Well with over 12 days off I was getting that..."when are you going back to work?" look from number one. I went on "make up" and was offered one leg to LGA (New York), with a long layover and one leg back. For a 90 minute flight each way it added up to almost 9 hours of credit. (One has to paid DPG...Daily Pairing Guarantee of 4:25)
Sweet!... plus a "certain math" added up. I won't tell you what transpired but Time Square with the sun coming up eating breakfast at McDonald's was part of the equation. :)
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| The lights from Ground Zero hitting a deck of stratocumulus cloud downwind of 04.(Picture taken from jumpseat observer) |
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| The Freedom Tower resurrecting from Ground Zero's ashes. Notice the "red, white and blue." |
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| If you want to enter an aviation time warp...fly to LaGuardia. Looks like they have some leaky roofs. |
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| Looking down from my hotel room. There is nothing but media with another building beside it with even more media. |
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| A couple of firefighters posing for the camera. The media was everywhere. The 9/11 memorial was closed for this weekend. |
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| Some of New York's magnificent architecture from days gone by. Another shot from my hotel. |
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| We stared at "Welcome to New York" for 15 minutes just to a get a taxi clearnce. We were number 30 for take off. |
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Yes, another self propagating pic of Captain D at "Ground Zero" one decade later.
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...and the aviation world is still feeling the effects of this "infamous day."
....GONE FLYING......
46 comments:
Whaow can't believe you went there! I want to visit Ground Zero in the future, a must see for sure. I've never really heard you about NY flights so this was exceptional right!? (Maybe it's blindness though :P)
Looks like some good weather, I just bought the newspaper with a 9/11 extra... a must have and I'll always keep it.
Thanks for sharing,
Bas
Gee Captain Doug you look like you're dressed for Miami not NYC!
What a day 9/11 was. Hope we never see anything like it again. Were you flying that day?
If so would love to hear your 9/11 story..where you were, what went through your mind and so on.
Thks for sharing my pic too ;)
I'm sure that tomorrow will end up being just another average day in America, but if I needed to fly somewhere I would try to avoid doing it on 9/11/11 if possible. If I had to fly, I would be extra paranoid and ready to pounce on anyone or anything suspicious. I was working right next to the airport in Sarasota where Air Force One was parked on 9/11/01 and is was very surreal. I heard they left so fast the runway was damaged (maybe that is just a rumor...not sure)
If there is a silver lining, I don't think any more planes are going to get hijacked. I don't think us Pax are going to allow that to happen ever again.
Well, enough of this. Does anyone have a more cheerful subject?
I'm sure that tomorrow will end up being just another average day in America, but if I needed to fly somewhere I would try to avoid doing it on 9/11/11 if possible. If I had to fly, I would be extra paranoid and ready to pounce on anyone or anything suspicious. I was working right next to the airport in Sarasota where Air Force One was parked on 9/11/01 and is was very surreal. I heard they left so fast the runway was damaged (maybe that is just a rumor...not sure)
If there is a silver lining, I don't think any more planes are going to get hijacked. I don't think us Pax are going to allow that to happen ever again.
Well, enough of this. Does anyone have a more cheerful subject?
These photos give interesting, colourful views that I don't see on TV. The networks tend to use the same vantage points all the time.
On CNN right now..voices of 9/11....tapes of recorded messages....
vantage points...through hearing not visual....
those that were trapped on the 80 something floor and climbed to the roof of the WTC only to find NO access to roof....and go back down and huddle in a conference room,90 something floor...
shared a phone....and rose above...(word)s...by mostly comforting those they called...saying "It's ok"....
the fact then most of them knowing it's just a matter of time at that point...
IRONY"....IN IT'S SICKEST FORM...i think...
I am sure this will air later again......tomorrow...or a zillion more times.....just..."Heart Renching"....if you have a penchant for that sort of thing.....not funny!!!!
AND...Captain Doug, no what transpired between you and the DAWN....at "Time's Sqaure"....you did really good with your pics...and pic of the day....
I only hope it was a #1 COMBO BREAKFAST AT MCDONALDS.....of course with a diet coke...not to be funny here....
Bas. You are right, I usually avoid LGA (New York) flights but what crew sked offered I could not refuse.
Plus I wanted to visit New York. I have not been downtown in over 12 years.
The weather was fantastic. Sunny and 29 C.
Captain Doug now in Calgary
Al. The weather in New York was sunny and hot!
During taxiing we were sticking to the asphalt in LGA.
Yup, I was flying. We were over the mid Atlantic when we heard the news. I was published in Wings magazine and the article is in my book. :)
Today I actually met the captain I flew with on that horrific day. He was 50 then, now I am 50 and he is retiring within a month. He was off to Beijing surrounded by three other pilots...I came up to him, shook hands and said "happy September 11th day" for lack of something better to say.
...and the aviation world is still suffering from that day...
Clinton. Thanks for checking in. Yes, we must move on. I am in a hotel room in Calgary, Alberta with my wife and son. I will fly back to Toronto tomorrow (Sept 11th) and then head west to Victoria, British Columbia.
Funny, I can't have either in my jumpseat. They are deemed a threat. It's the games we play.
So on a cheerful subject..how is this? Happy September 11th everyone! :)
Daniel. You should see downtown New York... nothing but police officers and media.
I wonder what the media pays for parking spots?
Getjets. When the F/O and I went to visit Ground Zero I said to him.... they are building these skyscrapers on a huge graveyard. :(
Getjets...If memory serves me correctly...I ordered some sort of breakfast combo...I gave away my hashbrowns to the flight attendant. :)
Even at Time's Square there were media vans. We chatted them up.
First time I had McDonald's in a long time.... :)))
Just picked up your book off Amazon.ca Doug ;)
Captain Doug, I am with you tonite....I don't care.....just as long as you are safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will watch....it's like the sweetest worst thing in the world...what am I supposed to do..
misstwa
you are so gone and I am so awake....I see you...those little green ticks...how lovely you are!!!!!!even tonite..especiallly tonite..silly me.....thinking anything is different.....
Only everything...and no...nothing......
what do i know ....nothing....expect when I here your fight #,,,,good nite.
miss(not so miss)twa......A FRIEND....FROM THE UNIVERSE AND BEYOND..SO I'VE HEARD....GO AWAY.........................................................
I am so outta here..............but I loved every single second.....
break fast or without.....I am up and you are flying.....as long as all is safe......and when I hear "shall I use reverse"...I don't get upset...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
not in the next 5 minutes...thank you....but I am Guard.....all Night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gosh! I love New York City. There is something magical about that place...and the people are wonderful!
You were so fortunate to be able to experience the City--even for a bit--and get paid to have fun! :)
Thanks for the photos.
Getjets. September 11th is upon us. I had a call from crew scheduling early this morning and they wanted to change my flying. Apparently one pilot's father-in-law passed away so they wanted me to do his flying....back to Toronto and then to
Cancun, Mexico. But my wife and son are with me so I have to stick to the script. Even so, I am flying an earlier flight to Toronto.
So... no matter what life deals ya...you gotta roll with the punches.
Thanks for looking out for me. Now get some sleep. I'll take over from here. :))))))))))))
Captain Doug
^D^
Anon. I agree, New York city has an aura most cities can't replicate.
I sure felt it a few nights ago. And I know why people go there to visit/live... either to find themselves or
to lose themselves. With that city, you have that option. :)
Al. Thanks for buying my book and enjoy the read.
Captain Doug....gone flying...September 11th....
That was cool...you sent your response to Al on September 11 at 9:11 am...(my time)
:)
Hi Doug!
It was nice meeting you briefly in Calgary! I hope you had a nice flight to Toronto and enjoy Victoria!
I'll have to brush up on the technical side of aviation before the next time you stop in Calgary! :)
Take care,
Heather
Heather. Pleasure meeting you as well! I must return to make a purchase. LOL
I repositioned an A320 this morning from Calgary to Toronto with no passengers and no cargo.
It was kind of eerie on September 11th. But I got to walk and down the aisle, use the aft washroom and leave the flight deck door open. But I couldn't make a coffee. :((((
Now off to Victoria.
Again maybe you, YYC Dispatcher and I can rendezvous one day.
Hope you keep reading my blog.
Gone flying...again...
Hey Capt. D, sometimes in the sim I "virtually" reposition an empty 767, admittedly when I just fancy a short flight. I personally believe the phrase "homesick angel" was coined for such flights! I appreciate you are bound to stay well within certain limits but does an empty plane give you the opportunity to see what the electric jet can do in terms of climb rate etc, or are such flights very boring??
Regards to all,
Dave from the UK
Thanks for the pix, Doug. Definitely an alternate perspective. I haven't read or watched any of the "talking heads/polito's" on what happened ten years ago - they didn't have much to say then, and what they did say was mostly garbage. I don't think much will have changed.
Enjoy Victoria - please say "Hi" to the old guy with the hat watching out for the weather...
Kind regards / Foggy... still hitch hiking on the outernet...
Getjets - sleep!!
when you re-positioned with no passengers and no cargo, were your wife and son with you....or allowed to be when this occurs? Maybe you can't answer that....lol
because that would be cool to have a whole 320 for the fam only....kind of like limo service!
CAT III Approach off to YYZ in the am.
does AC assign a differnet flight # or code for an empty jet?
AC 140 empty, turn right 030 descend maintain 4000! LOL.....
A truly lovely photo of the day. Victoria must be beautiful! :)
And any picture with the full moon (Harvest Moon) is very magical. Thank you.
Anon. Victoria is beautiful and very clean. Great place to retire, but I'm not quite there...quite yet...
Seems you know your moons. :)
Captain D on a loooong layover in YYJ
Captain Doug:
I guess almost everyone knows where they were on that fateful morning ten years ago. The images from TV are permanently etched into my ol' brain I tell you. That said, I purposely did not follow the, er, revisiting of the event, save for watching Wendy Mesley from NYC on The National. Bit I DID find a blog - apparently well known - from the captain of the LAST US-based jet to land on that day. He was being followed by fighters, and was obliged to declare an emergency in order to get landing clearance. His huge worry was that he and his F/O got EVERYTHING dead-right, or they would all end up dead wrong.
Thanks for letting us live a special job, albeit vicariously, through your eyes.
Well, Captain Doug, you've experienced extremes...first a layover in NYC and now a layover in Victoria. :))
HELLO MR FOGGY!!!!!!!!!....sometimes ya just have to shut it down.....your right!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope you are doing great....!!!!!!!!!!!!
I never get enough sleep.....oh well....LOL
Captain Doug..that is a Beautiful...picture...NOOOOOOO not you...!!!
the pic
in Victoria.....ha
is very lovely!!
the Moon...can never go wrong...all you have to add is "Look up"..........
is it a Harvest Moon...?????? does it matter..NOPE.....but perhaps a Blue Moon.....does it matter...NOPE AGAIN....
lets just hope it doesn't Stop Pulling us close and pushing us away...kinda like LOVE....!!!!!!
@ RTD8450.....do you mind saying name of the blog you are referring to...??????I don't think I seen or heard of .....or been lucky enough...to run accross....
oh and Thanks, Captain for picking up some of my slack.....:))))))))
now I will take over !!!!.....KIDDING...all Yours.....
misstwa
ps....how many more McDonalds hashbrowns have you given away....so far on this layover......LOL.............
I love those.....just add lottsa salt...and a diet coke of course......ha ha
Anon. Extremes is right! I went to bed with the sun rising in New York, but here in Victoria I'll be going to bed when the sun sets. :)))
I wanted to pump up things a little by taking a float plane over to Vancouver Harbour by using my reciprocal jumpseat policy and having lunch.
But instead we rented a car in Victoria and drove around aimlessly.
Uh...shame shame taking pics while driving. *finger wagging*
:) Nice shot, though.
Driving aimlessly can be fun too...so long as you have loved ones nearby.
@getjets--love hashbrowns too...mmmmmm (and the diet coke makes you feel better, keeping the calories in check)
Hi Doug,
It seems like you got lucky with the long LGA layover.
I came back from India last week, through Zurich, on Air Canada :D, and I was surprised to see that the captain is based in YUL. This begs me to ask, how often does crew sked have you flying with FO's from different bases?
Finally, on an unrelated note, and just to keep your meteorological senses tingling, is it possible to have lightning without rain? I am asking this question because I have heard the term "Dry Lightning" but if you look at the chemical composition of water it is H20 (Dihydrogen monoxide). However, to make H20 a synthesis reaction must occur which would look like this.
2 H2(g) + O2(g) + NRG -> 2H20(l)
The problem I am having is with the NRG, which is energy, that usually comes in the form of heat or electricity. As such, that means when there is an electric discharge, presumably, there should be enough NRG to cause the H2(g) and O2(g) in the air to bond, which would create water.
Now, using your meteorological background, is it possible to have lightning without rain?
Thanks Nehal
Nehal. Yes, pilots can fly with different based pilots. Especially at this time of year where we tend to be short staffed. I've flown with YUL and YWG based pilots.
As far as your question: Is it possible to have lightning without rain? (Dry lightning) (Heat Lightning)
Here is one answer without your chemical equations. In a nutshell, yes you can have lightning without rain or without thunder.
Somebody asked me this last week:
Captain Morris,
Very nice blog, I've been following it for a year or so. I am an aviation/weather enthusiast and private pilot who has a quick weather question....Why is it that lightning which doesn't discharge into the earth, ie cloud to cloud, seem to lack thunder?
My answer:
I think because this type of lightning tends to happen in the upper portion of the cloud..near its anvil. Because of it, lightning can be seen at great distances, but the thunder is not heard.
You get this with "heat lightning." Heat lightning is a misnomer from folklore because lightning is associated with very warm temperatures. Heat lightning will cause flashes on the horizon, but it will be silent from afar.
Nehal, not sure if you were trying to put me on a "meteorological spot" so that's my final answer. :)
And for everyone's FYI I am a synoptic meteorologist. I am not a cloud physicists. And yes there is a HUGE difference.
P.S Nice Avatar
RTD8450
I too stayed away from the media. It was downright depressing when I saw the odd excerpts.
You should have seen Ground Zero. I don't know who had more presence... the police or the media.
I'm glad I took that pairing. New York is such a vibrant city!
Sure it took a nasty blow but so did aviation. It sure took a lot of fun out of my job. Having said that, the night in New York made up for some lost time. LOL
@ getjets..
Sorry, have not been on-line for a day or two. The blog I saw is called Sheer Profundity, and can been seen at http://sheerprofundity.blogspot.com/
Amazing, scary read, and makes a VERY clear picture of what things are like "up front" when situations arise over which a PIC has NO control... like knowing an armed fighter has your full-of-pax airliner "painted", is locked on, and finger-ready. Captain Doug, and all of his colleagues need nerves of steel on a good day, and I truly admire their skill, dedication and passion for their craft/art/career/job...
RTD
Thanks for the link! When I have a moment I'll take a closer look. Looks like he hasn't blogged in awhile.
Maybe "number one" had something to do with it? :)))
I never heard my job described as art or a craft. But I like it! A craftsman or an artist, but not just handy with their hands.
P.S I see you shortened your "call sign." :)
@ Captain Doug...
Did NOT intend to shorten the C/S, but the ol' fingers can often move on the keyboard faster than the cranium can absorb what they are, or in this case, are not doing - lol!
RTD or RTD8450
Not a problem. Nice having you around.
@ Captain Goud - again...
See I TOLD you. Signed off on the last note BEFORE mentioning that I have downloaded "the book" to my wife's Kobo, and anxiously look forward to it. After finishing the rest of the Potter series - the kid in me LOVES them, and three Clive Cussler's, now hanging on the bookshelf behind the 'puter, here in the Nearly North, hard by Georgian Bay. Methinks your tome would be a helluvan accompanyment to 20-hours from YYZ to MEL during our forthcoming Great Oz-venture.
And THEN I cock up your name - think it's time to stop typing and go back to reading... arrgghhh
RTD8450 You wouldn't believe how many times people call me GORD instead of DOUG.
Your rendition looks interesting. :)))
At least you have the correct letters. lol
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