Richard Yeomans

There is one thing worse than a late passenger, that is an early passenger.   So, the passengers turned up early in Zurich and wanted to go straight away.  We didn’t rush but managed to get away a little early and the flight went very well.  The radio was quiet and we had something to eat over Poland at forty one thousand feet.  It was beautiful to watch the moon rise and I had a real feeling of being insignificant.  Whatever we do, whatever is the state of the economy, however important we think we are, the world keeps on turning….

 When we arrived at Sheremetyevo we turned the plane around quickly and we had to depart quickly to Vnukovo before it closed at 03:15 so there was little time to waste.  There was some pressure applied to get into Vnukovo before it closed but, the weather was good and the radio was quiet.  In fact i think we were the only plane flying at that God awful time of night.  Vnukovo was quiet and the landing was really quiet pleasant.   The dramas, like they always seem to do, started on the ground.  Someone, somewhere had failed to book the transport to the hotel and as the airport was closed there were no taxis.  We called Lisbon but, we had to wait for 2 hours and watch the sun come up.  It was a cathartic experience to relax in the cool, still early morning air and watch the sun rise.

We got into the hotel and I headed for bed at 6, a long day or was it just a short night!  I love the glamour of aviation…..I just wish some could head my way.  I now have a day of standby at the Imperial Park Hotel and Spa.