I am the luckiest man in the world.

[vicarz]

I used to try and calm the fears of people scared of flying by pointing out that it is so rare that someone dies in a plane crash that if you are one of those few you should consider yourself fortunate. I mean, you could ride rides in amusement parks forever and never get the same unpredictable nature of a runway crash or a plunge to earth from 30,000 feet. I've yet to find someone who finds this comforting.

Today, for my making fun of my plane, I leaned back and realized how lucky I was to fly this crazy thing. It was fun! I had the entire back to myself - they asked anyone to sit in the back because it made it easier to fly the nose-heavy plane. Sure I could be scared, but I figure I'd be a better dead statistic than someone with kids - I have no one reliant upon me, easy to clean up. I watched the view from the front, watched the pilot's arms crossing as they pulled different levels and adjusted switches. Watching through the window, you could see that the wind took the plane, and the pilots only adjusted our course afterwards...this was particularly apparent when we landed. The pilot lined us up to the lines on the runway, the wind blew us right, he adjusted left and then we were blown right, then up and down...it was just silly. Remember flight simulator? But, I'm not feeling fear - it's just fun to feel the ride. I relax and let the whole thing sway like I'm bareback at a trot.

I could be annoyed at this trip. Instead I'm just having fun. Is it cramped, could I use a coke, am I 2000x more likely to die in a tiny plane than an air-bus? Sure. But this is something I might never get to experience if it weren't for this insane job I have.

I talked to the pilots (hello kitty sticker on the luggage is a great door opener), and asked how an airline can afford to fly with about as many passengers as pilots. The simple answer was - you can't. I was told that some years ago an act was passed that, because the commercial industry didn't think it was worth flying to small towns throughout USia, so they subsidize regular flights to tiny towns even if they lose money. If this sounds unusual to you, think about the fact that a local letter costs the same as one sent to the end of a rural route in the mountains - this country has always subsidized outlying areas. There are arguments for and against that.

I got into my crop duster plane, a 19 seater with 2 propellers. There were 3 passengers and 2 crew. You heard the propellers churn the air like an old movie (less guns). Flying over Kansas I looked out the window at the country made of polygons to see multiple wind farms. The copilot is female, she noted when a man asked if there was beverage service, that there was no airline attendant. Heh.

Dodge City: KS
I couldn't believe this was an airport. Stepping off the plane, I get blown around by the wind immediately. Better, I smell moo. WOW do I smell moo. Moo is not horse, but oddly it smells good to me. Moo smell. I think we're in Kansas, Totoro. As I'm in a good mood and used to the fact that people in small towns tend to be a lot friendlier than in the cities, I small broadly at the elderly gentleman who is holding the door to the tiny airport for me. He asks if I'm (name) and while surprised at the question, I tell him yes. He explains he's from the car rental company, he has a car for me (they only come out for reservations) but I'll have to wait because a lady got off the plane, and he'd be holding the door for her. *beam* I say of course, shake his hand and smile. I walk inside, where my living room compares to the lobby of this airport, and TSA is one guy and a door. He sets me up with a car, tells me everything I know and I keep smiling patiently - and enjoying the fact that he is so sincerely doing the very best job he can. I decline his offer of a map at least 3 times, noting I already have one, before I decide he'd be happier if I took one so I accept. Giving me the map, he shows me the route to get to the hotel - and tells me that I can do what I like, but I might be best served if I went to "Cacie's" rather than the steakhouse. I shake his hand another time and head out.

I got in the car and turned on the radio, button number 1, and the clash flowed into the car. I laughed, put down the windows to embrace the wind with it's moo smell, and smiled the whole way I drove down the airport drive wondering why I was so damn lucky. How in the holy hell did I land in this job where I get to fly in amusement park rides and talk to interesting people?

But I'm missing "Kung fu from beyond the grave" at psychotronic tonight...

Comments

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Dunno? Company was great lakes aviation, Beechcraft 1900 turboprop plane, 19 seats?

[minniethemoocha.livejournal.com]

Nice! The first time I flew in one of those was literally right after 9/11, when everyone was freaked out about flying. I felt relatively safe in that little plane, since, dude, you could barely have taken out an ice cream truck with that thing.