The Electric Aluminium Submarine

The significant weather charts indicated embedded cumulonimbus clouds along our flight route. Forecasts for departure and arrival aerodromes called for a high chance of thunderstorms, gusty winds and low visibility in heavy rain showers. 2015 monsoon season in the mekong delta is in full swing.

The old scooter woke up after the 3rd kick start, not bad in the humid Saigon air. I donned my poncho, hid my flight case inside a plastic garbage bag. Rode into the afternoon rain.

The road leading to the Southern Crew Base have transformed into a small river the colour of what I called Teh Tarik* back in Malaysia. I decided to ride straight to the airport to avoid being swallowed by the River Hong Ha.

30 minutes later in the flight deck:

Purser: "Captain, we have 184 POB*, may I close the door?"
Me: "Di Thoi!*"

I can hear Door 1 Left being closed, I looked out the front windscreen into the rain through 2 inches of heated plexiglass. Rainy days like today always makes me feel like I'm the Skipper of an electric aluminium submarine. "Batten down the hatches crew!" "The hatches are sealed Skipper!" "Time to Cast off!"

Number 1 sets take off thrust, the electric aluminium submarine propelled down the water logged concrete runway, V1, Rotate. Number 1 using 3 fingers of his right hand eased slight back pressure on the side stick, 89 tonnes of aluminium & fiberglass held together with a few of thousand rivets climbed skywards.

Instantly we punched into the grey pea soup overcast.

For the next 3 hours, It's IMC*, for the non aviation types (N.A.T), this means for 3 complete hours through the 2 inch heated plexiglass, nothing but grey clouds is seen.

FIVE HUNDRED, the radio altitude announced, still no sign of the ground.
FOUR HUNDRED, nothing
THREE HUNDRED, Grey Clouds
ONE HUNDRED ABOVE, nothing
MINIMUM, number 1 announced, approach lights in sight, CONTINUE.
ONE HUNDRED, the touchdown zone is in sight.

5 minutes later, Anchors Set...."Cleared to open the Port Hatches!" The Electric Aluminium Submarine safely docks.

*
Teh Tarik - Milk Tea
POB - Passengers on Board
Di Thoi - Let's Go in Vietnamese
IMC - Instrument Meteorological Conditions