Page 53 of Too Much In Common
“Back in the day, I had to take a step down and fly short domestic routes so I could be home most nights. And I’ve been a victim of Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome, twice. You’ve got it good at Legacy. We may tease about the nepotism, but what your aunt did for women flyers is the best thing since Amelia Earhart.”
Tian kept her voice low. “Are you saying that you wished you worked for Legacy?”
Marta nodded. “I’m interested in the part-time options I’m hearing rumors about.”
“You are hearing things I don’t know about.” Tian heard a rumor, of course, but nothing to share, especially with a pilot she’d just met. Tian stood and glanced at the clocks on the wall, one on local time and the other on Zulu. “If you’ll excuse me, I should meet the captain for my next flight.”
During their conversation, several more pilots had entered the room. Among them were Captain Cook and Tim. Tim glanced at her then took the terminal farthest away.
Cook crossed the room to her. “Please tell me you are my FO back to Dallas.”
“That isn’t how it works, and you know it. I am on a flight to Seattle. I was looking for Rochester.”
“He’ll be here in a moment. I saw him in the washroom.” Cook maneuvered her to a corner. “Can’t you trade?”
“What is wrong?”
“He didn’t stop talking the entire flight.” Cook inclined his head to indicate Tim.
“You know I can’t do that, but it is nice to be wanted.”
Cook rolled his eyes. “Your captain just came in. You’d better go. I think he was running late.”
Tian crossed the room to the winded pilot.
Rochester placed his hands on the back of a chair. “There you are. I’m not feeling well. I’ve put in for a relief pilot. Go meet the crew and brief them.”
She’d only taken a few steps away when a commotion behind her caused her to look back. Rochester was lying on the floor. She reached for the airport phone on the wall and dialed 0. “We need medical to the pilot’s lounge. Captain Rochester of Legacy Air just collapsed.” The operator took the few details she knew. Seeing that the captain was attended to, Tian went in search of the cabin crew huddled around a table in the next room. Chaz seemed to be the leader of the team.
“Hey, Chaz and everyone. I come with some not-so-good news. Rochester collapsed. He came in to tell me he called for a relief pilot. And then...” Tian struggled with her emotions. Part of her wanted to stay and figure out what was going on, but she knew that they needed to get the flight going.
“Should I worry? This is the second flight to Seattle I’ve been on with you this month, and the other one didn’t go well either,” said Chaz.
Tian held up her hands. “Not my fault. Let’s be as ready as we can. A relief pilot should be here soon.”
Chaz pulled out a chair and Tian joined them.
Five minutes later, Captain Cook came over. “Rochester is awake, They are taking him to the hospital.”
“Thanks for coming to let us know.”
“That isn’t the only reason I’m here. Looks like they are playing a game of musical chairs. I’m now flying Seattle since it leaves first and I have the right hours. The relief is driving into the airport, he will take my DFW flight.”
Chaz filled the captain in on crew concerns. Tian talked about the weather as they hurried to their gate and an on-time departure.
Tian waited until they were at cruising altitude to ask the question that plagued the back of her mind. “So, did you volunteer for this game of musical cockpits?”
“Pretty much. I don’t have the patience to deal with a chatty FO for the rest of the day.”
“So, you want me to be quiet?”
“No. I want something of substance to the conversation, not a rundown of every button we have at our fingertips.”
“I promise not to ask you the purpose of any button, knob, or dial in the cockpit.” Tian paused for a moment, then pointed at a spot near his window. “Oh, except for that purple one. I’ve never seen that before.”
Cook glanced to his side as Tian laughed.
The captain shook his head.
