Heroes of the free world, Episode 1: Dreamliner ... and the lack of sleep Options

[Roman Geber]

Paris Orly, Airport Hotel - 02:33 UTC:

Just a few hours ago the 767 bringing me home from Bangkok for a few days landed. The car for the next day was booked. Normandy was my destination. A few days at the sea, long walks along endless, deserted beaches, the salty air blowing in my face and no worries about Freeworld and other matters. But it came different. The phone must have rang for a while already when it finally managed to break my usual deep sleep. "Hey! Are you alright?" Mike's voice yelled out the speaker. "I was trying to get you for ages. ... Hello?"

I hate it to be woken up. Beds and planes are my home ... and I hate phones. Anyway, Mike would not have called if there wasn't something that couldn't wait. "Mike ... do you have any idea what time it is?" Of course he knew. Mike seems to carry all 24 timezones in his head. Ask him about the current time in any timezone, he knows it. Unlike me who has more then enough trouble to remember the century we're living in.

"Roman, we have a problem over here. The flight crew for tomorrows 787 pickup fell ill. Ate something wrong, I don't know. I checked for a replacement, but I can't get anybody in time to fly that thing to Toronto tomorrow."

Crud ... now he want me to do it? "Alright, I'm coming out. Any flights?"

I knew Mike had it all sorted before calling. "Sure. You know that supplement we provide for Air France on their SFO route? Get on that plane. In SFO you'll have a plane doping you off at Paine Field."

Mike carried on giving me the details, which he sent via email an hour ago. When I finally got rid of him, I realized I had about 2 hours to get that plane. A quick checkout later I sat in a mad drivers Taxi to CDG.



San Francisco:

The plane was full. No spot left for me. So I spent the whole flight on board the A340-600 in the cockpit listening to some Podcasts since I can never sleep in the cockpit. Ok ... I'd call that an advantage in this job.

When I finally got of that bucket Mike was there to greet me. "Welcome to the States!"
He spent the last month over there scheming and plotting the US part of our north american route expansion. Now that he mentions the states I seem unable to remember when I've been here the last time. With Mike taking care of most things I spent my time piloting planes around Asia.

"Hi Mike. Whats the news?"
My back hurt, I was tired and I listened to 8 episodes of Chaosradio Express in one go. That was new. But besides me being miserable the whole world seemed to down in joy. At least mike did.

"Oh nothing you wouldn't know of already. Good to see you! Has been a long time. We have a great time here getting things sorted out. ... Bla Bla Bla." After the words great and time being combinded to one expression I usually stop listening ... especially after being draged across the pond against my will. I pretended to listen while we drove around the airport.

I watched all the planes we passed on the way to the hangar and thought "My goodness, there are really a lot of aircraft in the world. I wonder who keeps count of them." Not the most exciting thought but at least it distracted me from Mikes bubbling about great times.

We came to a halt in front of another A340-600 wearing a freeworld skin. Like all big airbusses it was just a permanent rental. We where still waiting for our deliveries. "We're all ready to go." Mike rejoiced with joy soaked voice. "Ähm, where is the plane?" I asked. Usually we hire some smaller plane like a King Air or a PC-12 to get us out to Paine field. But there was none in sight. "We take the 340. It just got checked out by the local maintenance crew. Needs a testflight anyway."

For a few moment I did not find words to respond to what I just heard and before I found them Mike dragged me up the stair. I didn't say anything until we where up in the air then I approached Mike. "We're going to land in Paine field with an Airbus ... an Airbus A340?"

"Yes."

"Ah ... when did you have your last medical?"

"2 month ago."

"Go get another one!"


Paine field:

One of Boeings marketing managers came to welcome us. His name was Harry and appearantly Mike and he did know each other well. "Thank god you could make it! I heard about your crew. We got worried you might now be able to pick the new jet up today!" What a douche. As if he would really care about them. I hate marketing people. They are so ... happy.

We drove over to the assembly field while our plane took off again, back to SFO. "Interesting transportation for a pickup flight, I must say" Harry mentioned after seeing the worlds longest aircraft departing from Paine field. Mike smilied. "More comfortable than the usual PC-12." It almost seemed to break Harries marketing heart to see an Airbus landing in Boeing land. I wonder if I'll see him again.

We passed a 777-200ER. Mike poked me and told me: "That one should be next to pick up. That is, if Dhruv and his team gets it done anytime soon."

Finally we arrived at our latest Dreamliner. Mike got off: "Nice! Our original crew cleared it for pickup. They where supposed to take it today."

Usually I don't mind being out at Paine field but today all I wanted was getting to bed. "Mike, you clear the payment and all that. Should take long enough. I get the plane ready. I want to get out of here as soon as I can."

Hours passed and since there was nothing much left to get ready for departure I took a nap in one of the first class seats. Thank goodness this was a three class model.

When Mike and I took the pilots seats I felt less like crashing into the next best mountain. "Alright, its ours." he said "Next stop, or should I say, first stop, Toronto!"


Toronto:

Mike did the landing. He had a lot less hours on the Dreamliner than me and I just didn't feel like landing myself. At the stand I said: "I'm impressed. Last time you landed that little Airbus we needed to change tires." Mike hates that little escapade of his flying career. In his defense, the weather was bad. But still. Its fun to remind him about these blown tires.

The Toronto ground crew, got us to the terminal where I parted with Mike to finally get some sleep. Mike the old powerhouse took off again to meet with some managers of Newark Airport latet that day.

---
Photos:




Our plane has been in that plane ... creepy




Now, which one was ours again?




Ah ... that one!




Lets see ... two engines. Right? I guess its right.




Gear ... down and locked. Hopefully it will survive the landing in Toronto.





Dhruv?




Whats Austins Biz at Paine Field? And why does he drive a truck? And ... whats in that truck? Bugs?





Nose up ... plane up ... gear up ... thumbs up!





Saying goodbye to KPAE with a midfield crossing. Thanks to to great minds at Boeing giving us a great plane!

--

cu
Roman

[MikeHotel]

Tires? You mention those tires again and I'll book you on a full marketing mumbo-jumbo tour with Harry for at least a day...

[Roman Geber]

Tires? I don't know anything about tires

cu
Roman

[curro]

Ha, ha, ha!!!!
Great story, Roman!, thank you for sharing it with us.
I will pick up the next 787 that's ready for delivery!
Cheers.

[Roman Geber]

as long as you don't wake me up like Mike here

If you do, get the KPAE scenery, its a beauty. Too bad its not a good regular destination for pax. But I'll sure go there a lot as soon as our cargo airline goes live.

cu
Roman