This Week ….Dusseldorf
Cabin Pressure created by John Finnemore and stolen lovingly by SJ Howitt, lol.
I don't own ANYTHING, but as this is my first fanfic. Please be kind! Much hugging and kissing aimed at my dearest friend Jason Layton, whom I dedicate this too ENTIRELY!
"Fitton Tower, Golf Tango India ready for takeoff runaway 3".
"Hey Skip, Skip, Skip, Skip, Skip, Skiiiiiiiiiiiiippppppppppp!"
"What is it Arthur?"
"This is great, brilliant, really great isn't it? You and me, without Mum or Douglas?
'Up! Down! Flying around,
Looping the loop and defying the ground.
They're all frightfully keen,
Those magnificent men in their flying machines.'"
"Oh Arthur please stop"
"Golf Tango India, Fitton Tower Echo Golf Foxtrot Charlie, Turn left heading 270, runway 3 cleared for takeoff."
"Fitton Tower, Golf Tango India, Heading 270 Runway 3, thank you"
"Golf Tango India, erm are you sure you want to take of solo?"
"Oh not you as well, Tower"
Captain Martin Crieff sat at the sticky table in the crew café at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, the weak plastic coffee he was still attempting to drink had long gone cold. Having dropped off their cargo he and Arthur needed to return to G-ERTI and continue with their next leg to collect Carolyn, Herc and Douglas from the Air England reunion in Dusseldorf. If only Arthur would return…
"Well Skip who'd have thought , they only have the White Toblerones here" Arthur shouted from the other side of the room waving his Pyramid Chocolate proudly.
Martin groaned, and collecting his hat went to meet the beaming Steward.
"Come on Arthur, hurry up or Carolyn will think we've hijacked G-ERTI and abandoned them in Dusseldorf." They started walking through the airport, Martin briefly imagining himself as Leonardo Di Caprio in "Catch me if you can", Arthur skipping behind in his wake.
Suddenly they were sideswiped by a tiny red headed woman, Martin made a very Un-Di Caprio sound, and Arthur was knocked to the ground dropping his Toblerone.
"Oh oh oh I'm dreadfully sorry oh sorry" the tiny woman started "are you two by any chance pilots?"
Martin sat up on the floor, and Arthur went scrambling after his Toblerone. The woman scrabbled up and fixed him with her big green eyes.
"erm er well yes, well I am" Martin Stumbled as she smiled and fixed him with those eyes "I'm Captain Martin Crieff"
"Oh wonderful, and did you just say you're flying to Dusseldorf?"
"Oh yes" Arthur piped up hugging his chocolate, "we are going to pick up the rest of us, I mean those of us who aren't here, I mean everyone…well anyway"
"Brilliant" the woman interjected "could I possibly trouble you for your jump seat?"
"Oh WOW" Arthur suddenly leapt "are you a pilot too?"
"Arthur" Martin groaned, helping himself and the woman up "but are you, a pilot I mean?"
"No" she laughed and shook her head "I'm an ATCO, but I was supposed to be in Dusseldorf this morning, and I've been stuck here all day."
"Erm look I'm afraid, I mean I'm not sure I don't think my boss would…" Martin stuttered
"Oh go on Skip" Arthur piped up "we could be like Arthur in Camelot, rescuing the Lady of the Lake from those trolls!"
"I'm sorry Arthur, I don't think your Mum would appreciate me giving a lift to strange, sorry, women"
"I'll pay you" the woman begged "wait your Mum?" she looked at Arthur "It's your Mum's airline? So can I appeal to you?"
"Oh go on Skip?" Arthur squeaked again
"OK but Arthur you have to explain this to Carolyn."
After walking through passport control, and Arthur declared his Toblerone, they went out to G-ERTI.
"Oh" The woman squeeked "isn't she sweet?"
"Really?" Martin asked
"She's Brilliant, isn't she" Arthur squealed hugging the plane
"Oh very" The woman said, as they boarded "G-ERTI, sweet"
Both Arthur and Martin smiled, broadly looking in opposite directions.
"Prestwick Tower, Golf Tango India ready for takeoff runaway 31".
"Golf Tango India, Prestwick Tower Echo Golf Foxtrot Charlie, Turn Left heading 125, runway 31 cleared for takeoff."
"Prestwick Tower Golf Tango India , Turn left heading 125, runway 31 Thank you."
After a surprisingly smooth take off, and some moments of quiet Martin suddenly thought of something.
"So you know our names" he started
"Oh promise you won't laugh?" the woman asked
"Oh can I guess your name?" Arthur asked, suddenly appearing from the cabin
"Erm, no Arthur" Martin decreed "and no we won't laugh"
"Ok, well it's Avro" she giggled
"BRILLIANT" Arthur shouted
Martin snorted "What like the plane?" he shook his head "were your parents into planes?"
"You promised you wouldn't laugh" Avro sulked
"I'm not laughing" Arthur pointed out, "I think it's a lovely name, was your Mum and Dad into planes?"
"My Dad is" Avro said sadly
"Oh God he's a pilot isn't he" Martin groaned "That's why you're going to Dusseldorf, he's at this stupid reunion?"
"Yes" Avro mumbled
"Brilliant!" said Arthur
"Erm, he's not Douglas Richardson, is he?" Martin asked suddenly
"No, Bernard Pettywright" Avro said as if announcing a death, "he's the chief pilot at Panavia now."
The rest of the flight went fairly quietly, Martin and Avro played Brian's of Britain, and Arthur tried to play Yellow Car. In fact all in all it had been one of Martin's favourite flights since joining MJN. Most surprisingly Avro seemed to really like him. Then he came under the control of Dusseldorf, and his doubt came back.
After a few moments of silence in the Cockpit, after Arthur had returned to the Cabin, Avro spoke.
"Erm Martin?" she asked "Have you ever landed solo at a big international airport?"
"Of course " he snapped "Just not, just haven't landed at Dusseldorf, tricky headwind"
Avro nodded "Erm Martin, would you like me to help?"
"That's not really practical" he decreed
"I am cleared" she clarified "and I would happily act as co-pilot, Captain"
She got up and strapped herself into Douglas' empty seat, strapping herself in and donning the headset.
"I have control" Martin clarified
"Of course Captain" Avro nodded
"And post landing check's complete" Martin finished.
"Well done Captain" Avro clapped her hands together
"Thank you for your help Miss Pettywright" he returned, trying not to acknowledge that most of the approach had been done by her.
"Have we landed Skip?" Arthur called
"Yes Arthur, you can come up now" Martin called over the com.
"Well done Skipper" Arthur enthused barging into the cockpit "Oh, are you in Douglas' chair Avro?" he asked
"Yes Arthur" she turned smiling, "but wasn't that a good landing from your Captain?"
"Oh yes, Brilliant" he enthused
"Are you coming to the reunion party?" Avro asked, 2or are you staying here to wait for your friends?"
"No we have a room booked at the hotel" Martin sighed
"Oh what a coincidence" Avro smiled, patting his hand, "So do I".