Everyday we fly, and it has been every day except for one, we fly about 3 3/4 hours, which covers close to 700 miles since we go about 200 mph. So what are we doing up there? Well, Rick is mostly busy talking to towers, checking in with flying routes, and being notified of any traffic near us. Today was out of the ordinary for that. As we flew past Edwards Air Force Base, he was notified that there was an "unmanned aerial vehicle with chase plane" he was to watch out for. Well, let me tell you, this ex-air force pilot of mine couldn't strain his neck more looking for that! Didn't ever see it but what a thrill.
Not much later, we hear an airliner pilot that was approaching LA airport call in. (In the air you hear all communications to the air traffic control space you are in. See the headphones we wear? They let you hear it all, talk to the control towers and block out noise from the plane's engine, too.). So the pilot says, "My plane is flying okay, but my instruments say my wing flaps are unequal." (These flaps are crucial for slowing the plane down when landing.) Then he asks for the longest runway to land on. At that point the controller asks how many passengers are on board, and how much fuel was he carrying. A few seconds the pilot says " yes, I am declaring this an emergency". So the runway was closed to everyone else, and emergency vehicles were brought on hand. At this point we are switched to Van Nuys tower where we were landing! We checked and no news about it which is good news. And that is one part of being on the plane.
My life on the plane is different. I get to take photos, and serve us breakfast. I do not back seat drive.
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