Flying Too Close to the Sun by George Jehn (novels for beginners .txt) 📕

“That’s true, but there’s lots of history when it comes to the Logan field. Like you said, from day one every pilot is taught to take off and land into the wind because it’s safer due to the slower ground speed; basic common sense. But for years common sense was one commodity lacking in the people who ran Logan. Ironically, the airport was named after General Edward Logan, a Spanish American war hero who never even saw a plane. Never having flown must have also been the case with the Massachusetts Port Authority bureaucrats, ‘cause these idiots made noise-abatement procedures take precedence over flight safety by forcing us to make tail wind and horrendous crosswind takeoffs. Can you imagine, speeds over a hundred and fifty miles per hour and their procedures added on another ten or fifteen with needless tailwinds. This continued until a bunch of pilots, including yours truly, went public stating the situation was so dangerous it was a disaster just waiting to happen, but none of the pencil pushers cared. After lots of prodding, our union hierarchy finally sent up a red flag and the entire matter turned into a big political football. But the union held firm, publicly stating flight safety must take precedence over noise abatement. It was the ultimate threat of total noise abatement by airline pilots, no flights in or out of Logan, which finally brought the idiots to their senses.”

“That little tool works every time,” a smiling Woody interjected.

Christina still savored the victory. “Strict regulations were enacted, which is why we use 22 Right for takeoff during the warmer months when the prevailing southerly winds bring in heavy fog right around sunset. When we land on the seven o’clock shuttle, you can see the fog banks just lying in wait over the water, ready to cloak the airport. When the sun sets and the landside temperature drops, usually right around our final departure time, the fog rolls in so quickly the visibility is reduced to near zero in a heartbeat. On 22 Right we only need an eight of a mile for takeoff, six-hundred and sixty feet, which is damned little. This translates into almost always using that runway. The noise footprint on 22 Right is also fairly low, so everyone’s happy. We get home safely and our takeoffs don’t upset the locals who apparently vote with their ears.”

Shortly after their Boston arrival Woody jetted off to the employee cafeteria. Erik was about to leave when Christina’s feathery fingers softly touched his left shoulder. “Let’s chat—privately. Please close and bolt the cockpit door so one can enter, even with a key.”

Christina swiveled around and faced him with her crystalline blue eyes seemingly taking in everything, but her expressionless image gave back nothing. It was just the two of them surrounded by hundreds of dials and gauges, the myriad of blinking lights reflecting off their faces, giving both a luminescent, bizarre appearance. When Christina finally spoke, her voice was a mere whisper. “Shuttle Air is a small airline and I figure it’s going to wind up in the garbage heap when the larger airlines and the government subsidized high speed trains take us on in the shuttle market. So because of your immediate financial problem and my difficulties, it would be nice to have a sizeable nest egg for future peace of mind for the both of us.”

“Amen,” Erik replied. What could be coming next?

To let her words sink in further she told him, “I double-checked in Volume One, the official Shuttle Air pilot handbook and your bank problem puts your job at stake. Let me read you an excerpt.” Reaching into her frayed black leather flight bag, she retrieved an approximate two-hundred-page, small, dark blue covered book with large white lettering entitled, Shuttle Air Flight Operations Manual. “This is the bible to management and addresses virtually every aspect of the airline from a pilot’s perspective; how operations are to be conducted, dress code, on and off-duty conduct, stuff like that.” She turned to a folded-back page with a paragraph entitled Fiscal Responsibility and read it aloud: “‘Assignment, attachment, garnishment of wages, complaints from creditors, and/or proven financial irresponsibility will subject the pilot to severe disciplinary action, including discharge.’ It’s crystal clear. If the bank goes to O’Brien and demands your debt be withheld from your paycheck, your employment will be history.”

“Why are you..?”

She put up her hand. “But, if you participate in what I’m about to propose, all that goes by the wayside.”

Erik added in an unusually shrill voice, “Enough!” sounding like he had a degree in advanced whimpery. “What is it?”

Pavlov was right, she thought. “This is about money,” she stated matter of factly, raising the brows above her previously cool blue eyes, now afire. “And, a nice amount,” attempting to come across as Miss Confidence. “You’ll be able to repay your bank debt and we can both secure our futures no matter what happens to Shuttle Air. I can’t do this by myself. It’s illegal and we’ll both do time if caught, although I’m certain that won’t happen.” She gave Erik a moment to absorb what was said and continued. “Before revealing any more, I need your solemn pledge what I tell you will go no further. We’ll be in this together, all the way with no turning back.” After a short pause adding, “There’s money onboard our last flight and we stand to make a lot...”

“How much?”

“Do I have your word you won’t repeat this to anyone?”

He nodded his head.

“Use an approximate figure of three quarters of a million each.”

“Without robbing a bank?”

“Without even touching the money. Look, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose. You won’t have to worry about O’Brien or your job. You’ll be out of harm’s way and have enough to tell O’Brien to fuck off, if that’s what you want. And it should take only a short time to carry out.”

“We use guns?”

“No violence and no one will get hurt. All