Twas the Night Before Christmas (Aviation style)
Twas the night before Christmas when all through flight deck
Not a creature was stirring not even an FO.
The cargo bins were loaded with care in hopes that they wouldn’t shift in the air.
The passengers were nestled all snug in their seats, while visions of cute flight attendants danced in their head. And the FA in her uniform and I in my cap
Had just settled down for the long trans Atlantic crossing.
When all of a sudden the TCAS made such a clatter, I sprang to attention to see what was the matter, away to the window I flew like a flash.
The moon on the breasts of the Icebergs below. Gave a luster of midday to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear. But an A380 and eight other heavy’s.
With their flight crews so lively and quick I knew in a moment it wasn’t St. Nick.
More rapid then eagles their coursers they came. I whistled and shouted and called them by name.
“Now American! Now Delta, now Speed Bird, and Max Jet!
On, Swiss! On Air France! On, Lufthansa and Eos!
To the top of the polar route, to the top of the world.
Now fly away fly away fly away all!”
As air pockets rattle the hull as we fly, we climbed to 40,000 for smoother sky.
So up to the max altitude the course we flew with a plane full of passengers and cargo below.
And then in a rattle I heard on the radio, the request for ride reports from other fellow.
As I plotted our approach, and was coming down. Down the landing gear came with a bound.
Flaps set to full, landing lights all a glow,
The hull was all tarnished from the engines so old
A tail wind guided us from the back
And we looked like we’d have to circle before heading in.
The ground lights how they twinkled! The rush of air how merry
Our new livery were like roses, and our nose was like a cherry
Our wide body was chubby and plump, a right jolly old bird.
And I laughed when I saw the many cycles.
Clearance from approach and a dialing of the autopilot,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
We would be landing behind World straight ahead.
Turning on final, the approach lights in view
Reducing power for touch down half way down.
And flaring the nose down the runway we went
Thrust reverses and spoilers deployed to slow our bird
And away we turned off to T4 as I was told.
But one last message from the Capt he exclaimed
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
