Flying Mile High Chapter 18
#6 of Flying Mile High
09:25am. Sydney time: Joe put the car in park, and killed the engine in the crew parking lot. Gwen readjusted her tie and was about to open the door when Joe stopped her.
"Gwen, you're wearing the wrong uniform, let me help you."
Joe unbuttoned the epaulette straps on her shoulders and took off the three stripes she had on her shoulder. He removed his own epaulette and replaced the four stripes he had onto Gwen's epaulette strap before buttoning it.
"There you go Captain; your uniform is all sorted".
Gwen looked at the 4 stripes on her shoulder and smiled to herself.
Joe opened the door and went to the trunk to grab their blazers.
*****
A pilot's ranking can be recognised by the number of stripes on their epaulette or blazer sleeves. The usual ranking for most airlines are the following:
No epaulette: Trainee One stripe: Second Officer (no such ranking in Air Tangara) Two stripes: Junior First Officer (Kyle's ranking) Three stripes: Senior First Officer (Gwen's ranking) Four stripes: Captain (Joe's ranking)
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The corgi operating the sign in desk had her glasses on and was busy typing something into the computer when she noticed Joe and Gwen approaching the table. Joe slapped his worker's ID on the table to retrieve his flight plan.
"The jump seat should be empty on this charter flight. Do you mind putting First Officer Miles in for jump seat?"
The corgi continued to scroll through the page on her screen before sending a job to the printer.
"Yup, the jump seat is currently untaken. First officer Miles, if you would please present your worker's ID. Captain Williams, this is your flight plan and weather chart. Have a pleasant journey sir."
Joe took the printed information from the table while Gwen gave the corgi her worker's ID.
"I've never seen you around before. Are you new here?" she asked.
"Yes, I just started working here 3 days ago. I just passed my private pilot's license and I'm in need of money to further my training. Hope to become a part of the crew in a few years time. By the way, my name is Amanda if you want to call me by name."
Amanda swiped Gwen's ID and typed a few things into the system before printing another set of documents for Gwen to sign.
"Thank you Amanda." Gwen quickly read through the terms and conditions before signing her name. "It's not easy working in the mens lair you know. Funny how at the airport, some people mistake me for a hostie."
Amanda laughed and took in the signed paperwork.
"My best friend is currently a Junior First Officer for Cathay Pacific, the Cantonese airline with loads of fellow Aussie pilots. She is based in Sydney but specialises in the Sydney to Hong Kong route so she often has layovers in Hong Kong, before flying to other cities the next day such as Beijing, Taipei and Cairns. We try to catch up with each other whenever possible but it is quite a hectic work schedule for her so we mostly communicate through Facebook. I guess she pretty much inspired me to become a pilot, which is why I'm not afraid to enter the mens territory unhung."
Gwen got rudely pushed aside as a husky threw his worker's ID at Amanda.
"I really need your help. My flight boards in fifteen minutes, and I'm really late."
Amanda frowned in anger at the familiar pilot as she swiped his ID into the system.
"Your flight doesn't board until the next hour. In fact, you've just been rude to a member of your own crew who is higher ranked than you are. Say sorry to her!"
Joe handed Gwen the flight plan, and folded his arms at the sight of the disgraced First Officer.
Kyle turned, "I'm sorry captain, I'm sorry for being rude and selfish."
Gwen smiled to herself; she was enjoying the authority she was getting.
"You must be Kyle, the one who doesn't believe women can fly. Guess what? I outrank you asshole!" Gwen sneered.
Gwen took the time to explain to a puzzled Amanda how both she and Joe met Kyle for the first time and the naively sexist remark he made. Amanda laughed it off and handed Kyle back his workers ID along with a second copy of the flight plan and weather chart. Gwen took the two boys to the designated briefing room where they did the usual crew briefing, led by Gwen.
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9:45am: Janice opened her locker to retrieve her waist coat and neckerchief. She started to tie the two ends of the neckerchief, when she realised it will be the last time she followed this work routine. Janice buttoned her waistcoat and locked the door to her locker with a key.
"Morning Janice!"
Janice jumped from the unexpected voice and turned her head. It was Harry, a young dingo about the same age as her.
"Morning Harry." she replied. As if she was serving a passenger, she forced a smile and hid any form of sadness on her face.
"You seem cheerful, where are you off to?"
"Cairns, taking a business woman on a charter flight. You?"
"Bali, it will be an overnight stay before heading back so I get to enjoy the beach. By the way, I've just started a love relationship with a guy I met on a trip to Hong Kong two days ago."
Janice's ears perked upon hearing about something to gossip about.
"Really? How is he?"
Harry chuckled at Janice's response but carried on.
"Met him while heating up the hash browns for the passengers breakfast, turns out we have a lot of things in common. After landing he took me to a floating seafood restaurant when things started getting a little steamy. When we were taking the tube back the hotel we couldn't hold ourselves back and we kissed. Had a great night together in the hotel room. My heart was pounding when I woke up, seeing him still asleep with his arms wrapped around me. Not sure whether you've met him yet. His name is Christopher Gallagher, a Beagle."
Janice thought for a bit but couldn't remember anyone called Christopher as a member of the crew.
"Don't think I've met him before. I got to go now, I need to head to briefing."
Janice's smile faded away as she left the lockers, and headed for the crew briefing room.