“He then explained that the aircraft had many advanced, backup systems, including first officers!”
In late 84, I was a ‘flying spanner’ flying on a BCAL A310 from Gatwick, London, to Douala, Cameroon.
When we landed, I performed the standard turnaround protocols on the aircraft, including refuelling, to send the plane onward to Lusaka, Zambia. It was sweltering and once I’d finished and the plane left Douala, I caught the next shuttle to the crew hotel to get a much-needed shower and a well-earned rest!
The next day, the crew and I get transported back to the airport where I have to perform my turnaround again, where I refuel the aircraft for its return flight to Gatwick. After departing Douala, we got a call on the company frequency, requesting that we divert into Lagos to pick up some passengers as the 747 they were meant to be on had experienced some engine troubles. The sweat from my turnarounds was a droplet compared to now upon hearing we were heading back to Lagos. After my last lucky escape from there, I was convinced, I was a wanted man, my name and face in a file, and should I return, I would be detained immediately and escorted to prison! The captain confirmed and adjusted his heading, and I became very quiet as we turned towards Lagos…
On the approach, the control tower asked how many souls were on board to which we replied 160. We landed and parked next to the troubled 747 where I remained firmly on the flight deck! 60 passengers from that aircraft walked out of the terminal and boarded our aircraft. Among them was a first officer whose identical twin just so happened to be the first officer on our aircraft! When I say these two were identical, I mean it was like a reflection! Nearly impossible to tell the difference between the two.
Once everyone was boarded and, in their seats, we were given pushback and start clearance, and I breathed a sigh of relief as we taxied to the end of the runway. We requested take-off clearance, the tower once again asked how many souls were onboard.
“220” replied the captain.
“Permission denied.”
My sigh of relief was cut abruptly short.
The tower explained that BCAL did not have traffic rights between Douala and Lagos. So, we held at the end of the runway and contacted our station manager to inform him of the situation. “Give me 10 minutes.” That was all he said before hanging up.
About 11 minutes later the tower contacted us and permitted us to take off. One can only guess what took place between the station manager and the control tower during those ten minutes but the well-used phrase ‘What have you got for me, boss?’ came to mind!
After take-off, we had an uneventful flight back to Gatwick. While we were cruising the captain invited people to come up to the flight deck and have a look around the cockpit. A young 10-year-old girl came up with her father and the captain started to explain to her how modern this aircraft was. This was true, as this aircraft was one of the first to have TV screen instrument readouts. He then explained that the aircraft had many advanced, backup systems, including first officers! The captain then pointed to the twins who turned round at the same time, waving, and smiling the same way. The girl looked at one, then the other and gasped in wonderment, she couldn’t believe her eyes and was in utter disbelief. As soon as she left the cockpit, we could hear her telling her father with great excitement at what she had seen and how safe we all were as this plane had a backup first officer!
I’ll never forget the excitement in that child’s face. It was like when they first see Santa Claus at Christmas. I hope that moment stays with her for the rest of her life, as it has mine.
The captain didn’t have to do that, but he did, and it made her day and the rest of our otherwise routine flight from Douala, unforgettable. It was a simple, yet powerful lesson as to how far a small gesture can go.
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