Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Galley Gossip: A memorable flight for a first time flier
I knew something was up when an attractive woman wearing a fur vest walked to the back of the airplane during boarding and pulled my coworker aside on a flight from Dallas to New York. I couldn't really make out what they were saying as I set up the galley, shoving snacks in a drawer and stacking cups in an insert, but it had something to do with a kid who had spent his entire summer babysitting while his friends went on vacation. The woman, it turned out, was the aunt who wanted to do something special for the boy, something that his friends had never experienced. "Ya think he can visit the pilot during the flight?" asked the woman smiling brightly. "It's his first flight."
"No, I'm sorry, we don't do that anymore, not during the flight," said my coworker. "But you can take him up there now while we're still boarding."
The exchange reminded me of a conversation I'd had with a guy who recently told me about a memorable flight he'd had as a child. It happened back in 70's when passengers actually dressed up to travel. He'd fallen asleep next to his mother and awoke to find that a pair of wings had been pinned to the lapel of his jacket. Not only did he keep the gold American Airline wings, he shared a photo of the jr. pilot wings, circa 1977, that the flight attendant had given to him aboard a B707. "It was the strangest thing," he said, reflecting back on the flight in awe. So strange, in fact, the experience may have been life altering. Bryan is now a pilot who also creates aviation T-shirt art.
Bryan isn't the only one who has experienced a memorable flight while growing up. I've heard several amazing stories over the years that have actually affected me! Now whenever I have kids on board I make it a point to march them up to the cockpit to meet the pilots. If they're lucky they'll get to push a few buttons and might even get a copy of the flight plan after we land. You never know whose future you may be shaping with one simple push of a button and a handful of paper.
With that in mind, I stowed the plastic mallet I'd been using to break the ice and made my way up the aisle to the front of the aircraft where I could see a familiar furry vest standing just outside the cockpit door. "Do you have a camera?" I asked the woman.
That's when my colleague magically appeared with an iphone and said, "I've got it," as she snapped a photo of the boy sitting in the Captain's seat, a boy I would soon come to know as Cade, which is the adorable boy pictured above wearing the pilot hat. I decided to interview Cade later in flight.
NAME: (Spelling) C. A. D. E. W. I. L. L. I. A. M
AGE: 6
Where do you live, Cade? White Oak, Texas.
What are you going to do while you're in New York? See the Lion King
Fun! Make sure to visit Toys R Us and ride the ferris wheel, too. So tell me, what did you like best about the airport? The restaurants. And how the airplane is parked right beside the airport.
What did you like best about visiting the cockpit? Steering
What's your favorite thing to do on the airplane? Look out the window.
If you could be anywhere in the world, where would you want to be? On an airplane, except not in this seat. It's not a good seat.
Yeah, I know what you mean. First class seats are much better. Where do you think you'll travel to next? Antarctica. Wanna know what I want for Christmas?
Sure. A baby penguin. But it might be hard to keep up with.
You might be right. I know a pilot named Kent pretty well who likes to answer questions. If you could ask him a question, what would it be? What states have you been to?
Good question. I'll see if I can get him to answer it. Do you know what you want to be when you grow up? A scientist. Because I can draw dragons and ghosts and cars. Want me to draw you one? Want me to write you a story?
Of course! I'll get you a piece of paper so you can get to work....
THE INTERVU ON THE PLANE, by Cade.
One day I got on a plane. And I got an intervu. And who did my intervu? Was Mrs. Heather. My Captin was sleepy so I helped him out and got to drive the plane. We got to New York!
What a great story! I'm really impressed. Okay, now do me a favor and draw a picture of a dragon while I double bag the coffee and offer the pilots a cup.
Filed under: Airlines, Galley Gossip
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
CanCan Oct 30th 2009 2:05AM
We haven't been in any cockpits, but it makes a flight special when friendly flight attendants pay attention to my kids on our long 12+ hour flights.
I'm thinking about you, cool flight attendant guys who gave us ice cream!
Nick Hawkins Oct 29th 2009 9:52PM
Did the pilot ask him if he liked movies with gladiators in them?
teaminxs Nov 3rd 2009 10:51PM
also, nick.. have you ever seen a grown man naked....
Mara Oct 29th 2009 9:50PM
I totally didn't know that kids could see inside the cockpit at the beginning of a flight! I'm definitely going to see if I can make this happen the next time we fly - hopefully the people working the plane will be as nice as you.
Adorable post.
Mark S. Oct 29th 2009 11:44PM
When I was 12 we were returning from Israel through Copenhagen and my mom asked if I could go up and see in the cockpit. Not only did I get to go in the cockpit during cruise, but they even sent the flight attendant back to get me shortly before landing. They let me sit in the jump seat all the way from the beginning of the descent til we reached the gate. It was the greatest thing ever. I now am an aircraft maintenance manager and commercial pilot. I'm not sure how much of a factor that was but it gave me a good impression of being a pilot. There is no way anyone could get away with doing that now.
KyleAA762 Oct 30th 2009 6:13AM
Absolutely adorable post. I couldn't resist thought...
"Do you like it when Sparky rubs up and down..."
markthetechie Nov 2nd 2009 7:25PM
My first flight was "waaay" back in 1992. I was 4 at the time and was flying from LaGuardia to Orlando. We were going to Disney World! (I should mention this NY-FL trip was DURING Thanksgiving...I don't know what my parents were thinking.)
I can't remember the airline we took for the life of me, (I think it was American), but I DO remember that flight. I got a window seat, a flight attendant gave me little plastic wings that my dad pinned on to my shirt, and the captain grabbed me out of the boarding line and showed me the cockpit. I pointed to the control stick (bar? shaft? The steering-wheel type thing...) asking what it was. The pilot jokingly said, "You know, I never noticed that before. I don't know what it does!"
Had I known at that age what a steering wheel was, I probably would have run off the plane right then and there.
Every flight I've taken since then has been wonderful. I've never come across a rude flight attendant...just a mildly hungover gate agent once. I think I'm one of the few people out there who actually ENJOYS being on planes/trains and waiting around an airport or Penn Station.
I should point out that I'm currently a "Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management Major" in college and graduate next year. That's in no small part due to travel employees like you, so thanks Heather! See you in Kew Gardens!
~Mark
Bryan Nov 4th 2009 10:54AM
What a very pleasant surprise, Heather! Awesome story! I sure didn't expect all of this when you asked for the link to my American Airlines Jr. Pilot wings. I'm touched by your story, and thank you.
There's something special about flying, especially when seated behind the controls of an aircraft as Pilot In Command.
The whole aviation/airline/travel experience as a very young child was what inspired me to become an aviator. Flying aboard jet-aircraft like the Boeing 707, Boeing 747-100, and maybe, don't quite remember... the DC 8, with legacy carriers like American and Eastern (remember them) was amazing during the 1970s.
Taking flight was an affair during those golden-aged airline travel days. Yes, as a child, I always wore a dress jacket with slacks or a suit. My shoes were routinely shined for all airborne journeys. Commercial airline travel was certainly... "Something Special in the Air". Seeing Cade in the Captain's seat on the flight deck reminded me of "me" during that time period, and about his same age too when I received my "wings".
Pilots sure do make positive impressions, not just to children, but to adults as well. We, as pilots, are kids at heart, and we love sharing the joys and pleasures of flight to those expressing curiosity and fascination.
The next time you board an airplane with a young person, set-up a visit with the pilots in the "front office". You'll never know what positive life-altering experiences may take flight. I always do.
Consider the following resources for aspiring pilots. It's never too late to learn!
http://flighttraining.aopa.org
http://www.aopa.org
http://www.eaa.org
teri Nov 4th 2009 11:34AM
OMG!!!!!! You go Cade!!! Mamo and I ( aunt T) were so happy to see your picture at the controls of the airplane! We both started to cry, tears of joy! It was very nice of them to allow my sweet nephew, Cade, to have such a great experience. I promise you we will hear about this for many years!!!! Cade is such a sweet, and funny kid and aunt Marti is always willing to make sure the kids have a great time when with her. Thanks again for your kindness Heather. I can tell you love your job!
frank96 Nov 5th 2009 5:51PM
I fondly remember years ago, standing at the entrance of the aircraft ready to board. The agent comes down with a family and an elderly woman. As I help her from the wheelchair, the agent comments to me that it's her first flight. I say, "Really?'' The entire family says, "yeah, first time!"
I then ask her age. She was taking her first flight at the age of 105.
frank96 Nov 5th 2009 5:55PM
Ohhh, I forgot to mention........when we got to her row on the beverage cart and we asked her what she wanted to drink, she said.
::::smile::::
A BEER.
Happy Nov 8th 2009 1:37PM
Heather....thank you for such a heart warming story. It shows that there are a "few" F/A's out there that still have compassion for the flying public, particularly children. It angers me these days, that with so little "service" (hand out a snack, a drink, clean up - on a 4 hour flight!) that the F/A's can't "find the time" to assist the poor mom with a crying child (instead of complaining about it) or actually talking with a psgr. who may have a fear of flying or answering that call light with a smile - instead acting like it's a nuisance and interrupting their "galley gossip" or reading the latest People magazine. You have to remember.....Mom's are extremely upset themselves when their babies are "out of control" crying. The baby feels that from the Mom and won;t settle down until they are possibly seperated for a few minutes. As a psgr. I have assisted mom's who are stressed. Their children calm down instantly. I once carried a crying baby toward the galley and the F/A's were NOT happy (AND the service was over and they weren;t doing ANYTHING! Oh, AND the seatbelt sign was off) The baby was returned sound asleep and a happy mom! PLEASE F/A's - stop complaining and show a bit more compassion , believe it or not, it IS VERY REWARDING in the end!!!
Nancy Nov 11th 2009 10:59AM
Great post! I can remember, vividly, the first time I flew. It was in 1967 on TWA. My family was flying to Texas to visit relatives. I was 6 and was fascinated about everything I saw. My sister and I got to visit the cockpit mid-flight, and we were given pilot wings and a TWA carry-on bag (wish I still had it!). I can remember thinking how cool it must be to work on a plane! I can also remember asking my mom what the little bag in the seat pocket was for - I soon found out not long after eating breakfast (scrambled eggs and bacon, with real silverware too!)!
I credit that whole trip for my current love of everything related to travel, airplanes and airports. I too, along with MARKTHETECHIE, actually enjoy being at airports and train stations, and can't wait for my next trip, wherever it may take me. Kudos to you and your fellow FA's for making Cade's experience such a memorable one for him!