#British Airways Flight change | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

harryyskiwii · 11 months

Text

Summary: Flight Attendant Y/N meets Captain Harry Styles for the first time and they join the mile high club, sort of.

Pairing: Reader y/n X Captain Harry

Word count: 4,207

A/N: Hey everyone! So sorry I haven’t posted in a while. I’ve been on holiday the last week and that is what inspired me to write this 🥰As always, please feel free to request anything! Hope you enjoy!

One of the things you enjoyed most about being a flight attendant was the thrill of being able to visit new places, if only for a brief period of time.

You had worked for British Airways for 3 years now and soon you would be hoping to step up to Team Leader where you could help train and look after new flight attendants.

You usually only did short-haul flights out of your base which was London Heathrow and flew across Europe; the longest flight being 6 hours. Short hail suited you, you typically flew to 3 or 4 places within a day and by 1 am, you were back in your bed. That’s if all went to plan. For today’s first flight, you were heading to Dusseldorf in Germany, somewhere you regularly flew to.

You parked your car in the staff area of the airport, changed out of your trainers and into your small black court shoes as driving in heels was never comfortable.

You pulled out your small case from the boot of your car which contained a spare uniform because you won’t be caught out again; on a previous flight a passenger spilt their red wine all over you one time and you had no spare shirt to change into, your water, your lunch because aeroplane food was awful and some spare makeup to top up with in between flights.

You smoothed out your navy pencil skirt, so old fashioned you thought, and tied the red, white and blue scarf around your neck ready to enter the airport.

You headed straight for security and through the fast track lane since you were crew. Once past, you headed to the staff area to check which gate you had to go through to get to the aircraft.

Approaching gate 7, you showed the staff your pass and they nodded and let you go.

You headed towards the aircraft, where you saw the First Officer; Andy doing the pre-flight walk-around. You had flown with Andy for the best part of a year and you knew him well. He got into flying after he fancied a change in career from being in the police. You always liked Andy, he was a father to 2 girls who he adored and always made the typical dad jokes which meant it was normally a good flight with him

“Alright wee one, nice to see you” he smiled at you. “Hey, how are you?” You smiled back at him.

“I’m good, ready for 12 hours of pure joy?” He joked and you laughed. “Always” you replied.

“Who’s the Captain today?” You asked, always fearing if it would be one of the older, slightly rude Captains or one more relaxed and friendly.

“New guy, Styles his name is. Seems like a good bloke, think Daniel already has the hots for him” he winked and you laughed.

You relaxed at the mention of Daniel who you had become best friends with after you had both started the job on the same day. You loved working with him as he always seemed to make the flight go in faster.

“Hey! Am I glad to see you today” you said once inside the aircraft.

“Hey!!” He said hugging you “I’ve not been with you on a flight for ages, we’ve got a lot of catching up to do!” he said excitedly. You laughed as he always saw working with you as gossip sessions rather than working.

You headed towards the front portion of the plane where the crew placed their bags and got ready for the flight. You glanced in at the cockpit where you saw the Captain sitting doing the necessary paperwork before departure. Although you could only see the back of him you could tell he was wearing his black double-breasted black jacket with the 4 gold stripes on both the epaulettes and the sleeve of his jacket; showing his ranking as Captain.

He had short, dark brown hair which you could tell had been meticulously styled that morning as not a hair was out of place. You had never worked with this captain before, so you weren’t sure what to expect from him; some captains could be so far up their own, you weren’t allowed to speak to them unless spoken so you kept quiet and put your things away and headed back out to the main cabin to find 2 more girls who you didn’t recognise arriving onto the plane.

“Hi, I’m Emma, Team Leader for today. Nice to meet you” the tall blonde girl who was wearing a minimal amount of makeup but still managed to look flawless said to you.

“Hi nice to meet you, I’m y/n” “Lovely name, I’ll go sit my bag down and we can start the briefing” she smiled.

You noticed the other girl who had since boarded, she looked a little more reserved so you decided to introduce yourself.

“Hi I’m y/n, it’s nice to meet you” You smiled at her to help relax her. She looked young and a little unsure, she was maybe 18 or 19 years old so you assumed she hasn’t long qualified as cabin crew. You remember how nervous you were for your first few flights so you decided you wanted to look out for her during the day

“Hey, I’m Holly” she said. “Not long qualified?” You asked kindly.

“This is my 2nd flight” she said and you smiled.

“Don’t worry I remember my first couple of flights, it’s nerve-wracking but you’ll soon get the hang of it. There’s no better way to learn than doing it so if there’s anything you need a hand with today, just let me know. I’m always happy to help” you smiled.

“Come on, I’ll show you where to put your things” You smiled and led her towards the cockpit.

“So you can grab anything you need out of your bag and put it in the fridge if you’ve got a sandwich or anything like that, otherwise you can pop it in here and lock it, we all put our bags in one locker together

“Ahh, I thought I heard some voices. I was just coming to do the briefing” you heard the captain say from behind the cockpit door. You stood up straight and smiled at him coming out.

His eyes fell onto you first and he smiled “Harry Styles, pleasure to meet you” You shook his hand that he had extended for you and took in his beauty. He looked young, maybe 29 or 20. He had green eyes and fair skin which had a slight tan to it, making the dimple on the left side of his face more prominent.

“Y/N, lovely to meet you, Mr Styles”

“Please, call me Harry” he told you and you smiled at how genuine he seemed. Most captains would only allow you to refer to them as Captain and their last name so it was nice to have one who was more relaxed.

“This is our newbie Holly, this is her 2nd ever flight today” you smiled as you introduced the new recruit to him.

“Holly, nice to meet you. I’m Harry, hope you’re settling in well?” He asked kindly as he shook her hand.

“Nice to meet you, Captain Styles, yes settling in very well thank you” she sheepishly replied. It always was a bit intimidating to speak with a captain, especially ones you didn’t know much about.

“Call me Harry please” he smiled. “Shall we move to the cabin and start the brief?” He asked and you nodded, moving to the front part of where the passenger seats were located.

By this point, everyone was now in the cabin waiting to start the briefing. The captain introduced himself to the remaining crew members before you all took seats at the front of the plane.

“So my name is Emma I’m one of the British Airways Team Leaders and I’ll be working as number 1 for this shift. Today we’ve got Captain Harry Styles and First Officer Andrew Simmons on the flight deck. For cabin crew today we’ve got Daniel, Holly and y/n, I think we’ve already met each other by now yes?” Emma asked as she pointed to everyone during the introductions.

“Great, it’s a Boeing 777 we’re on today, I’ll let Captain Styles and First Officer Andy talk more about that in a bit. There are a total of 6 flights today; Heathrow to Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf to Heathrow, Heathrow to Las Palmas, Las Palmas to Heathrow and then Heathrow to Venice and Venice back to Heathrow. Full flights on all destinations so we need to be on top of our game in the cabin, Daniel can I ask you to be number 2 today? Holly, do you mind being 3 today and y/n as number 4?”

Number 1 meant you were looking after the passengers in the front of the plane, number 2 was in the middle of the plane, number 3 was in the back section of the plane and number 4 was an additional person who helped the rest of the team, including the flight crew.

You nodded in agreement, secretly glad you were given the position of helping to look after the captain and the FO.

“Captain Styles, do you want to run through your information?” She asked and he straightened up in his chair.

“Yeah sure I’ll just introduce myself a little more since I’m a new face to a lot of people. I’m Harry I’ve been a Captain now for 5 years having previously worked for Ryanair before moving here 3 weeks ago. Please call me Harry because Captain sounds old and although I’ve recently hit my 30s, I’m not quite there yet” This gained a few laughs from the crew, including yourself.

So he was attractive and funny? The more he spoke the more you found yourself more and more drawn to him. He was charming. But not in a cocky way, he seemed genuine and the fact he was a Pilot told you he was smart. Very smart. You always did have a thing for intelligence.

“We’ll be cruising around 30,000 feet once up in the air, weather looks good, clear skies with a 30% chance of light showers. The weather in Düsseldorf is 23 degrees which doesn’t concern us as we’ll have a 20-minute turnover before boarding to come back to the UK unfortunately, bet you wish you’d chosen long haul now Holly?” Harry joked at the fact that although travelling throughout Europe, you hardly ever got to even leave the plane.

You all laughed and Holly agreed. Harry continued with the briefing, telling you about the time durations, and quizzing everyone on emergencies, something which was legally required to ensure all crew knew what to do in the event of one.

“Thanks everyone, I think we can start boarding now” Harry smiled and Emma nodded, knowing to start the boarding procedure.

“Y/N can you help Holly if she needs a hand opening the rear door?” Emma asked and you nodded.

You headed towards the rear of the cabin with Holly behind you.

Once everything was set for boarding, you headed towards the middle of the cabin to help passengers find their seats and help with any luggage they had.

Luckily, boarding took 20 minutes and before you knew it, you were doing the safety demonstration for the passengers while the plane reversed out of the airport and to the runway. You could hear Andy’s voice informing the passengers of the information Harry had relayed to you earlier about the weather etc to keep them up to date.

With the safety demonstration over and having checked everyone had their seatbelts on, Emma nodded to you to signal that you could sit down and prepare for the take-off.

“Cabin crew take seats and prepare for take-off” you heard Captain Styles say and you smiled a little at the sound of his voice.

You sat down at the rear of the plane next to Holly and fastened your seatbelt.

“I’ve done hundreds of flights and I never get bored of the take-off or landing” you said to her quietly as you could feel the plane taxing down the runway.

“I’ve done a handful and still get nervous” she said and you squeezed her hand a little to let her know it was okay to be nervous.

He must have gone from 50mph to about 170mph in less than 30 seconds because before you knew it, you were being hauled into the air with such speed that you swear your heart fell out of your arse. A “fuck” could be heard under Holly’s breath and you laughed.

That was a sure sign of a good takeoff. For a plane to take off at such speed it requires a good sustained acceleration which was exactly what Harry did.

So he was attractive, funny, intelligent and good at lifting 150-ton planes off the ground? Was there anything this Pilot wasn’t good at?

As the plane climbed into the air, Andy’s voice could be heard over the intercom “Ladies and Gentleman please remain in your seats with your seatbelts fastened until the captain has switched off the seatbelt sign. Thank you”

A common command that was often used for eager passengers who would immediately take their seatbelts off as the plane took off the ground.

10 minutes in, the seatbelt sign was switched off and people started to immediately stand up to use the toilets, it always looked like the hunger games you thought.

Because the duration of the flight was only 1 hour and 25 minutes, only the drinks and snack service were required so you and Holly started with that as one of your first tasks, hoping to keep the passengers settled.

Halfway through the service, the alarm which alerted cabin crew to the cockpit was rung and so as the number 4, you left the drinks cart and headed to the cockpit.

You straightened out your skirt and pushed back a few loose strands of hair before knocking and going in.

“Everything alright?” You asked politely squeezing through the small door and inside the cockpit.

“I’m just gonna nip to the loo” Andy said and you nodded, understanding. It was policy that the cockpit operated a “2-person flight deck” which meant 2 people had to be in the cockpit every second the aeroplane was in use.

Andy exited and headed for the toilet.

“Come and sit down” Harry said to you as he glanced over at the seat Andy had been sat in. You moved and sat down in the First Officer’s chair.

“How’s everything out there?” He asked looking over at you. The plane was now set on autopilot meaning it no longer required the captains' manual control, rather a system was being used to control the path of an aircraft.

“Yeah everything’s good, no difficult passengers yet, although what are the chances I’ve jinxed it now” you laugh.

“For the next 5 flights, we’ll have the worst passengers in the history of aviation” he joked and you laughed at his quick white

God, he looked so good sitting there. He had taken off his jacket which revealed a clean crisp white shirt, still showing the 4 gold stripes on his shoulder, but the shirt revealed tattoos. Tattoos which made you feel there was a lot about the Pilot you wanted to find out about.

“Great takeoff by the way” you remarked to him and he smiled lightly.

“Thanks, I’d practised take-off loads in flight school and then just lots of experience I suppose”

The way he spoke was so gentle but also with such passion for his career in his voice.

“What about you, how long have you been in the air for?”

“I’ve been cabin crew for 3 years now, I love it. I was saying to Holly earlier that no matter how many times I fly, I still get the same buzz each time we take off and land”

You watched as his lips turned upwards into a smirk “You’ve not experienced my landing yet, wait until you do”

You laughed at the comment and right on time, Andy came back.

“Fancy swapping jobs for the day?” He joked when he saw you in his chair. You laughed and got up “No thank you, I’d rather not be responsible for 130 passengers” you said and they laughed.

“You guys need anything before I head back out?” You asked them both.

“Could I get a tea if possible please y/n?” Harry asked you politely.

“Of course, how do you take it?”

“Milk and 2 sugars” he told you and you took a mental note of it.

“Nothing for me thanks y/n” Andy said.

You headed back to the cabin, being stopped multiple times by passengers to ask for certain things before making this Captain his tea.

You knocked on the cockpit door and went in.

“Here’s your tea for you” you said handing it to Harry. He smiled and took it off you “Thanks” You headed back to get a Karen in row 21 the G&T she had previously asked for .

“Y/n!” You heard your name being called by the captain from behind the door of the cockpit you had just been in.

You sighed a little, sensing something was wrong and headed back in.

“That’s the best cup of tea anyone has ever made me” he remarked as he smiled at you.

You laughed slightly “I’ll add tea-making skills to my CV then”

“Honestly it’s perfect, I might have to request you on every one of my flights so you can make me the perfect cuppa”

“Right you two, enough with the flirting. Styles we’ve got 25 minutes until landing” Andy jumped in and you and Harry both laughed.

Andy winked at you and you continued with the rest of your tasks.

You arrived in Düsseldorf, with a very smooth landing from Captain Styles at 7:20 am with the next flight at 8 am, giving you a 20-minute turnaround time to get things ready for the next lot of passengers boarding. It was a quick turnaround and before you knew it, you were taking off from Düsseldorf back to London

Landing back at Heathrow at 9:30 am, the next flight was at 10:15 and already there was an issue.

A nervous passenger was starting to feel unwell and wasn’t sure if she would be able to fly to Las Palmas. You and Emma were trying to convince her that the 4-hour and 30-minute trip would be completely safe and she had nothing to worry about.

“I can’t, I can’t fly. What if the plane crashes or falls into the sea? I can’t swim, I will drown and die. I can’t” the passenger who looked no more than 25 said.

“I completely understand your nerves, I can assure you that aeroplanes these days are made to be very very safe and the chances of anything happening are so very slim” you tried to reason with her.

Meanwhile, Emma had instructed Daniel to tell the flight deck what the delay was.

“Hi, I heard we’ve got a nervous flyer?” You heard the same voice who had complimented your tea-making skills say from behind you. The woman nodded.

You looked up to see Harry standing in the cabin, looking to speak with the passenger.

You stepped back and let him crouch down beside her in her seat.

“I’m Harry, I’m the Captain who’ll be taking you over to Palma today. Can I ask your name?” He asked kindly to the passenger.

“It’s Rebecca” she said.

“Okay Rebecca, it’s nice to meet you. So Daniel explained to me that you’re quite nervous when flying?”

“Yeah, I worry the plane will crash or fall into the water”

“Okay I can see why those are concerns, the risk of a crash or the plane failing and falling into the sea is 1 in 11 million. The aircraft is completely safe and in all my years of flying, I’ve never had an emergency on board, well actually I forgot my coffee once which was a real emergency. I’m a real grump without my coffee” he joked and the passenger laughed, as did you at the comment.

“The team are all here to look after you during the flight and if you need anything at all, you can press this button above your head for assistance and they’ll be right over to help you. Does that put your mind at ease a little bit?” He asked still crouched down beside her.

“It does thank you yes captain” Rebecca smiled.

“Good, we’ll be taking off in around 10 minutes so sit back, relax and try and enjoy the flight as much as you can” He smiled and renters back into the cockpit to being the takeoff procedure.

During the flight, the nervous passenger fell asleep halfway through and only woke up when the plane was safely on the ground. Harry came to check on her as she was disembarking and she couldn’t thank him enough for his kindness in calming her down.

“It’s no trouble at all, you have a good holiday now” he told her as she left the aircraft.

So he was attractive, funny, intelligent, good at lifting 150-ton planes off the ground and great at calming people down. If you hadn’t already fallen in love with this man, by the next 3 flights, you definitely will have.

Thankfully, the following 3 flights were uneventful, except for the drunken guy who had spilt his crisps all over another passenger which you had to clean up.

The last flight from Venice back to base at Heathrow was welcomed. Your feet were sore, your makeup had half melted off and you couldn’t wait to get your hair out of the uncomfortable bun you were required to wear all day.

After seeing all the passengers off the plane, you started to clear up.

“What a day, thanks for all your help guys” Harry shouted down the cabin as he locked it up for the night.

“No problem Captain Styles, hope to be working with you again soon” Emma said to him.

“Likewise, you guys head off I’m just going to do a walk around” you heard him say.

“Are you sure?” Emma said. “Yeah sure, thanks again everyone” he said once more.

You, Holly, Emma and Daniel started to get ready to leave when you felt Harry’s arm touch yours slightly.

“You stay” you heard him whisper into your ear subtly as you passed him to get your bag.

You blushed and swallowed hard “You guys go, I need the loo” you said to the rest of them.

“Go in the airport” Daniel said and you hinted at him to go.

“Weak bladder, you go I’ll see you soon” you smiled at them.

“Text me later!” Daniel said and you smiled as they left the aircraft.

“Weak bladder eh?” The captain raised an eyebrow at you when everyone was out of sight.

You laughed “I couldn’t think of anything else”

He laughed and smirked at you “I couldn’t help but think about you today. That shitty landing in Venice was your fault, I couldn’t think of anything else”

“I’ll just add ‘distraction to pilot’ on my CV as well then shall I?” You joked.

“You’re such a distraction to the pilot,” he said quietly as he leaned in closer to you.

He cups your face in his hands and he leans in and slowly kisses you. The kiss soon starts to grow more intense as moans echo through the cabin.

He’s started to groan in your ear and kiss your neck up and down.

He pushes you down into a seat in the front row by your hips and he kneels down in front of you.

His hands go up underneath your skirt and start to pull on your tights to reveal your bare legs.

"Harry we can’t do this here." You say completely out of breath already.

“You’re right, the toilet is better. Does this count as joining the mile high club even if we’re not in the air?” He smirked as he led you, barefoot to the bathroom.

For the next 10 minutes, you and Harry enjoyed each other’s company in the toilet as he moved his hips slowly inside of you, each thrust getting faster and faster.

You felt like you might collapse soon and he knew it too so he decided to stop just before you orgasmed and let you out of the toilet.

You sat down in the front row, completely out of breath, a little disheartened he’d pulled out before you orgasmed.

He appeared from the toilet, zipping up his trousers and putting his belt back on.

“Let’s finish at my house” he said and you happily obliged. It was fair to say that night you never got any sleep, despite how tired you had been after your shift.

Thanks to Harry giving you the most amazing sex you’d ever had, you had never been more grateful to be an Air Hostess as you had been that day for meeting your now boyfriend, Captain Harry Styles.

#harry styles #harry styles blurbs #harry styles fandom #harry styles concept #harry styles masterlist #harry styles x reader #harrystylesoneshot #harry styles boyfriend #harry styles fanfiction #Pilot!harry #PilotHarry #CaptainHarry #flight attendant #harry styles one shot #hslot werchter #love on tour #hslot 2023 #harrystyles #harry fanfic

560 notes · View notes

octuscle · 1 year

Text

Vamos a la Playa

Thomas had thought that the flights from Düsseldorf to Mallorca were already a punishment. As beautiful as the island was, on the way there, the owners of fincas in the Serra de Tramuntana or townhouses in Santa Catalina mixed with the boozers and party animals who were on their way to El Arenal or Cala Rajada. But as unpleasant as these people were at the airport or on the plane, that was no comparison to what he was experiencing right now at Stansted. His flight with British Airways had been canceled, he had had to rebook on Ryanair. And instead of a comfortable seat in business class, he was about to have to squeeze into a middle seat in row 34. Thomas took a deep breath. In four hours, he would be in his car, pop the top, and drive through the evening toward his home in Artà.

Waiting at the gate were mostly young men. Most of them already drunk. Playing each other videos on their cell phones. Listened to loud music from boomboxes. All with far too much hand luggage. Undisciplined pushers. When Thomas finally arrived at his seat, it smelled of beer and sweat. There wasn't a cubic centimeter of space left in the overhead compartment for his Louis Vuitton Weekender. And the two young men to his right and left completely ignored his presence, chatting over him in barely intelligible English. Even before the plane took off, Thomas was annoyed. It was cramped, noisy, it stank. The two men to his right and left stretched regularly so that he had their hairy armpits right in his face. And the pinnacle was when the lad in the aisle seat farted loudly and stinkily. First booming laughter from his pals. Then a laughing "Sorry mate, I think I need to take a shit." If that was supposed to be an apology, it was more than questionable. He was getting woozy. Maybe he should take the opportunity that the aisle seat was free, and also go to the toilet once. Of course, both toilets were occupied. The first one that became free was the one of his seat neighbor. "Mate, believe me, you don't want to go there right now." said the young man with an admittedly disarming smile. And farted once more. Thomas now urgently needed to go to the toilet himself. He pushed past his seatmate and closed the door behind him. What a terrible stench. Thomas tried to hold his breath. But he couldn't. And then he had to fart himself. Louder and stronger than ever before in his life. He felt sick from his own stench. And had to vomit into the airplane toilet.

When he stood again and washed his face, he stared into the mirror. Hadn't he been wearing his jacket when he'd gone to the bathroom? And why was he wearing tennis socks and bathing slippers? He had worn his loafers without socks… He was completely confused. Must have been the stench. He shuffled back to his seat. Now he needed a beer. The cans in his weekender were still reasonably cool. He offered Liam and Shane, his seat neighbors, a beer as well. And all three emptied the cans down the drain. Thomas clearly decided the final burping contest in his favor. By the time they were on approach to Palma, the beer and liquor supplies of the three had been eliminated. Liam was already totally drunk again. The lanky fella just couldn't handle anything. The fact that he had pissed his pants while sleeping off his intoxication was fortunately not visible in the already wet shiny training pants. Of his pals, Tom was clearly the most muscular. He liked to show off his biceps. T-shirts were for wimps, he had only packed a couple of tank tops and undershirts for the two weeks of Magaluf. Two more swim trunks and a change of shorts. Everything he needed fit in his fake MCM backpack.

His parents were happy when he announced his arrival at their vacation home with a video call. Tom had kept quiet about the fact that Liam had made a mess of the bathroom while puking, and that Shane had shagged a horny blonde he'd met on the bus to Magaluf in his parents' bed immediately after arriving. The Polish cleaning lady would get silence and pain money next week. And until then, the three of them would drink and fuck like it was only possible on Mallorca.

#muscle tf #age reduction #male tf #chav tf

225 notes · View notes

blackswaneuroparedux · 1 year

Photo

Ούτοι γυναικός εστιν ιμείρειν μάχης.**

- Aeschylus

Surely it is not for a woman to long for battle.**

Maureen Dunlop flew far faster planes than any of her peers, including Amelia Earhart. She flew Spitfires, Lancasters, Hurricanes and Mosquitos, and proved the dream of Picture Post's photographer when, on emerging from the cockpit of a Fairey Barracuda, the sun on her hair, she made the cover shot of the popular Picture Post that sold thousands of copies in autumn 1944.

Dunlop mastered the controls of 28 different single-engine and 10 multi-engine aircraft types, which also included the Hawker Typhoon, Hawker Tempest, Avro Anson, Mustang, Bristol Blenheim and Vickers Wellington. The ATA did a gruelling day-to-day job, plying the skies under constant threat from inclement weather the length and breadth of Great Britain, at a time when the nature of flying was changing in popular consciousness from having been a pre-war novelty and the subject of record attempts and joyrides, to being a vital part of the war effort.

The women among its members also had to put up with opposition from men who had little faith in their ability – or perhaps misplaced chivalry – such as Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory, who would not let women pilots cross the Channel, or who were merely rude, such as the RAF men who joked of the first all-women aircraft ferrying pool at Hamble in Hampshire as "the lesbians' pool".

Dunlop, like many of her female colleagues, said she wished she could have flown in combat: "I thought it was the only fair thing. Why should only men be killed?"

The ATA service had been founded on the initiative of Gerard "Pop" d'Erlanger, a director of British Airways and banker, who bent the ear of Sir Francis Shelmerdine, Britain's director-general of Civil Aviation, against opposition from the RAF, which preferred to use its own pilots until shortages forced it to relent. ATA pilots had to make the most of training that was, some avowed after the war, inadequate. Instrument flying was not taught, but the service would have ground to a halt if pilots had not broken rules forbidding them to fly in bad weather. Women had to have a minimum of 500 hours' solo flying before joining the ATA, twice as much as the 250 hours originally laid down in September 1939 for the first members, all men. She was one of the 164 female members of the wartime Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), of which one in ten pilots died while transporting aeroplanes between factories and military airfields

Maureen Dunlop, the second of three children of Eric Chase Dunlop, an Australian farm manager employed by a British company in Argentina, and his English wife, Jessimin May Williams, began flying at the age of 15, when she joined the Aeroclub Argentino. Two years later she had obtained her pilot's licence. Living with her parents, older sister Joan and younger brother Eric on estancias in Patagonia, she was educated by a governess and briefly attended St Hilda's College, an English school at Hurlingham in Buenos Aires. The example of her father's British military experience as a volunteer with the Royal Field Artillery in the First World War, together with an article in Flight magazine, inspired her to sail to England and offer her flying skills to the ATA.

She came through the war uninjured, but once had to make a forced landing when a faulty engine developed heavy vibration (an incident for which she was absolved of responsibility), and once was flying a Spitfire when a badly fitted cockpit cover blew off. After the war she qualified in England as an instructor and, returning to Argentina, flew for the Argentine Air Force and taught its pilots, as well as flying commercially. In 1973 she and her husband, Serban, a retired Romanian diplomat she met at a British Embassy function in Buenos Aires, returned to England, where for the rest of her life, on a farm in Norfolk, she followed her second love - breeding Arab horses. Dunlop built up an outstanding knowledge of bloodlines. She died in 2012.

#dunlop #maureen dunlop #aviator #pilot #plane #flying #fly #female #femme #pioneer #ATA

141 notes · View notes

mlqueen89 · 11 months

Text

never find another like me | 01. goldfish

pairing: jamie tartt x OFC (ted lasso)

rating: T(language)

word count: 5,147

summary: i know that i'm a handful baby, uh. i know i never think before i jump. Richmond calling - Nat arrives across the pond for a life-changing opportunity.

A/N: So, this one took a bit longer than originally anticipated – a flu swept through the house and left an exhausted me in its wake. I've got lots of Jamie/Nat planned (already wrote a future chapter) and I want to get to it! Translations are linked to the French and Spanish in this chapter - not a lot of it, just some cause I like to rep the boys properly!

Feedback is always appreciated and let me know if anyone wants to be tagged.

never find another like me masterlist | previous chapter

Last time on Lust Conquers All, Footballer J –

Nat hadn’t realized her eyes had wandered to her neighbour’s screen, the subtitles blinking across the display as the hostess, wrapped in a small green dress, stepped out in front of a couchful of contestants, her mouth moving wordlessly. Nat watched for a minute before the small seatback viewer cut to the British Airways logo and a text screen announced the entertainment had been paused for an announcement.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. We’ll be making our descent shortly with an expected arrival time of 8:00 AM, 14 minutes ahead of schedule. Local time is 7:31 AM, five hours ahead of the New York area, current weather is 18 degrees with a bit of overcast. On behalf of the cabin crew and the pilots, we’d like to thank you for choosing British Airways and welcome you to London.”

Quietly, Nat began to pack her stuff as the seatbelt light came on overhead with a ping. The numbness of the quick decision had finally started to wear off and the idea that she’d actually done it, jumped and then thought about it, was sinking in. It had never been in her character to do something so... rash. Maybe that had been the problem – maybe that was what had led her into the situation with Adam – she had thought too long on the idea of being with him, immersed herself in his presence nearly every day for two months and manoeuvred her way around all the bright red, waving flags. Adam had been what she thought was a safe choice, a carefully calculated decision she had come to regret. Maybe rash decision making could be her friend in the future... maybe.

Are you free? Nat thumbed out the message, eyes flitting between her phone and the crowd at London Heathrow as she wove her way through to baggage claim when she finally deplaned. Wanted to ask you a few questions about Richmond. Might be thinking about a visit. The message was cheeky, sneaky, and the idea of the surprise on Zoreaux’s face when he saw her had her absolutely giddy.

Free in a few hours, came the reply from Zoreaux’s number, just have a training session this morning and then I’m all ears.

Shit.

Nat hadn’t had a chance to figure out the time she’d be landing before she’d quickly booked her flight to London on her hurried walk back over to the New York Times building. After it was booked, she’d used the elevator ride back up to the writer’s floor to figure out a pitch to Perry – all she needed was a month or two to get her head on straight, to come back stronger for Lenny’s job. To her surprise, Perry hadn’t outwardly hated the idea. In fact, after he’d moved past the pacing back and forth behind his desk and blowing air noisily out from puffed cheeks, hands planted firmly on his hips, he’d come up with a compromise – a job share. A job share would give Nat the space and time and the experience she needed for Perry to justify the promotion, as long as she promised to deliver that Lockwood story. A small speedbump. Without giving herself a chance to talk her way out of it, she accepted Perry’s proposal. The first moment Nat had a chance to even think about what time she might be landing in London, she was three hours into the seven-hour flight.

By the time Nat collected her one suitcase from the belt and found her way to the exit, her phone flashed 8:35 AM. It took her another few minutes to find a cab willing to take a fare.

“Where to, love?” The cab driver adjusted his rearview mirror as he shifted back into the driver’s seat, on the opposite side Nat had expected, after tossing her luggage into the boot.

“Where does Richmond play?”

“That’d be Nelson Road.”

“Nelson Road then, please?” Nat settled into the back seat of the black cab as her thumb slid through her texts, a few messages popping up in her notifications.

“No game today,” The cab driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror for a moment, hesitant, “just closed training.”

“Oh,” a few emails popped up with individual pings, each momentarily distracting her from the cab driver who still stared at her, his bushy brows slowly becoming one solid knit row across the top of his dark eyes. Three messages from Perry sat at the top of the notifications, all titled in varying states of all-caps scream that denoted some level of urgency, followed by one from the building management in New York and one from Virgin welcoming her to the travel phone plan. It took her a second to find the cab driver’s gaze once again as he cleared his throat, “where does Richmond pract- uh – train?”

“Still Nelson Road.”

“Okay. Nelson Road it is, please.”

Nelson Road stadium crept up on the unsuspecting, a giant looming on a slight hill, a stark contrast over the smaller houses and businesses surrounding it. So much so that the sudden stop of the cab shook Nat’s nose out of the middle of her mad thumb tapping email responses to a connection she had at the The New York Post about the Lockwood press conference she’d blown off.

“Nelson Road, Miss,” The cab driver reported as he grabbed her suitcase and set it down outside the door she exited from.

Dragging her suitcase up to the temporary barrier, Nat squeezed herself between two people wearing blue and red jerseys, Rojas and Obisanya printed over the numbers 14 and 24 on their backs. From where she stood, it took her only a second to spot him. Wearing a bright orange hoodie, his Beats resting just off his ears, Thierry Zoreaux stood out amongst a few of the other players.

“Excuse me, Mr. Zoreaux,” Nat called as he approached where she stood on his way toward the club entrance, “Natalie MacCormack, New York Times. Can you comment on your ability to help a girl out?”

For a moment, Zoreaux’s head swivelled, his eyes scanning the crowd before he zeroed in on her and Nat watched the recognition light his eyes. “Mac? No way! Tabarnak.” The Quebecois curse left his lips easily, a force of habit. In three quick, jogging steps, he was upon the barricade and the few people around Nat reached toward the keeper, holding out Richmond gear and sharpies. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

“I was just in town, thought I’d swing by - wanted it to be a surprise,” Nat feigned the nonchalant tone, waving off the “in town” part as if she hadn’t just flown across an ocean on a completely rash decision. “Are you surprised?” Nat spread her arms as much as the crowd around her would allow, her fingers wiggling as if she were some kind of awful birthday party magician, her final trick revealed.

“If I woke up tomorrow and Yeezy started selling heels, I don’t think I’d be more surprised than I am now.”

Nat quietly noted that she wouldn’t be the one to tell him – lest the surprise about Yeezy heels overshadow the surprise of her surprise. “I kind of bungled the timing though. Grabbed the first flight out of JFK, so I wasn’t thinking about what that would mean when I got here.” Nat watched a few players filtering into the club, some hanging back to sign autographs and take photos with fans. Across the way from where she and Zoreaux stood, Nat watched a man with a baseball hat, the word “ICON” stitched into the dark material, sign a woman’s jersey as another screamed and leaned over the barrier for a selfie with the side of his face. Nat could feel herself staring, watching as the man stuck his tongue out and threw up the ‘peace’ sign for the photo when he noticed the camera - she stared until his eyes found hers and she quickly looked away, embarrassed at having been caught. When she looked back at Zoreaux, he was signing a few autographs for the fans that stood around her while others snapped selfies.

“Listen, I’ve got an early check-in, so I’ll head to the hotel and catch up with you when you’re free.”

“Nuh-uh,” Zoreaux was already bent over the barrier, grabbing Nat’s suitcase before he hefted it over the fencing easily. “Not a chance. Training’ll be over by the time you get there, just hang out a bit and you can stay at my place. I have a crazy stupid number of guest rooms.”

In one swift motion, Zoreaux was pulling the barrier back, murmuring quiet apologies and waving off the club security as the fans around Nat shifted to let her pass. The moment she was behind the barricade, the Richmond keeper had swept her up in his arms, lifting her off the ground slightly until she groaned against the squeeze, and he placed her back down.

“Guess you won’t take no for an answer?”

“Absolutely not.”

In another beat, Zoreaux had Nat’s suitcase and started to wheel it away as he headed toward the club doors. “What happened to the I have a job here,” Zoreaux batted his eyelashes and flipped his hand in what Nat assumed was his best impression of her.

“Is that supposed to be me?” Nat hustled to catch up in several long strides, making a concerted effort to not get caught staring at any other players, “you’re awful at impressions, you know that right?”

“My life is here, Zee...” he continued, his voice pitched higher in a comically ‘female’ tone, his hips swaying as he wheeled the suitcase, “and then you accused me of conspiring with your mom...”

“Perry gave me a bit of a break – I have a job share thing here for the next month or two if I can impress a panel during an interview,” Nat interrupted, wrestling the handle of her suitcase from Zoreaux’s grip with a few swats at his hand. The last topic she wanted to get on was that of Eve. “I might have a promotion in New York if I can get my sports coverage up to snuff.”

“Oh,” Zoreaux’s head bobbed in understanding as Nat struggled to keep pace with the 6’3 footballer, “so you’re on like - a loan?”

“A what?” Nat furrowed her brow as Zoreaux opened the door and stepped back to let her in first.

“Like, Man City loaned Jamie to us before -”

“I literally have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Nat shifted to the side of the entrance as a few others filtered into the club after them. Just inside the doors was a small little lobby in front of the security desk where a red-headed woman sat, a husky security guard standing to the side, his eyes directed to the phone in his hand.

“I can wait here. I have an article to finish and send to Perry,” Nat nodded at the small bench under the large crest featuring the silohuette of a Greyhound, the Latin banner underneath Gradarius Firmus Victoria furled out in gold.

Zoreaux scoffed and ushered Nat forward as he nodded at security, “much more comfortable spots to wait.” Leading Nat down a long corridor and through double doors, Zoreaux motioned to a white leather couch sandwiched between a water cooler and backed by a set of stairs.

Nat settled into the couch wordlessly, taking a breath as she waved Zoreaux off when he hovered over her too long. Waiting until he disappeared through the double doors at the end of the hall and around the corner, Nat fished out her laptop and pulled up the article she’d been putting the finishing touches on for Perry. Plugging her AirPods in, she hit play on the last album she’d been playing on the flight.

Nat sat this way for a few minutes before, just out of the corner of her eye, she could see a pair of loafers enter her peripheral. Glancing up, a man in a suit stood before her, a smile on his round face as Nat removed her earbuds and he offered her a short wave.

“Ah yes, hello,” the portly man smiled, his thin, round wire-framed glasses reflecting some of the overhead lighting. “Leslie Higgins, Director of Football here at Richmond. You must be, ‘Mac’, Zoreaux’s friend?”

“Word travels fast around here, I guess,” Nat offered her hand as she stood, which the man took up in his clammy one. “Nat is fine.”

“Ah - American?”

“Canadian, actually.”

“My apologies – the accents are a bit foreign to me,” Higgins laid into the joke, tipping his chin and raising an eyebrow at Nat, “can’t tell them apart, I’m afraid.”

“Par for the course,” Nat reassured him with a nod, chuckling at the joke as she waved off the apology. “Trick is to listen for the eh or the profuse apologizing.”

“I actually came to offer you the use of my office while you wait,” Higgins motioned to the small couch with a jab of his thumb, “these training sessions are notoriously long and truth be told that couch has seen a number of sweaty players.”

As if to punctuate his words, the sound of a dropped bar loaded with weight plates sounded from down the hall. Glancing at the couch, Nat nodded enthusiastically as she looked back at Higgins, quietly considering what else that couch might have seen.

Jamie Tartt pulled his bag out the boot of the Aston Martin, swinging it over his shoulder before nodding in Sam's direction as the Nigerian stepped out of the Tesla parked beside him. With the promotion at the end of last season just a few months ago, Richmond fans had been buzzing with the excitement of the team’s return to the Premier League. City fans, while numerous and proud, had nothing on Richmond fans in Jamie’s opinion. Even though City had been Jamie's team throughout his childhood, thanks to his dad, Jamie had never felt more at home than when he was playing for the Greyhounds. A return to City and a subsequent banishment following his very short stint in reality television confirmed his feelings for Richmond.

Approaching the club, Jamie stopped to scribble a few signatures here and there, posing for a picture or two. He caught the woman on the other side staring, her eyes darting away before she continued to chat with Zoreaux. Jamie was used to women staring at him, screaming his name, in fact, those were the tamer things women had done to get his attention – being stared at wasn’t something that surprised him.

When he’d made his way into the club and stepped into the locker room, it was already abuzz.

“She’s mad fit,” Isaac McAdoo grunted, shoving his bag into his locker before he turned back to Zoreaux, “ain’t no mistake.”

“Who?” Zoreaux was already laughing like it was a joke that only he was in on, “Mac? No.”

“Physically, yes, she is quite attractive.” Jan Maas shrugged, pushing his arm through the Richmond training sweater and zipping it up sharply. “Scientifically speaking. Very symmetrical features.”

“Pourriez-vous me présenter?” Richard’s voice added another layer to the already noisy space, “she is single, yes? You are not seeing her?”

Jamie rolled his eyes slightly before he began to strip his street clothing off and shift into the dark blue Richmond training kit. Jamie could never hope to understand more than a few words of French, most of which centered around “voulez vous coucher avec moi” and “je veux te baiser” which he knew the French model he’d shagged that one time in between Keeley and his return to City had responded well to. The rest was Greek to him. Though he’d never quite understood why French would be Greek...

“Oi, Tartt,” Jamie turned slightly from his locker, Isaac McAdoo’s eyes on him from across the small room, “you see this chick Zoreaux’s been keeping a secret?”

Jamie’s eyes slid over to Zoreaux who waited, staring at him, for the eventual response, “Listen mate, Zoreaux’s secret girlfriend ain’t none of my business, yeah?”

Jamie was secretly proud of himself, the mark of real change in his life and his attitude was the casual disinterest he’d just shown. If this had been the topic of discussion only a short while ago, he’d be listening intently, mentally noting what he could during the locker room chatter about which woman might be the easiest to fuck. If the woman was someone who was off-limits, excluding teammates’ girlfriends of course, it made the chase challenging, interesting and the eventual victory even more satisfying. After all, who was able to resist him? Star footballer, sexy baby with fantastic hair, Jamie Tartt. Not any woman he’d met as of yet.

“No, it’s a no.” Zoreaux’s arms waved in a crossing motion to suggest he was done speaking about the topic, waving off Richard who continued to murmur in French. “There’s no secret girlfriend, Mac’s a childhood friend from Montreal. I’ve known her for like, forever.”

“In Mexico, we have a saying los amigos son como las estrellas, no siempre podemos verlos pero; sin embargo, siempre están ahí,” Dani nodded, his head bobbing up and down smoothly, a wide smile reaching his eyes, his hand mimicking the sweep of constellations in the sky, “but you can also not see when friendship turns to love, yes?”

“Screw you guys,” Zoreaux scoffed, counting off on his fingers pointedly, “first: Mac is like my sister. Second: My mom would kill me if she found out I’d subjected Mac to a footballer. Third: I wouldn’t introduce her to any of you guys, except for maybe Sam.”

“Thank you?” Sam looked confused as he stepped into the dressing room, shooting Jamie a questioning look as he passed to get to his locker across the room. Jamie responded with a shrug, his bottom lip jutting out as if to say he had no idea either.

“C’mon bruv,” Isaac groaned, throwing his hands up as he shook his head, “despite my occasionally disgruntled disposition, I’m a gentle lover.”

There was an eruption of voices then, Zoreaux’s frustrated tone and Dani’s loudly proclaiming he was “for love”, while Richard made his argument about how dating him could be like riding a bike without training wheels. Whatever the fuck that meant, Jamie thought.

“Fine, fine -” Colin’s raised voice cut through the noise as he finished lacing up his boots and stood, waving his hands as if to calm the tension in the room, “I’ll have sex with her.”

The room quieted for a minute before Zoreaux was up in arms again, Richard yelling something in French and Isaac shaking his head, his short bulldog-ish stature moving and pointing and yelling about something Jamie couldn’t quite decipher. “I swear, if anyone tries to mess with Mac, I’ll -” Zoreaux started again, this time from the top of the bench he had climbed to cement his authority.

Jamie smirked, shaking his head as he reached for his boots and found an empty spot where they should have been. Pulling his Richmond heat gear over his head, Jamie’s feet were already leading him out of the locker room and down the hall to the boot room. Halfway down the hall, his foot stepped on something that pulled his attention down, pivoting his foot to see what he’d stepped on, Jamie’s eyes pinpointed the issue – a passport, dark blue against the green flooring ‘CANADA’ embossed across the top in gold lettering. Reaching down, Jamie collected it and immediately looked around for the owner. It took him a second to clock the woman from the parking lot, her suitcase wheeling behind her and Leslie Higgins leading her away in the opposite direction.

“Excuse me,” Jamie piped up, jogging down the hall after them. The woman turned to face him, her hair swept away from her face in a ponytail that draped over her shoulder, her green eyes finding his. “I think you dropped this?”

“Thank you,” she smiled slightly, reaching out and taking the passport before she carefully tucked it into the back pocket of her jeans. “I’d definitely be in trouble without it.”

The quiet and staring between them stretched for a long moment before Higgins cleared his throat, his small eyes staring Jamie down from behind the thin, wire framed glasses, a small, genuine smile growing on his lips. “Yes, thank you Jamie.”

“No problem.” Jamie nodded, his eyes shifting away from the woman for just a moment to the Director of Football.

“Nice to meet you, Jamie.” The woman smiled again, before Higgins continued to walk away and she turned to follow.

“As I was saying – you can use my office for now, I’m on my way out anyhow,” Higgins’ voice carried around the corner. Jamie found himself staring at the curve of the denim as the woman walked away before she rounded the corner and reminded himself he was trying to be respectful, shaking any bloom of inappropriate thought from his head before he rolled his hands up under the layer of his shirt and continued on to the boot room.

Zoreaux heaved Nat’s suitcase up the front steps of his place, ushering her in through the front door. Quietly, Nat had been thankful to get out of Zoreaux’s car alive – not only was driving on what she deemed the wrong side of the road ulcer inducing, Zoreaux was clearly not used to it either. Gripping the door handle, Nat had counted two near accidents in the short 7-minute drive from Nelson Road to Zoreaux's.

“So, this is my place,” Zoreaux tossed his keys into a dish in the front entrance before leading Nat into the main hallway where a staircase opened up to the second floor. “I haven’t even been in most of these rooms, so it's a feel as you go situation.”

A quick tour of the Richmond keeper's house concluded at the door of a second storey guest room. “And this is your room. Not as good as a hotel room, but it’s yours for however long you need.”

“Thanks, Zee,” Nat sighed, an exhale that felt heavy as if a weight had come off her chest, “I don't even know what I'd do without you. I'm serious.”

Zoreaux's features softened, and Nat opened her mouth to continue before he pulled her into a tight hug, the kind that felt comforting, a warmth in the embrace that almost felt like if he squeezed hard enough and held her there long enough, the pieces of her that had fallen apart might somehow stick back together. “You don't have to thank me for anything. I've got you.”

For the first time in just over two weeks, Nat felt comfortable, felt like maybe everything was going to be okay. Like maybe, just maybe, Richmond would be a good thing for her.

“I’m back to the club for a night training session, then heading out to have a drink with some of the guys,” Zoreaux clapped his hands, rubbing them together excitedly, “you want to meet up after and see some of the city?”

Nat found her thoughts drifting to the man in the hall, the one who had picked up her passport, the one who Higgins had called Jamie. Part of her wanted to ask Thierry if he’d be there, but she thought better of it and shook her head. “I’m pretty wiped, actually. I’ll probably just go over my portfolio and send that article to Perry. Call it an early night.”

A look of what Nat could only consider was relief washed over Zoreaux’s face. “Okay, well – if you need anything...”

“I’ll call,” Nat recited for what felt like the twentieth time since they’d shuffled through the front door.

“Oh, and I’ve got a game tomorrow so I might not see you until tomorrow night.”

Nat nodded, taking note of the fact before her hand was on the handle to the room. Every part of her was ready to settle in under the sheets after a long, hot shower to wash the travel off.

Taking that as his cue, Zoreaux was off down the hall. “Just be a goldfish, Nat.” Zoreaux called back as the top of his head disappeared down the staircase, his voice faraway as he followed up, “Richmond is your new start.”

“I have no idea what you're talking about...” Nat muttered, more to herself than anything, shaking her head slightly as the front door closed downstairs.

“Ms. MacCormack,” The Independent Sports Editor Tomas Sharon adjusted his glasses as he flipped through to the final page of his copy of Natalie’s portfolio of work, closing it on the dark oak conference table and folding his hands over top of it. Quietly, the two other men and one woman, whom Nat had been relieved the see, perused the pages in the black folder, all mirroring Mr. Sharon’s body language – closed, cold, difficult to read. “We understand that you come highly recommended by Mr. DeGrossman.”

“Yes. I - ” Nat began, her back straightening as she adjusted herself in the uncomfortable chair, prepared with an answer she’d hashed out on a mental loop through her commute over to The Independent offices in London.

Nat had been so nervous that she’d arrived way too early and so sat in the coffee shop across the street, picking a table right by the window from the office, flipping through her portfolio a few times and sipping on a flat white. The night before had been one of very little rest, her sleepless eyes staring at a darkened ceiling and listening to cars on the street outside, distant sirens or horns going off occasionally. Part of Nat thought that the amount of noise wasn’t the problem, but the lack of it. New York had always been so noisy, so full of life, that Richmond seemed quiet in comparison. Yet another marker that she wasn’t there anymore. A reminder that she was trying to rebalance the delicate nature of her life now. As per Perry’s email instructions regarding her interview, which she’d found herself looking at as her bedside clock hit 3 AM, she expected to meet with Tomas Sharon. What Nat hadn’t expected was for Sharon to be in his early 30s with a slight French accent, his blond hair swept to the side, his look completed with thin, round framed glasses that worked well and that Nat was sure he didn’t just wear in “smart” situations.

Holding up his hand, Mr. Sharon continued once Nat had returned to silence. “We understand that you come highly recommended by Mr. DeGrossman, with whom Mr. Best and I have a close working relationship,” Mr. Sharon cast a glance down to the end of the table where Benjamin Best sat, a small man in a neat suit and cornflower blue tie, his lips tight and unsmiling. From what Nat understood, Benjamin Best had been the youngest Managing Editor the Independent had ever seen when he’d taken over the position at 24 years of age eight years ago – the same age as Nat was now. If she was able to pull this off, Nat would return State side and become the youngest Sports Editor the New York Times had seen. “We also understand this is a job share, to bolster your coverage of sport.”

Instead of speaking, Nat nodded, a sharp jut of her chin only once to confirm she was following.

“Although we have all faith that Mr. DeGrossman would only send us the best, we find the lack of any sport coverage, save for this article on a -” Mr. Sharon paused for a moment to lazily lift the cover of the portfolio under his hand with the mildest form of interest, a glance as if he had forgotten what he had decided on when the server came around to take orders, “ - Lockwood trade, somewhat troubling.”

“That having been said,” Mr. Sharon continued, “your potential is evident. We’d like to offer you a chance to write us a completely new piece in order for us to properly consider your candidacy.”

“I’d be happy to -.”

“As an American, it should only be fitting that the article we want from you is an article on newly promoted Richmond AFC and their success with Coach Lasso at the helm.” Mr. Sharon waved his hand at Nat as if he were doing her a kindness, “two weeks from now. I expect to see a copy of the proofed article in my inbox, with copy to my colleagues. We’ll make our decision then and only then.”

Nat didn’t even have a chance to bristle at the American comment, in fact it had become such a common assumption now that she learned to quietly accept it in moments where the correction was not welcomed or appropriate. Instead, she smiled politely, tightly, pressing the cold panic down into the very depths of her toes, “thank you for the opportunity.”

Nat rose from her seat, collecting her briefcase, the one she’d bought herself when she’d first been hired on under Perry and clicked out of the room in the only pair of heels she'd brought with her from New York. It was only when she’d powered through the waiting area and stepped into the elevator, alone and surrounded by her own reflection in the mirrored walls of the compartment that she’d let the curse she’d been holding in escape her lips – fuck. The cold panic started to surface for a moment before the elevator opened on another floor and a few people stepped on, pushing her back until Nat was squarely in the far corner trying to hold herself together. As Nat’s mind wheeled and reeled, her thoughts an unorganized chaos, the problem now became that Nat didn’t know the first thing about soccer, let alone football.

A/N: Next chapter is all planned out and mostly done! Hope to get that up soon. Remember, feedback, like football, is life.

#jamie tartt fanfiction #jamie tartt #jamie tartt x ofc #ted lasso #ted lasso fanfiction #never find another like me series #ted lasso fanfic #jamie tartt fanfic

22 notes · View notes

newtonsheffield · 1 year

Note

ohhh molly!!! pleaseee pleasee tell us more about Mile High. Pilot Kate seem so good!!! im gonna guess, she enter aviation for her father who died ... or is daddy sharma alive here???

She did enter the RAF after her father died and she left after an incident and someone pulled some strings and got her a captaincy with British Airways. And she’s going through a lot of changes in her life when she meets Anthony. She’s not supposed to be looking for anything. She’s supposed to be adjusting to life outside the RAF and focusing on getting her life together because you know, she nearly died. And yet… Anthony Bridgerton is just… always there. He seems to get assigned to every one of her flights. Just… there. And it’s just… fucking annoying because whenever they fly through HongKong Edwina disappears to hook up with her ex girlfriend that she never should have split up with and Anthony’s just… conveniently a few doors down and she always ends up slipping into his room and- it’s a self control issue. Is what it is. She needs to go to a course on that.

#mile high #kathony #anthony x kate #molly’s asks and answers

54 notes · View notes

lifewithchronicpain · 2 years

Text

A wheelchair user was left stranded on a plane for over an hour and a half after airport staff failed to assist her off the flight.

The Gatwick Airport staff never arrived to help Victoria Brignell off her flight from Malta.

She is calling for the aviation sector to change, with redesigned planes that cater to wheelchair users. (Read more at link)

#disability #ableism #airport #accomodations #article

183 notes · View notes

brookstonalmanac · 6 months

Text

Events 11.17 (after 1950)

1950 – Lhamo Dondrub is officially named the 14th Dalai Lama. 1950 – United Nations Security Council Resolution 89 relating to the Palestine Question is adopted. 1953 – The remaining human inhabitants of the Blasket Islands, Kerry, Ireland, are evacuated to the mainland. 1957 – Vickers Viscount G-AOHP of British European Airways crashes at Ballerup after the failure of three engines on approach to Copenhagen Airport. The cause is a malfunction of the anti-icing system on the aircraft. There are no fatalities. 1962 – President John F. Kennedy dedicates Washington Dulles International Airport, serving the Washington, D.C., region. 1967 – Vietnam War: Acting on optimistic reports that he had been given on November 13, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson tells the nation that, while much remained to be done, "We are inflicting greater losses than we're taking…We are making progress." 1968 – British European Airways introduces the BAC One-Eleven into commercial service. 1968 – Viewers of the Raiders–Jets football game in the eastern United States are denied the opportunity to watch its exciting finish when NBC broadcasts Heidi instead, prompting changes to sports broadcasting in the U.S. 1969 – Cold War: Negotiators from the Soviet Union and the United States meet in Helsinki, Finland to begin SALT I negotiations aimed at limiting the number of strategic weapons on both sides. 1970 – Vietnam War: Lieutenant William Calley goes on trial for the My Lai Massacre. 1970 – Luna programme: The Soviet Union lands Lunokhod 1 on Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains) on the Moon. This is the first roving remote-controlled robot to land on another world and is released by the orbiting Luna 17 spacecraft. 1973 – Watergate scandal: In Orlando, Florida, U.S. President Richard Nixon tells 400 Associated Press managing editors "I am not a crook." 1973 – The Athens Polytechnic uprising against the military regime ends in a bloodshed in the Greek capital. 1983 – The Zapatista Army of National Liberation is founded in Mexico. 1986 – The flight crew of Japan Airlines Flight 1628 are involved in a UFO sighting incident while flying over Alaska. 1989 – Cold War: Velvet Revolution begins: In Czechoslovakia, a student demonstration in Prague is quelled by riot police. This sparks an uprising aimed at overthrowing the communist government (it succeeds on December 29). 1990 – Fugendake, part of the Mount Unzen volcanic complex, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, becomes active again and erupts. 1993 – United States House of Representatives passes a resolution to establish the North American Free Trade Agreement. 1993 – In Nigeria, General Sani Abacha ousts the government of Ernest Shonekan in a military coup. 1997 – In Luxor, Egypt, 62 people are killed by six Islamic militants outside the Temple of Hatshepsut, known as Luxor massacre. 2000 – A catastrophic landslide in Log pod Mangartom, Slovenia, kills seven, and causes millions of SIT of damage. It is one of the worst catastrophes in Slovenia in the past 100 years. 2000 – Alberto Fujimori is removed from office as president of Peru. 2003 – Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s tenure as the governor of California began. 2012 – At least 50 schoolchildren are killed in an accident at a railway crossing near Manfalut, Egypt. 2013 – Fifty people are killed when Tatarstan Airlines Flight 363 crashes at Kazan Airport, Russia. 2013 – A rare late-season tornado outbreak strikes the Midwest. Illinois and Indiana are most affected with tornado reports as far north as lower Michigan. In all around six dozen tornadoes touch down in approximately an 11-hour time period, including seven EF3 and two EF4 tornadoes. 2019 – The first known case of COVID-19 is traced to a 55-year-old man who had visited a market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.

#Events

2 notes · View notes

usafphantom2 · 9 months

Text

The Whitley would serve with Bomber Command and Coastal Command during the early years of the Second World War and was used in Operation Biting to help capture German radar. Used for special operations at RAF Tempsford the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley would also be used by British Overseas Airways Corporation.

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley

During the early to mid 1930s the Royal Air Force was heavily reliant on biplane aircraft and was urgently trying to modernise its aircraft. So with the issuing in July 1934 of Specification B.3/34 the Air Ministry were looking for a twin-engined heavy night bomber. Armstrong Whitworth's submission to this specification would be led by the company's chief designer John Lloyd. With design work in progress the need for more modern aircraft within the RAF was shown by an order for 80 Whitleys being placed seven months before the prototype flew.

The prototype would be ready for its maiden flight on the 17th March 1936 at Whitley Abbey with Alan Campbell-Orde at the controls, with power supplied by a pair of Armstrong Siddeley Tiger X engines. Its monocoque structure was made of light alloy, which saw Armstrong Whitworth move away from their usual steel tube construction. Trials of the Royal Air Force's new bomber were done in Autumn 1936 at Martlehsam Heath by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment. A second prototype would have a specially written specification for it, B.21/35, and this made its maiden flight on the 24th February 1937, powered by the Tiger XI engine, and was flown by Charles Turner Hughes.

The Whitley would enter service during March 1937 with No. 10 Squadron based at RAF Dishforth receiving their first Mk Is on the 9th, to replace their Handley Page Heyford aircraft. Able to house a crew of up to 5, armament would consist of a single 0.303-in Vickers machine-gun in nose and tail turrets which were manually operated and designed by Armstrong Whitworth. Of the original order of 80, 34 would be Mk Is whilst the rest would be Mk Iis which were powered by Tiger VIII engines which featured a two-speed supercharger. A further order for 80 Whitleys was placed and these would be the Mk III. The armament on this new variant was upgraded, firstly the bomb-bay was changed to allow larger bombs to be carried, the nose turret was changed to a Nash and Thompson turret which was power operated and two more machine-guns in the form of 0.303-in Brownings were added to a new retractable turret underneath the fuselage.

Flying from Hucknall on the 11th February 1938 a Whitly Mk I was tested with Rolls-Royce Merlin IIs, however the programme was suspended after the second flight which had to be curtailed due to engine failure. After the test programme was resumed the aircraft was sent to the A&AEE at Martlesham Heath for further tests during April and May.

The next production version, which first flew on the 5th April 1939, was the Mk IV which featured a number of changes. The first change saw the aircraft now powered by the 1,030-hp Rolls-Royce Merlin IV engine. The second change saw a pair of wing tanks added whilst other changes included improvements to the bomb-aimers view with the addition in the lower nose of a clear panel. The armament for the rear gunner was also upgraded to four 0.303-in Browing guns in a Nash and Thompson power-operated turret. Powered by the 1,145-hp Merlin X seven Whitley Mk IVAs were produced alongside 26 Mk IVs.

Further changes to the design saw the Whitley Mk V appear which was to be the most produced version and would also be powered by Merlin engines. Once again fuel capacity was improved and extra fuel could be carried in the bomb-bay if needed. On the leading edges of the wings rubber de-icer boots were added. The rear of the aircraft was also redesigned to increase the rear gunner's field of fire, this would see the rear fuselage lengthened 1ft 3in. The fins was also given straight leading edges. In total 1,466 Mk Vs were built.

With the Rolls-Royce Merlin in demand for use in a number of aircraft a Pratt & Whitney powered Whitley Mk VI was considered in case Merlin engines became unavailable. In the end this proposed aircraft would never go into production. Based on the Mk V the Whitley Mk VII was designed for operational service with Coastal Command. This would see the installation of Air-to-Surface Vessel Mk II radar and the fitting in the rear of the fuselage and bomb-bay of additional fuel tanks. A total of 146 would be built.

Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys were in action with Bomber Command on the same day as Britain and France declared war on Germany, 3rd September 1939, when 10 aircraft flew over Bremen, Hamburg and the Ruhr in Germany dropping leaflets. It would be the Whitley that became the first Royal Air Force bomber to operate over Berlin, Germany when three Whitley Mk IVs from No. 10 Squadron dropped propaganda leaflets over the city on the 1st October 1939, losing one aircraft. Whitleys would also take part in the first bombing raid on Berlin, Germany on the 25th August 1940 alongside the Handley Page Hampden and Vickers Wellington. The type would also be called on the day after Italy declared war on Britain and France when on the 11th June 1940 raids were carried out on Genoa and Turin. However of the 36 aircraft that took part only 13, 36% of the total force, reached their target as both engine problems and weather hampered the operation.

With the Short Stirling and Handley Page Halifax four-engined bombers now in service and with the Avro Lancaster entering service the Whitley's time in Bomber Command was coming to an end. Its last official sortie took place on the 29th April 1942 with a raid on Ostend, Belgium. However Whitleys from Operational Training Units would take part in the raid on Cologne, Germany on the 30th May that year in the first ever '1,000 Bomber' attack codenamed Operation Millennium.

The Whitley would also serve with Coastal Command and its service with the Command began when No. 58 Squadron were seconded in September 1939. This would see them patrol over the English Channel until February 1940 when they operated as part of Bomber Command again. Other Whitley squadrons would also patrol over the Bay of Biscay. It would take over 2 years before the type scored its first U-boat victory when on the 30th November 1941 No. 502 Squadron sank U-205 in the Bay of Biscay.

The type would also be used for a number of special operations. These included Operation Columba which saw homing pigeons dropped over occupied Europe in the hope that people who came across the pigeons could provide intelligence on German military activities in the area. It would be on the 8th April 1941 that a Whitley would perform the first drop of pigeons for the operation. The aircraft was also involved in Operation Biting on the 27th February 1942 which saw them drop paratroopers at Bruneval, France for what was a successful mission to capture parts of German radar. Two squadrons, Nos. 138 and 161, would also serve at RAF Tempsford undertaking special duties. This involved supplying arms and equipment to the Resistance and transport agents by parachute drop into occupied countries.

Other duties for the Whitley saw it used as a glider tug and for parachute training. During May 1942 the British Overseas Airways Corporation received 15 Mk Vs which had their armament removed and fuel tanks added to the bomb-bays. These would be used by BOAC on their Gibraltar to Malta route.

By the time the last Armstrong Whitworth Whitley rolled of the production line a total of 1,815 had been built.

Technical Details

Click on the aircraft image to view a larger version.

Top Speed Range Service Ceiling Armament

Whitley Mk I 192 mph 1,250 miles 19,200 ft two 0.303-in machine-guns

3,365lb bombs

Whitley Mk II 215 mph 1,315 miles two 0.303-in machine-guns

Whitley Mk III 215 mph 1,300 miles 17,000 ft four 0.303-in machine-guns

4,000lb bombs

Whitley Mk IV 245 mph 1,800 miles five 0.303-in machine-guns

Whitley Mk V 230 mph 1,500 miles 26,000 ft five 0.303-in machine-guns

7,000lb bombs

Whitley Mk VI Proposed version to be powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. None produced.

Whitley Mk VII 215 mph 2,300 miles 20,000 ft five 0.303-in machine-guns

six depth charges

4 notes · View notes

ingek73 · 1 year

Text

The Earthshot finalists & winners weren’t even invited to attend the ceremony

December 04, 2022

By Kaiser

Just after Netflix premiered the Harry & Meghan teaser trailer, a Kensington Palace source huffed to Valentine Low at the Times: “They are two people who are accepting awards for themselves, talking about themselves, doing programmes about themselves. [William and Kate are] active members of the royal family who have a job to shine a spotlight on other people, give awards to other people. That’s the contrast.” Well, funny story – you know the big, keen Earthshot Awards which were endlessly previewed and served as a huge aggrandizement for Prince William to magnanimously “give a platform” to people doing groundbreaking environmental work? Well, William didn’t even want those Earthshot prize winners in Boston with him. Please, he might have had to touch someone poor. They did a satellite link-up for the Earthshot finalists and winners. Which wouldn’t be so egregious except that William burned through millions of dollars to put on an “awards show” with celebrities in attendance.

The food was plant-based, the flowers grown locally and the carpet, as is now tradition, was green. Guests invited to the second annual Earthshot Awards were whisked to the venue in electric taxis and encouraged to recycle pre-loved outfits.

Five budding winners each won £1 million to scale up their projects.

“A million dollars is significant,” Justin Winters, executive director of climate philanthropy organisation One Earth told the Boston Globe. “For a lot of these nonprofits and companies, it’s a game-changing investment. But I would say in this case, the level of attention and partnerships that are brought to the table — to the finalists and the award winners — are really significant.”

In order to reduce the carbon footprint, all finalists were filmed on home turf, joining the ceremony via a live video feed.

The Princess was among those who presented an award, warning that air pollution “poses a threat that knows no borders.”

Guests were treated to performances by Ellie Goulding, Annie Lennox, and Billie Eilish. After the show, the Prince and Princess went backstage to thank the celebrities who had taken part.

The royals flew home on a British Airways flight overnight to be reunited with their three children.

[From The Telegraph]

Arguably, the best thing one could say about Earthshot is that William is platforming diverse people making diverse solutions to environmental issues, and that Earthshot could become a place to facilitate innovation, growth and collaboration within sustainable and environmental industries. Except that for William, all of the Earthshot winners should literally stay at home, not meet with each other, not fuel collaboration or innovation, and here’s some money and now shut up about it while he chums it up with Rami Malek. They seriously made celebrities fly into Boston for a big awards show… and then didn’t invite the nominees to come to Boston. He made them stay at home. He doesn’t think that looks bad or that it should have been organized differently. He does not believe that prize winners should actually be feted and recognized for their work in person.

#prince william #earthshot vanity project #kate middleton #abolish the monarchy #celebitchy #kaiser

12 notes · View notes

theresa-of-liechtenstein · 2 years

Text

The Herc and Linda Meta: What’s Up With These Two, Anyway?

“Every series, it seems,” Mang Juan wrote on his blog in 2011, “one episode causes me more trouble and hair-tearing than any two and a half of the others combined. […] This series it was Newcastle.” Though three years later, he would partially recant his judgement on the matter, concede that Newcastle was “a good introduction” for Herc Shipwright, and accept his pacing of events, it is a truth universally acknowledged, that even self-decreed flops conceal the biggest of slays.

Mang Juan wrote after Newcastle had aired in 2011 that its difficulty had to do with the sheer amount of information that he had attempted to cram in, and that Herc Shipwright and Linda Fairbairn’s flight deserved a separate episode. Though some of Herc’s most memorable character traits (including his fear of sheep) are only revealed in subsequent episodes, I believe that Newcastle alone is ripe with details and implications that make it possible to extrapolate more about either character, but especially Linda. Moreover, these same details make it possible to form an interpretation of the duo’s dynamic that is congruent with information provided later, as well as narrative themes and motifs.

Under the cut, this will be explored in the following parts.

“Old Friend Of Mine from Air England”: Herc Shipwright, or A Study in Minding the Gap

“The Plane-Spotting Pride of Penicuik”: Who is Linda Fairbairn, Anyway?

“The Best Candidate For the Job”: Putting Everything Together (I: “The Wee Scottish Airline”; II: Shipwright & Fairbairn)

1. “Old Friend of Mine From Air England”

I have said it before, and I will say it again: pilots do not make lateral career moves unless there is a very, very good reason for doing so. Herc Shipwright must have had a very, very good reason for forsaking a job at an implied flagship airline for a position at a much smaller one.

But before we speak more about (as of Newcastle) Cabin Pressure’s newest recurring meow meow—gentlemen, a brief diversion.

Airline Structure: Not Your Garden Variety Corporate Ladder

This section is based on five years’ worth of research, at least of two of which were owing to the fact that I wanted to become a pilot myself and thought I should know what I was getting myself into. The only reason this changed to engineering was that 1) I couldn’t afford ground school and 2) I am 150 cm tall and had a very rude awakening when I realized I could not, in fact, see over the control panel of an Embraer 175 while sitting in the first officer’s seat. The following is based on what I’ve gleaned from articles and forum posts over those years.

Commercial airlines, as the title of this section states, do not work like many companies. God knows why. (There are reasons, most likely, but they’re irrelevant to the scope of this write-up.) Since Ernest Gann was staunchly criticizing the very similar predecessor to the current system in 1961, I’ll just say it’s probably precedent.

In an airline, seniority is everything. When one is hired, they receive a number. This number determines a lot: the likelihood of them getting their first choice of a route (or “line”), how soon they can “upgrade” (upgrade = become a captain), and importantly—their job security. If things go south at the airline, the last through the door are the first to be asked to leave. If this sounds harsh—Yes. It is.

Even more (and this is crucial to understanding Herc, but we’ll get to that soon), seniority does not transfer between airlines. A brief example: if one is a captain for the A380 at British Airways, and decides they now want to work at—let’s say—easyJet for whatever reason, they cannot take their accumulated seniority from BA with them. They must start over again at the bottom.

This is why, historically, when pilots are hired at an airline, they expect to stay there for the rest of their careers. As Beyoncé once said, “If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it.” This isn’t the case all the time; plenty of regional carriers are often a pilot’s first step before going to the major airlines. Some have even collaborated to set up contracts and training programs that offer a path to the major airlines for young pilots through regional carriers.

Now, a relevant caveat: There are ways for someone with previous captaincy experience to, while still giving said pilot a low place in the seniority list, nevertheless hire them as a captain. This is called “direct hire,” and it happens if there are not enough first officers at the airline eligible to upgrade, or if the airline is expanding too quickly to upgrade the first officers it already has.

This brings us back to Herc Shipwright.

(End of diversion. Snack break!)

From the details we get in Newcastle, it appears that Herc Shipwright, despite every single warning to pilots ever made to focus on building seniority, has somehow managed to successfully execute a lateral career move at his age and stage. For starters, he’s a captain. Actually! That’s the single, biggest, most important thing. After enough of a career at Air England to build seniority and bulge logbooks, he makes the move to Air Caledonian and we meet him in Newcastle as a line captain. Since one cannot transfer seniority, something else has probably happened. It is likely, then, that Herc himself (on merits of his prior experience, and possibly, need) was a direct-hire captain.

But why? Why leave a much bigger, seemingly more prestigious airline for a smaller one that Herc essentially likens to a flying bus depot by the end of the episode? (Although, he’s probably somewhat bluffing in context; otherwise, why would he try to get Arthur Shappey a job at Air Cal?)

I—and my betters—have chosen to conclude that this is where Douglas Richardson comes in.

Perhaps Martin Crieff may have seen his hopes for networking go swirling down the drain when Herc and Douglas started chanting at each other upon first glimpse. And of course, there’s Herc and Douglas’ joshing over opera during the delay in Birmingham. But it’s the one scene in which these “old friends” are alone together, where Douglas is expecting something, and will take anything Herc will wanna give him, baby—Sorry. My bad. That’s Mitski.

Within the context of Newcastle, there is a certain tension in the way Herc and Douglas interact in that little exchange which adds an intriguing depth to the “old friend” moniker. To begin with, Douglas’ posture here is a subversion of what the audience has come to expect from him. It’s Martin who we’d expect to be the opportunist when it comes to career moves (easyJet, easy go…) But rather than taking Martin’s approach to Verbal LinkedIn, Douglas approaches a monumental shift in a pilot’s career as a favor to be begged of someone in a higher position than he. One has to feel for the desperation, knowing that he’s even pretended to be a captain for his now ex-wife, and knowing in context of the airline industry that Douglas is taking a huge gamble: he probably wants a low-seniority, high-rank treatment akin to what Herc has most likely gotten. (Funnily enough, if it was Herc copping Douglas’ act—Douglas is hoping to cop Herc’s here.)

But how does Herc react to this, probably knowing Douglas enough to anticipate what is going through the other man’s mind?

He coolly rebuffs him. And as Mitski so eloquently puts it, Douglas takes it, and retreats.

My betters have long touched the scorched ground at this point and murmured, “Something terrible has happened here.” I agree. We know that Douglas has had a severe fall from grace, losing the security he gained from working at Air England by his own fault. The question is, why did his “old friend” leave too? My betters have postulated that whatever caused Douglas to fall so far, Herc must have played some role in it, and come off better. He still leaves Air England, but he’s not the one knocking on the window asking to be let into Air Cal.

This has been an oft-explored concept; it meshes in so well, I even had to ask a friend who’s been into the show for far longer about whether it was actually written in or had just been extrapolated. (Okay, but I can at least pull the card that I was a kid and definitely not thinking about this show when Newcastle aired.)

We know why Douglas left Air England; he was forced to. But why did Herc leave, and how did he manage to stay within enough good graces that his experience would likely be considered as a factor when he was hired at Air Cal? He is a pilot, a long-established member of that workforce. He cannot plead ignorance about the ramifications of a lateral career move. Perhaps whatever he did to play a role in Douglas’ expulsion did affect Herc’s reputation at Air England, and he had no choice but to move somewhere that probably wouldn’t know him as well. After all, as this noticeably English man tells Douglas, “you don’t have to be Scottish to fly for a Scottish airline.”

Ouch. That would probably hurt even the most emotionally fortitudinous person.

And so, the question arises: what happened to Herc between what most certainly would have been a deeply traumatizing departure/life change and the incredible, amazing, show-stopping, never-the-same positioning flight he takes in Newcastle?

I think now is a good time to talk about his co-worker.

2. “The Plane-Spotting Pride of Penicuik”

Her name is called eight times in the episode. She utters 39 lines in the whole show. And she’s struggling to fully grow out of her father’s shadow.

Linda Fairbairn may not have been in Cabin Pressure for a long time. Maybe it wasn’t a very good time, either. (To be fair, there was no way her experience could top the very good time her co-worker had in this episode. Anyways.) But the little she says is a veritable treasure trove of characterization that—over a decade on—remains tantalizingly ripe for the picking.

From the moment she walks in, the audience is made well aware that First Officer Fairbairn is not a woman to be trifled with. After Martin Crieff unwisely makes an outburst at the apparent subversion of his expectations (namely, that he’d be encountering two male pilots he could potentially call co-workers, if he can get a foot in the door), the door has barely closed behind her colleague before Linda rounds on Martin and pointedly mimics his exclamation. This same defensive-to-the-point-of-aggravated posturing is all too familiar to any person in a field where they are a minority, but Linda’s righteous indignation strikes a particularly resonant chord with those who present and/or identify as female in a “male-dominated field.” (Sidenote: There is another character who, in this episode, similarly reacts in a similar situation. But we’ll get to that later.) It is no surprise, then, that this encounter has immediately set her up to treat Martin with suspicion, as she admits to doing by the end of the episode. This is only exacerbated by Martin’s failed attempts to question her about her (already gender nonconforming) hobby of rally driving, which only escalates the issue until he manages to poke the sleeping dragon that is Chief Pilot Fairbairn. This, above all, is what truly sets Linda off. “I can excuse you blundering your way into microaggression,” she essentially says, “but I draw the line at bringing my Dad into this!” Up to this point, every patient dealing with Martin has culminated in what can only be characterized as an explosion. Her patience has been worn thin; it is obvious that Martin, however inadvertently, has managed to hit a very sore spot.

Which brings us to what is the most interesting and ironic part of her character: Linda’s relationship with aviation. She may be utterly vehement toward the idea of her father having anything to do with the career path she has taken, but the truth is that her father probably played the largest role in her life’s path—by being the reason she’s into aviation at all.

From the beginning of Newcastle, Linda displays a knowledge and passion for flight that enthralls even Martin, who is the show’s epitome of a flying fanboy. She’s a line pilot herself—a profession which, in general, one has to like to be able to do successfully. She’s been in the skies for twelve years. She can identify MJN’s rare plane on sight. When they land in Birmingham (it’s the tiniest of details, but it’s there!) she even questions the engineer about G-ERTI’s state. This is not a woman who resents what she does or is only in it for the “glam factor.” Most tellingly, she literally tells Martin (to humorous effect when he tries to relate and she tries to work in a tease) that she’s been at it since childhood.

At this point, there can only be one explanation for this long-established love affair: Chief Pilot Fairbairn.

Now, hearing the emphasis with which Linda declares that her father has had nothing to do with her employment—and by extension, the path of her career—it would be easy to arrive to the fallacious conclusion that Linda resents or dislikes her father. But since Linda is at the very least implied to be a competent pilot (she’s still in this industry after twelve years, she insists that she was the “best candidate for the job” and—one does have to be good at flying and have potential for leadership to be hired at an airline, however ‘wee’), it would be safe to assume that she’d have gotten a job with any of the other airlines in the British Isles or even on the Continent (of course, barring existence of any financial crises or world events in-universe that would override any push factors for migration). It does not make sense for Linda to have a lifelong passion centered around the profession her father holds, enter that same profession, and work in the same company as her father—if she did not have a good relationship with him.

Ah…fathers.

Out of the range of fathers and father figures presented in Cabin Pressure canon—from the truly horrifying to the mellowly disapproving, the well-meaning but frustrated to the one who can solve anything, and of course the concerned and genuine one who needs no blood relation to have and express his love—there are not many notable examples of a father-daughter relationship being portrayed. The closest we get to this is Douglas’ relationship with his daughter(s): there is enough contextual evidence to at least suggest it’s not the greatest, which my betters have proposed. Even Theresa of Liechtenstein (who parallels to Linda in some ways) only speaks of her father in context of a joke about his desperation for a male heir. (Booooo, agnatic primogeniture! It’s the 21st century!) Linda’s relationship with her father, as implied through what she reveals and what can be inferred, is then one of the best examples of a relationship between a parent and child in the whole show.

Linda has a father, whom she must love dearly; and yet, she is adamant of her self-determination, explosively so. In combination, this is a woman who is sincerely cherished by a father she both loves and whose lengthy shadow she longs to escape: a delicious tension for a character who only appears in one episode.

May I remind the reader that this was taken largely—if not solely—from Linda’s 39 lines in Newcastle. What a picture these 39 lines paint!

Her appearance in the show, however brief, nevertheless continues to raise questions: about the aviation world in which the show is set, Linda’s career proper, and the crucial question addressed in the title of this write-up. I’ve been teasing about these questions for too long. It is now time to address them.

3. “The Best Candidate for the Job”

I. “The Wee Scottish Airline”

In the same way that Newcastle’s wealth of detail provides insight into the individual characterizations of Herc and Linda, it is also possible to make reasonable inferences—based on what is given in the episode—about what kind of an airline Air Caledonian is.

Hints about Air Cal begin early, with the whole premise of the episode being a positioning flight for a crew on standby or reserve over a relatively short distance—from an airport within the vicinity of Fitton (most likely Bristol, as one of the designated alternates to Fitton) to Newcastle. The proximity of the two locations might indicate, at first, that Air Cal is a small, regional carrier—but this theory is refuted by Herc describing his aircraft as a “bus” to Douglas by the end of the episode. Granted, it is possible to call anything bigger than G-ERTI a bus. But Herc’s description would ring most honestly (and sardonically) if Air Cal takes a niche similar to a low-cost airline like easyJet, Ryanair, WizzAir, or even Jet2; if Air Cal operates single-aisle, narrowbody twinjets on short-haul routes around Europe and to seasonal destinations.

Air Cal doing long-haul does not make sense in terms of Herc or Douglas’ characterization. Both men speak of Air Cal as if it were a “step down” from Air England. It is difficult to glamorize or romanticize a several-flights-in-one-day lifestyle, jetting off not to some distant land but a city that’s probably a few airspaces away. Yet, it is still a well-known airline, enough for Carolyn to reference it in jest and speak of their passengers as “proper pilots”—much to Martin’s consternation! Adding prior evidence to support this claim, Martin has already applied to easyJet (mentioned in Boston). If he’s trying for Air Cal now, it would be safe to guess that this airline is similar, lying in the middle between a small regional carrier and a long-haul flagship airline—a budget airline that flies short-haul.

We’ve been able to take a few guesses as to the corporate side of Air Caledonian. Now, we ask the question: what’s it like to work there, anyway? To answer this, we return to Linda Fairbairn.

As was explored in Part 2, Linda has probably heard everything about her father and would certainly rather not hear more, please and thank you very much. One can only imagine a tight-knit working environment at Air Cal, where people know each other well. Linda herself must also have been well-known in that kind of a community. Being the daughter of the Chief Pilot, it wouldn’t be a stretch to theorize that Linda must have been the subject of a fair bit of teasing from her colleagues. That could help to explain the explosiveness of her reaction to Martin. Linda’s only just met the man and she automatically thinks that he’s in on the joke too! It’s a cute image (and probably even more annoying to Linda) to think about, nevertheless—Linda growing up in and around Air Cal as her father builds seniority and eventually earns the title and responsibilities of Chief Pilot. Imagine, if you will, the possibilities for Take Your Child to Work Day! Add to that the detail that she’s certainly spent her childhood in a pre-2001 world (if Newcastle does take place in 2011)—now imagine, if one will, a young Linda essentially growing up in the flightdeck whenever she wasn’t in school? I’ll wait a second for the Awww’s to subside. Okay, okay. Now imagine Linda’s dad presenting her with the Air Cal wings when she was hired…

Hey, it’s a good time to talk about Linda’s career. (If you know me, it’s actually always a good time to talk about Linda’s career!) Linda says she’s been a pilot for “12 years,” and if she is around Martin’s age (who was 32 in Helsinki. Give or take a couple of years, we’ll say he’s 34 in Newcastle) we can subtract back to figure out when she got her license. Given that she’s the daughter of an airline Chief Pilot and has harbored an affinity for aviation since childhood, it would be no surprise if she wanted to get licensed as fast as possible. So 12 years subtracted back can put her very neatly into the minimum age at which a pilot in the UK can hold a license (21 years old). That checks out.

12 years still seems like an awfully long time in an easyJet-type airline where many of the pilots’ goals include moving to bigger airlines with prospect of more experience and pay. And in Linda’s case, she would probably want to minimize any notion that her father is playing favorites during the hiring process. So let’s shave off four of those years, and devote that to Linda building up hours to make her case to the Dad-less selection panel. (Maybe this is also where her rally driving begins, too!) That gives up to eight years thus far spent at Air Cal when she walks through the MJN office door in Newcastle.

That’s still a long time. Eight years—and she’s still a first officer? Considering the probable business model of Air Cal, Linda should probably be at least a junior captain by now! What if Linda wants to be exactly like her father—in more ways than just the general profession? What if she’s fully expecting to build a career at this one airline: to quote Dan Fogelberg, be “a living legacy to the leader of the band”? That doesn’t match well with her clearly expressed eagerness to live outside her father’s shadow.

There are consequences for delaying an upgrade that can, and do, have material effects on a pilot’s life. There’s the financial aspect: higher pay. The seniority factor. The ability to have and execute command. Linda is giving up all these things by not electing to upgrade, and they are not mere trifles. What’s more, she absolutely cannot plead ignorance of these realities of her industry. For better or for worse, she grew up the daughter of her company’s highest-ranking line pilot. She has undeniably seen first-hand the importance of seniority. She must know that an eligible and qualified pilot (which after eight years, she must be) cannot waste time refusing to make the switch.

There must have been a very good reason for Herc to leave Air England for Air Caledonian. Likewise, there must be a very good reason for Linda to delay the advancement of her career.

We now approach the last part of this write-up, which I believe to be the apex of this whole affair.

II. Shipwright & Fairbairn: The Bestieworstie Case

If there is one single, overarching argument that I believe Cabin Pressure posits, it is that the end of all things is love. To extend, this love is then a unitive force—and how many times does our author make it so clear that the unitive force between his characters far, far outweigh their intensely varied and at times clashing backgrounds and personalities? It is what makes this story so resonant, especially and particularly among those who are yet to experience that genuinely unitive force in their lives, who are yet to find the true community that is built off of that force and not false, superficially unitive forces.

As has been previously proposed, Herc Shipwright must have come and was broken by such a “false” community. After years spent most likely copping Douglas’ act at Air England, a messy end has driven him to a downgrade of an airline, where he barely knows a soul and probably feels excluded due to his age, generational difference, or other factors.

Linda Fairbairn could not have come from a more different background. Linda is apparently cherished and has been introduced to a lifelong passion by a man who commands respect from others—due to his position, but most likely also to his character. She follows this man to this airline that’s probably been a major player in her whole life, but maintains a keen sense of self-determination and agency.

It’s been about eight years, and now, these two very different characters are being positioned together on a charter flight to Newcastle from an airfield that isn’t too far from Bristol, the major airport where Air Cal has perhaps set up a base. They get out of the car and take out their flight bags, squinting across the car park at the smaller airline’s little office. Linda spots a plane, parked at stand, that catches her eye; she wanders up to the fence to have a look at it. Maybe Herc shakes his head behind her, smiling, and enters the office in full trust that she’ll follow him in. And Linda does, maybe after taking a quick photo of G-ERTI.

When she opens that door, Herc is standing there, all relaxed confidence and practiced suavity: with a very affronted woman, two pilots who couldn’t look more different if they’d tried, and a slightly younger man who looks very happy to be there.

And Herc looks at her, and tells her with a smile shining through an incredibly affectionate tone— “I thought I’d lost you.”

This is literally their only documented interaction in the whole show. Yet, this—and the earlier conclusions I have drawn from the rest of Newcastle and using details from other episodes—was and is enough for me to beg another question, the same one that titles this write-up.

It is also enough for me to propose an answer. I argue that the gap between Herc’s departure from Air England and his appearance in Newcastle did not stand empty, and that it provides hints as to his journey as a recurring character to Zurich. I argue that Air Caledonian was what filled not only that temporal gap, but the emotional wounds Herc likely had as a character. Most of all, I propose that in keeping with Cabin Pressure’s exploration of the definitions of family and expression of love in its truest form as a charitable, unitive force of will, it is not only justifiable but logical to extrapolate that a friendship between Herc and Linda existed beyond what is presented in the canonical storyline.

By the time Herc is hired at Air Cal, he has been married four or at least three times (as we find out later in Vaduz). It is safe to assume he is not a father; not once does he mention children, estranged or otherwise. It is also safe, as outlined earlier, to treat Herc as being hired in the midst of a massive midlife crisis—or at least a sharp reckoning of his life choices. Imagine this man getting paired up to fly with this kid with huge starry eyes about the profession, who’s ostensibly doing what she’s dreamed of since childhood. And what if they keep getting paired together, to justify the familiarity in Herc’s tone in Newcastle and the fact that, were it not for Herc and Carolyn’s ongoing argument, she’d stay in the cabin with him? I propose it would have been Linda who made the choice to stick with Herc. He probably fully expects this young woman who’s been raised by a loving, respected, incredible father to want nothing to do with him and the sordid details of his past. But she stays—again, as has been explored, she has no shortage of aspiration but is stuck in a position where people know her probably a little more than she’d like. Wishing to grow out of the shadow of her father, and maybe feeling awkward about getting close to captains she’s probably known from a young age, Herc is a logical person for her to turn to. Someone new, who knows enough to know that Fairbairn = Chief, but not enough to have seen her grow up.

Herc, then, becomes a sort of proto-father figure, no matter how much he might want to be an actual father figure at this point. Linda, if we can be reminded until my face turns blue, already has a father. And yet, as Herc is the newcomer who does not have enough knowledge of the company to remember a younger Linda, she would most likely be least apprehensive to turn to him for advice and know-how when it comes to aviation matters. This would mean something to both of them; I propose this is what could have sparked a friendship.

Additionally, Linda demonstrates a parallel to another character, whom Herc also comes to like, that might support the argument of her and Herc getting along and becoming friends—Carolyn! Both Linda and Carolyn, when aspersions are perceived to be cast on their capabilities as women in similarly “male-dominated” fields, respond aggressively. That is to say, to quote the way a longtime friend once eloquently put it, Herc seems “utterly enchanted by the powerful and terrifying women around him.” (She has more to say about this than I could suitably put it without having to cite literally every other line, so all I can do here is raise a glass to her.)

Lastly, postulating a friendly/mentor-mentee/slightly paternal dynamic between Herc and Linda can provide clues as to Herc’s further journey to Zurich. While Linda cannot honestly and truly be the daughter figure Herc might deeply desire at the beginning of their acquaintance, there is a character who neatly fits into that niche: Arthur. In their first meeting, Herc is so impressed by Arthur’s character that he offers to use ways to find employment with him at Air Cal! (Sidenote: Mang Juan wrote in his outline for Newcastle that Herc “knows [the] Chief Pilot.” Yeah...that’s his bestie’s dad.) And indeed, as the characters progress through the show’s canonical narrative journey (of course, sans Linda) the audience comes to understand that Herc is the father figure that Arthur deserves: I argue that on Herc’s end, he realizes that he does not have to be a universally respected or idealized figure of strong character like Linda’s father probably is (and that has possibly caused him a lot of emotional distress in the past, considering the desperate state in which he makes his career move). He must realize, at some point, that the important thing is for him to be: to appreciate and cherish the Beloved how they are, as they are. Such is the definition of a true, charitable love. Postulating a previous history of such a relationship between Herc and Linda would then anticipate Herc’s relationship with Arthur later on.

Conclusion

Newcastle is one of my two favorite episodes of Cabin Pressure (it is tied with Vaduz for the top spot!). With its wealth of detail and the implications that these details present, it is a deeply intriguing episode that—while probably not entirely faultless—poses many questions about two of the characters presented therein.

I have postulated that the evidence presented through Newcastle’s treasure trove of detail can be used to propose a possible interpretation of the temporal gap between Herc Shipwright’s departure from Air England and his appearance in Newcastle. I have used the details given in Newcastle to outline the backgrounds of both Herc Shipwright and Linda Fairbairn as they arrive in the episode; to propose an explanation for the business structure and company atmosphere at Air Caledonian; and to argue that interpreting a dynamic of friendship between Herc and Linda is not only compatible with the information presented canonically, but compliant with the themes and canonical narrative arc of the show itself, as it explores love as an action; it argues for love as an act of charity and force of will toward unity.

I have been thinking about all these points for at least a year. In preparing to compile my thoughts into a comprehensive argument, I was surprised to learn that Newcastle was, apparently, not universally enjoyed in the same way as I had come to enjoy it. I could not disagree more with that sentiment! Newcastle proposes implications that can be extended, which can explain and enhance what is already there.

We have only to draw it out.

#cabin pressure #em writes #meta #herc shipwright #linda fairbairn #passing out actually #this is four thousand words long.#under the hood

18 notes · View notes

aviaposter · 1 year

Text

Boeing 737-500 British Midland

Registration: G-BVKC Type: 737-59D Engines: 2 × CFMI CFM56-3C1 Serial Number: 24695 First flight: Jun 1, 1990

British Midland Airways Limited (trading at various times throughout its history as British Midland, bmi British Midland, bmi or British Midland International) was an airline with its head office in Donington Hall in Castle Donington, close to East Midlands Airport, in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1938 as a training base for pilots, called Air Schools Ltd. Since 1949, the airline has been known as Derby Aviation. It was renamed Derby Airways in 1959 and British Midland Airways in 1964. In 1986, the name changed to British Midland. In 2001 – BMI British Midland, and in 2002 becomes bmi. The airline flew to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America and Central Asia from its operational base at Heathrow Airport.

Poster for Aviators. aviaposter.com

#aviation #avgeek #plane #airliners #boeing737cl #boeing737classic

3 notes · View notes

flymeandtiememaam2 · 2 years

Text

“So quick, so easy!”

British Airways flight attendant Diana Fellowes was full of praise for BA’s new restraint system, produced by Total Resolve. “The handcuffs were pretty standard,” she reported excitedly, “but as the gentleman had already surrendered to me, and agreed to co-operate, getting his wrists restrained was straightforward enough.” So what made Total Resolve so effective? “Well, in my experience, even restrained passengers can later change their minds and if all you’ve bound them with is seat belt straps, or duct tape they can often break free later.” replied Diana. “Even ladies’ tights will depend on how securely you have tied them.”

“The velcro Quick Strap system meant I could tie him to his seat by his upper arms and his ankles while he was still calm.” the stewardess went on. “He was unable to move, but the restraints were not putting him in any danger. They are not even that uncomfortable, providing he doesn’t try to escape. Isn’t that so, sir?” The male passenger glared at his smiling female captor and said nothing, perhaps a little less convinced of the wonders of Quik Strap!

Sources: Demo of Total Resolve’s Quick Strap airline restraint system on Runway Girl Network and Pinterest

4 notes · View notes

annadarwin · 11 days

Text

British Airways Dallas Office

British Airways (BA), a renowned global airline, is well-known for its broad network and dedication to providing high-quality service. British Airways Dallas Office is vital to the airline's operations, customer service, and regional strategy. This office serves as both a crucial point of contact for passengers and a strategic node for BA's presence in the North American market. This article will look at the numerous aspects of the British Airways Dallas office, emphasizing its importance in operations, customer involvement, and contribution to the airline's overall business goals.

Operational Significance of British Airways Dallas Office:

British Airways' Dallas headquarters is strategically positioned to assist the airline's substantial operations throughout the United States. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) acts as a major hub for BA, with frequent flights to and from the United Kingdom and other locations. The office is in charge of important operational activities such flight scheduling, coordination, and logistics support. This guarantees that flights run smoothly and on schedule, furthering BA's reputation for dependability and timeliness. In addition, the office is in charge of overseeing the delicate aspects of ground services at DFW. This includes luggage handling, check-in services, and working with local airport authorities to guarantee regulatory and standard compliance. These operational responsibilities are critical to maintaining efficiency and providing passengers with a smooth travel experience.

Customer Engagement and Service:

Customer service is a cornerstone of the British Airways brand, and the Dallas office is critical to delivering on this commitment to customers in the region. The office handles a wide range of consumer concerns, including booking and tickets, special help, and reward programs. By offering a local point of contact, the Dallas office improves the customer experience by making it easier for passengers to get help and address difficulties quickly. Personalized customer care is one of the Dallas office's primary offerings. This includes support with airline problems, rebooking services, and complaint resolution. The office staff is educated to provide empathic and efficient service, so that passengers feel respected and supported. This emphasis on customer interaction contributes to the development of brand loyalty and trust, both of which are critical to BA's success in a competitive market. Furthermore, the division is responsible for handling the Executive Club, British Airways' frequent flyer club. It informs users about accumulating and redeeming points, status advancements, and unique deals. The Dallas office helps to maintain a loyal client base by building excellent relationships with frequent fliers.

Strategic Role of British Airways Dallas Office in Regional Development:

British Airways' presence in Dallas is part of a larger strategic drive to increase the airline's footprint in North America. The Dallas office contributes to this goal by collaborating with local companies, travel agents, and other stakeholders. These collaborations are critical to marketing BA's services and growing its client base in the area. The office also plays an important role in market research and regional planning. By collecting and analyzing data on travel trends, customer preferences, and competition dynamics, the Dallas team delivers significant insights into BA's marketing and operational plans. This proactive strategy enables British Airways to react to changing market conditions while maintaining its competitive advantage. Furthermore, the Dallas office helps to implement BA's corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects in the region. This involves engaging in community outreach initiatives, promoting environmental sustainability, and donating to local philanthropic organizations. British Airways improves its brand image and fosters strong relationships with local citizens and companies by participating in community activities.

Technological Integration and Innovation:

In the age of digital transformation, British Airways' Dallas headquarters uses technology to improve its operations and customer experience. The office uses innovative customer relationship management (CRM) tools to expedite contacts and give individualized service. These technologies allow employees to access detailed passenger profiles, track service history, and provide customized solutions. Furthermore, the Dallas branch works with the airline's worldwide IT teams to introduce innovative technologies that boost operational efficiency. This involves using data analytics to optimize flight schedules, manage resources, and improve predictive aircraft maintenance. By adopting technology innovations, the Dallas office guarantees that British Airways remains at the cutting edge of aviation innovation. The office also supports the implementation of mobile and internet platforms to improve the client experience. Passengers may utilize these systems to purchase flights, check in online, manage their reservations, and get real-time flight status. By providing these digital tools, the Dallas office simplifies passenger interactions with the airline, increasing convenience and happiness.

Challenges and Future Outlook:

While the British Airways Dallas headquarters is critical to the airline's operations and strategy, it also confronts significant obstacles. To keep ahead in North America's highly competitive aviation market, BA must consistently innovate and enhance its services. Additionally, external variables such as economic swings, regulatory changes, and geopolitical events can have an influence on the airline's profitability and operations. Despite these problems, the British Airways Dallas office's future prognosis remains strong. The increasing demand for international travel, along with BA's dedication to excellence, positions the airline for long-term success in the area. The Dallas office will continue to play an important role in achieving this success by emphasizing operational efficiency, customer engagement, and strategic expansion. To meet future issues, the Dallas office is expected to invest in more technical developments and employee training. Enhancing digital capabilities and ensuring that staff have the skills needed to manage the changing market will be critical to retaining BA's competitive advantage. Furthermore, developing connections with local stakeholders and engaging in community projects will contribute to the development of a resilient and supportive network capable of weathering industrial disruptions.

Conclusion:

The British Airways Dallas office is central to the airline's North American operations. The office contributes significantly to BA's aim of providing great service and connection by emphasizing operational efficiency, customer engagement, strategic expansion, and technical innovation. As the aviation industry evolves, the Dallas office's capacity to adapt and innovate will be critical in sustaining British Airways' competitive advantage.

Frequently Asked Questions about British Airways Dallas Office

1. Where is the British Airways office in Dallas?

Answer: The British Airways office in Dallas is located at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). The particular location within the airport is often available on the airport's website or by calling British Airways directly.

2. What are the business hours of the British Airways Dallas office?

Answer: The British Airways Dallas office's operation hours are typically consistent with their flight schedule. For the most up-to-date and accurate hours of operation, please visit the British Airways website or call the office.

3. What services are available at British Airways' Dallas office?

Answer: Typical services include ticketing and bookings, flight modifications and cancellations, baggage queries, customer service help, and lounge access for qualified travelers.

4. Can I purchase flights straight from the British Airways Dallas office?

Answer: Yes, you may book flights straight from the British Airways Dallas office. However, booking online through the British Airways website or customer care phone line is generally more convenient and faster.

5. How can I find out about my flight status or check in at the Dallas office?

Answer: The British Airways Dallas office provides flight status information and check-in services. You may also get real-time information and check in online via the British Airways website or mobile app.

6. Does the British Airways Dallas office help travelers with special needs?

Answer: Yes, the British Airways Dallas office can accommodate passengers with specific needs. To ensure that suitable accommodations are made, it is essential that you tell British Airways ahead of time of any unique requirements.

7. Are there any British Airways lounges at DFW Airport?

Answer: Yes, British Airways has a lounge at DFW Airport for qualifying customers, including those traveling First or Business Class and select frequent flyer members. Information about lounge access and amenities may be acquired at the office or via the British Airways website.

#airlines #traveling #flightbooking #airport #office

0 notes