Worth the wait

It has been sitting in the big hangar at Red Willow Aviation for several months. Brand new and bigger than life silently lording it over the entire lesser airplanes that surround it. It is a brand new Beechcraft King Air 350, the pride and essential transportation for, an obviously successful, local manufacturing firm.

Sure I have coveted a ride in the wonderfully new and modern aviation marvel. You see it belongs to a class of aircraft that I have never flown as a pilot. That being the total category of aircraft powered by jet engines turning propellers. Or more accurately "turbo-prop" aircraft. Yes I have ridden in those types, first in the Air Force C-130s, then a Vickers Viscount and more recently the various feeder airlines that connect McCook to Denver in their Beechcraft 1900s. But then there is a difference from simply riding along in the rear to sitting up front and participating in the event as an aircrew member.

Bill, former student and business jet pilot and now the King Air Captain, called earlier that day and asked me to "ride along" on a trip to Denver. "We will just run out and pick up several passengers and come back home -- it won't take long," was the invitation. The "won't take long" comment I should have know better having dealt with carrying all sorts of passengers in unscheduled operations over the years. I quickly calculated an hour flight each way so figured it would make for a really pleasant evening. What I didn't expect was the three hour delay waiting for the passengers to extract themselves from the big commercial airline terminal after arriving at DIA and catching a cab over to Front Range late in the evening.

From the right front seat I found the King Air to be a challenge for this old aviator. I never touched the controls but Bill assured me that it was much easier to fly than the twin engine aircraft that I regularly aviate. What intimidated me were the modern displays of flight instruments and avionics all commanded and coordinated by a dedicated "Flight Management (FMS) System." I am used to round dials to display engine and flight data-modern vernacular "steam gages" but this superb arrangement puts all the information on three separate portable TV-size "glass panels" right there on the instrument panel. I am used to doing the commanding of what the radios transmit and receive and tell the autopilot what to do but on this one with a few key strokes on the FMS the machine does it all for you. The pilot is still in the loop but functions more in the role of observing and monitoring the computers at work.

Actually I was able to assist Bill as we came out of Denver by communicating with air traffic control. And yes I could learn to operate all that wonderful airline type advanced equipment but for sure our technologically savvy youth pick it up a whole lot faster than we old seasoned veterans do. The capabilities of modern technological equipment and superb training of new pilots have all contributed to an ever improving safety record in corporate aviation, almost equal to the fantastic record of the airlines in this country. For me it was a thrill to ride along and watch the future in action.

Her name-plate proclaimed Erin and I had remembered her from several trips before as she worked the counter of the FBO at Front Range. In normal human language that means that this young lady, mid-twenties something, is the person who meets the flying public at the general aviation business of Front Range Airport near Watkins, Colo. Front Range Airport caters to non-airline general aviation types and allows one to avoid the $200 landing fees collected at Denver International. The $30 eight mile taxi ride in comparison is a bargain.

Erin was on duty when we waited for our "lost" passengers. Erin and her line-boy helpers kept the place open well after normal quitting time to accommodate a couple of slightly frustrated pilots. Most everyone else had closed the doors and turned out the lights, even the control tower was closed for the night when we finally departed.

Erin never complained and considering recent experience it is no wonder. You see Erin is member of an Air Force Reserve Unit in Colorado and she recently returned from year long duty in Kyrgyzstan. Actually she served as the airport manager at a base named Manas, temporary home of a large portion of the USAF aerial tankers doing missions over Afghanistan. Sadly in the near future the Air Force is being run out of Kyrgyzstan through manipulation and threats against that country by the Russians.

I stand in awe of the young men and women from our communities who volunteer to serve in the reserve and National Guard forces as well as on full time active duty.

These young people go and serve in exotic locations around the world and then seamlessly fit right back into day to day jobs. I think we as a people are the richer for their experiences.

That is the way I saw it.