“Look, Stan, I understand your concern, but
this is a business and as a business we’re here to make money. If we don’t we’ll
go under and we’ve already lost hundreds of millions of pounds. It’s why we are
here right now. Testing the air quality. It’s clear that everything is just
fine.”
“Is
that all you are really concerned about? We… you are placing so many lives on
the line. Knowingly putting lives at risk.”
“Wake up, Stan. Get real. At the worst there may be
the loss of an aircraft. Maybe, but probably not. There are no issues with the
samples. There are no problems.”
The
aircraft with scientists and company senior executives on board was flying at
operating altitude.
“No
problems? The possible loss of an aircraft full of passengers. And don’t forget
the aircrew that are being forced to fly in them and you’re telling me to ‘get
real’?” He added with an assertive statement: “You really couldn’t care, could
you, Frank.”
“I do care. I do. But the risks just don’t match up to
the financial losses we already know about. And they’re growing by the day.
Hundreds of millions of pounds more every day.”
“You’re a short-term thinker, Frank, and you don’t see
the longer-term damage this could do. Not just the odd plane or two. Or three.
And hundreds of people killed. The damage to the industry would be irreparable.
Not only could the company be wrecked, but the reputation of a safe method of
travelling could be ruined forever.”
“Could be. Could be. Stan, this is a business that deals with odds.
Every time a plane flies, there’s a risk. Planes crash. Cars crash. People are
killed in accidents every day. People need to travel and it’s why they are
prepared to pay the prices we charge and put up with all the inconvenience at
airports. And even we don’t question the security imposed by governments. We
are a business and we… do. We deliver a product. It’s very simple.”
“But
an accident is something that isn’t expected. What you’re doing is with
foreknowledge. The game you seem to be playing simply involves a considered
probability exercise, but the stake is hundreds of lives.”
“What
are you saying, Stan? That I am happy with the fact that people may die?”
“Not that you’re happy, Frank, only that you are
prepared to take the risk with others’ lives.”
“Listen,
Stan. You stick to looking after your cabin people and I’ll look after the
company. You don’t understand the issues of running a multi-billion pound
industry. We’re already planning an action against Iceland to recover some of
our losses. And we’re going to introduce an insurance premium to cover costs if
you get stranded. Hotel bills. That’d be a good earner.”
“Are
you serious, Frank? You are blaming a country for the effect of a bad-tempered
volcano? It’s geographical and it’s been around for millions of years. This
troublesome volcano is only one of many in Iceland and you’re already thinking
the problem is over, but it’s only just started. It’ll be months before there
could be any glimmer of certainty that the volcano has become dormant. Right
now, it may be spewing out less ash clouds, but it’s still producing them.
Again and after so many years since the last time. You’re losing your mind,
Frank. Actually, I think you lost it a long time ago. You really are something.
Do you know that?”
Thoughts
seared through his mind like a red-hot poker: the insulting accusation that
he didn't understand how this business should be run. He understood. And he
understood people. These arrogant self-righteous people are so blind to the
obvious. Stupid idiots! Something you can’t see doesn’t mean it’s not there. Stan just wore a puzzled look on his face,
maintaining his calm composure; always the true professional.
“Do
you hear that?” queried Stan.
“Hear
what? I don’t hear anything.”
“Precisely.
The silence.”
Moments
later, the flight-deck door suddenly burst open and a uniformed crew member
stood still in the doorway to the cabin. He was very pale.
“We have a problem.”
Those few words by themselves were enough to explain
the situation. The engines had failed. Clogged by the volcanic ash and the
plane was gliding silently without engine power. The panic along the aisle
between the rows of seats was instant. The few technicians and scientists that
were the only passengers on-board this lone aircraft took just moments to
realise that everything that had been discussed and viewed as negative was
right. Of course winds move the air at high speed in the turbulent atmosphere
at 30,000ft. Of course, ash-free air at one moment may be contaminated the
next. How else could the frozen ash particles be falling hundreds of miles
distant from the source in only days?
Stan’s
mind was in turmoil: what the Hell am I doing here? Instantly he became aware of the images of
Mount Redoubt in Alaska flashing into his mind. The cause of the failure of all
four engines of a Boeing 747-400. This knowledge just intruded into his
thoughts, bringing the problem into a stark reality that seemed so peculiarly
unreal. He even remembered the date: 15th December 1989. Years ago.
At
least the lights and all the equipment were still operating under battery
power, thankfully fulfilling demand. Stan looked outside through the small
rectangular window at the grey cotton wool-looking clouds getting closer as the
plane’s altitude was reducing, though without engine power.
Stan’s
pulse was racing away as his heart beat hard inside his chest and all those
stories of calmness at times of great stress were now so obviously untrue. He
was terrified. Many unfinished projects entered his head all in a rush. All
crashing into his consciousness with each trying to be first. He was aware of
one confident thought though and that was he’d somehow get through this.
Then
all the lights went out and the aircraft entered the gloomy clouds…
© Louis Brothnias v. 1.4 (2010)