The story I am about to tell represents one of the most incredible days of my life. It could not happen today for many reasons that will become obvious.
Back in 1987 British Airways was in the process of being sold off by The British Government. My company,Phillips and Drew were one of three front line advisors whose job it was to find buyers of the company. As a result I had to familiarise myself with all details of the company, its financial records and a whole host of other stuff.
I was on a BA jumbo jet heading to New York in order to participate in a ‘road show’- we would meet potential investors and hopefully persuade them to participate in the privatisation. As an aside for all BA employees this was a difficult time. The Country flag carrier was moving into public hands and change was afoot. On top of this upheaval all senior personal had the right to subscribe, at preferential rate, to shares in the company. A huge decision for many.
I was sitting alone in the front row of the upstairs cabin in Business class of BA179, the 7pm daily flight from London Heathrow to New York JFK airport. Two colleagues were further back having a nap.. I suppose half way across the Atlantic a man emerged from the cockpit and went to the loo. It was the Captain. Now in those days access to the flight deck for passengers was at the crew’s discretion. Many a holiday maker or long distance traveller had enjoyed a visit to an area that’s now sealed and entry banned.
The pilot emerged from the loo and we started chatting. He asked me what I was doing in New York and when I told him he invited me on to the flight deck. He sat down in the left hand captain’s seat , a younger man was in the right co/pilots seat and in front of a bank of dials and switches was the flight engineer. That was the make up of the crew in those days. I sat in a fourth seat at the rear of the cabin, reserved for trainees or spare pilots on very long flights I was told. There followed a bizarre experience as I delivered a presentation on The BA privatisation and answered questions. I think I did well because clearly these people had some tough decisions to make and they had here on the flight deck, someone who had a lot of the answers to the important questions that were troubling them.. After half an hour or so I was thanked profusely and the Captain suggested I return to my seat as a meal was about to be served. As I stood to leave he suggested I might like to return to the flight deck in order to watch, first hand, the plane landing at JFK. I know it sounds unreal but on all my oaths it is true.
With about 45 minutes of the flight to go the first officer emerged and asked me to come back on to the flight deck. My colleagues looked on perplexed as I disappeared. I was back in my seat and given safety instructions. I was shown the overhead escape hatch-I was to go first- I was told to keep quiet at all times. I was given a head set and so it began.
Off in the horizon was the glow of New York. The air was full of the flickering lights approaching the city. Both our track of planes and also a different queue off to the right approaching La Guardia.
With perhaps 40 minutes to go the co pilot spoke into his mouth piece. ‘Speedbird 179 Heavy calling JFK. ‘ Speedbird is the BA callsign and ‘heavy’ signifies a large jet such as a jumbo.
‘Speedbird 179 heavy good evening’ hold your heading and descend to 20000 feet.
Speedbird 179 heavy 20thousand.
For the next half an hour I watched transfixed as we approached JFK. The sky was full of traffic and the head pilot scanned the horizon. The first officer was going to land the plane and he was busy doing preflight check.
It was all truly amazing. After multiple manoeuvres we came into final approach. Speedbird 179 heavy runway 25 left contact ground control on radio frequency 456 good night.
The top man counted us in the first officer driving the thing a picture of concentration. ‘two thousand 1500, 1000, 500 feet. ‘I have the plane sir’ an announcement of control by he who was flying.
The great plane approached slightly ‘slew’ as a part cross wind was blowing. It was amazing because for years I had wondered whether planes approach in an airfield in a wind might spin or something. It all became clear 450 tons of metal going at 300 miles an hour can only do one thing when it hits the ground-go straight on.! The plane touched down gently but the nose wheel came down rather too quickly. “Sorry sir” was the comment. ‘Don’t worry Johny same thing happened to me in Beirut last week” By this time the great beast was tearing down the runway before engaging reverse thrust and then finally the brakes. I was told the next bit was the most difficult as JFK was not in the best state. There are lights missing and potholes I was told getting to the gate is a challenge. We got there I gave out business cards thank the crew profusely then off into the night. In those days a helicopter trip into New York City was part of the business class deal. I normally found that an exciting experience landing on the East River heliport but this night it was secondary because I had experienced a once in lifetime experience and I loved it.
In the event the British Airways flotation was massively oversubscribed. If the aircrew had made a large investment they would have done well. The fortune of the airline in the hands of shareholders was to mark the end of the special airline that was. British Airways. I so remember just how safe you felt getting on board a plane. How superb the cabin crew were. Little things like flowers in the loo were taken for granted. Over the years I watched dan awful decline. Name changes ridiculous new colour schemes. The pride of GB airlines destroyed almost by a succession of stupid people. Sigh.
I am please to tell you that on one occasion I was to fly as a VIP with BA but only once. Read on.
Tales of a Life Well Lived 