it out their winters on the great plains the thousand lakes. The house was modest. He arrived at 7pm they would make the traditional midnight mass. His father a German immigrant who only recently given up ice fishing was glad to see him. The Egg Nog had rum in it. They would drink this first cup. He would go to the non alcoholic soon but the taste of rum in Egg Nog. His younger sister was alight to see him. They would attend midnight mass as a family that night.
Karen Richards had gotten the cheap flight from Long Island she was a sophomore at NYU. She hugged her mother when she met her at the baggage claim. Karen had enjoyed her time studying International Business at New York University. The Christmas cookies were great. That night they would talk. Nat King Cole's Christmas music echoed in the nice house. Her older brother had made it in on earlier flight from Houston. His new wife an niece were thrilled to see Karen. The house was warm amongst the cold.
Eldridge Kaiser's BMW started when he cranked it in long term parking. The business man had just completed a deal. A radio show syndicated had found itself now hooked to a larger umbrella of radio stations. He liked Southwest it had a class and style despite its open seating he paid more for his ticket and the perks now being offered were nice. He had a nice bonus to take to his bank. Right now though his beautiful wife and young daughter awaited. He made it home by 7:30pm he was greeted by his three year old daughter shouting "Daddy" no sound was sweeter to his ear.
John Smith took the elevator back to his room and made note of the time. Christmas eve service was beginning at San Antonio Bible Church. He called his wife she was in Houston with his daughter who was hosting the get together. She was hard at work on the shuttle replacement. The conversation was twenty minutes long he would have an early flight out to Houston to join them. He was based out of Hobby. He was going to be Captain on the leg to his daughter's apartment the following morning at eight.
In heaven John Smith's savior noted he was unaware he had served others. In due time John Smith would find out and the joy Karen Richards, Eldridge Kaiser , Ed Schmitt had known that night. The night the world was honoring the birth of savior the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world born in a stable. A servant of that lamb fell asleep having served others.