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Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A pilot's planned ski vacation was disrupted by a complex scheduling change, requiring him to fly a training trip to London with a requalifying first officer.
  • This "chess game" involved multiple itinerary adjustments for the pilot and his wife to align their travel plans with his new work assignment.
  • The London trip encountered various challenges, including a dispatcher error, a rough landing, and an unforecast "storm of the century" that severely impacted Heathrow Airport.
  • Despite these logistical hurdles and the major snowstorm, the pilot successfully completed his unexpected assignments and eventually made it to Park City for his ski vacation with only a slight delay.
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After writing the title for this month’s Jumpseat column, I chuckled to myself. I hadn’t meant to create a tongue twister. But the title summarized the trip. I’ll explain why.

In February Carol and I had planned our annual ski vacation to Park City. Prior to our departure, we had been entertaining guests nonstop in our Florida home for over a week. Carol had been the consummate host. She would be ready for a well-deserved break.

Les Abend

Les Abend is a retired, 34-year veteran of American Airlines, attempting to readjust his passion for flying airplanes in the lower flight levels—without the assistance of a copilot.

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