Have a great day.
ILLUSIONS of a dreamy Pilot
In his school days, Shankar has always nursed deep within his heart to become a pilot of a civilian plane one day.
Little did he know that he was destined to become a journalist in New Delhi, and would see the skies watching planes.
And his childhood thoughts continue to hit him at the very sight of a plane, even after 31 years of journalism.
Shankar slips into his dream once again along with a dummy co-pilot, dreaming they are having coffee in the cockpit, relaxing when the aircraft is in auto pilot.
……eh Shankar, Airport is approaching, prods his co-pilot. Let us get in touch with the ATC. ‘Commander’ Shankar gradually sinks deep into his sub-consciousness and puts himself in pilot-mode….
Suddenly he hears ATC saying, come in Flight 200;
The Commander (Shankar dreams) responds, specify the runway flight 200.
You are approaching runway 2005, confirm Flight 200.
As the flight is in the runway path, the ATC says it’s 3000 feet, Flight 200.
Shankar pushes a button and the carriageway opens.
ATC says carriage way open, flight 200 is 2000 feet high.
Shankar greets passengers of his flight; good evening we are landing at New Delhi Airport. Please switch off your mobile.
Weather outside is 4 degrees Celsius.
ATC crackles Flight 200
It is 1000 feet
500 feet
400 feet
200 feet
100 feet
Land!
Then Shankar pushes the throttle down and it makes a perfect landing with screeching of tyres and it taxies to the Airport.
Both the pilots write the logs of various metres and they come out of the plane and head straight to the van waiting for them.
The crew reports to the duty officer, head for hotel this time.
Again the flight is taking off to Mumbai at 1300 hours, and Shankar and his co-pilot report at 1130 AM.
They go to the Airlines Office and are taken to the van and they sit in the cockpit one by one they check all the cockpit metres----
Altitude!
Weather!!!
Undercarriage!!!
Meanwhile, the luggage is being loaded. They keep checking weight, the flight is being re-fuelled; weight is okay.
The passengers keep trickling in and are showed their seats by the crew.
It is 1230 hrs
After the last passenger comes in, the knob of shutting the doors are pressed; the door is closed and the ladder is removed.
After the tractor is gone, Commander Shankar informs the ATC for permission to take off this flight 106.
Come in ATC, this is flight 106 come in ATC.
Meanwhile, Shankar talks to passengers; good afternoon, this is your Commander Shankar speaking to you; we will be shortly taking off to Mumbai. The flight duration is two hours please switch off your mobiles and fasten your seat belts.
The commander now taxies to the runway slowly, the flight is taxing to the runway. It waits for another plane to take off.
Then the commander pushes the throttle, it gathers speed and after it has crossed the runway, the undercarriage is closed.
Come in ATC this is Flight 106
ATC Flight 106 you are at the height of 2000 feet…………
Then another flight after 48 hours
· This time to Bangalore
· After that 10 days rest
· The flight is in the night at 1000 hrs
· The pilot and co-pilot report at 2030 hrs
· The tail lights and undercarriage lights of the plane are flickering
Then comes the Editor from behind in the News Room----which was Shankar’s cockpit till a moment ago---and disturbs Shankar’s illusory dream.
Shankar replies coyly, “Sir, doing a story----One dead, two injured in a road accident…”
Huun! acknowledges the editor, not bothering to tell his junior that it’s time you bother about flying high instead of doing ridiculous stories, day in and day out, with a cup of tasteless tea.
“Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished. If you’re alive, it isn’t.”
