Chapter 29: The Plane on the Runway

Chapter 29: The Plane on the Runway

Patroni was glad that he worked out on the airfield, and not in an office. He saw the office workers and managers as children who played games against one another. On the other hand, he saw the engineers and maintenance men as adults who shared their skills and worked together.

This was being proved to him tonight. He had begun the job of digging under the Aereo-Mexican plane with a small group of Aereo-Mexican and TWA workers. Now they were being helped by others from Braniff and Pan Am who had come without being asked. That made Patroni feel good.

In spite of the additional help, this job was taking longer than he had expected. The digging was progressing slowly, because the men had to stop very often to warm themselves. It was bitterly cold. When they had finished it would be the pilot’s responsibility to drive the plane forwards, out of the wet ground.

Patroni had been digging too. He enjoyed sharing the work done by his team of men. Now he stopped and said: ‘We’ll be finished in five minutes. I’ll go and talk to the pilot.’

The Mexican pilot was listening to music inside the plane. It was warm and comfortable in there. As Patroni came in, he turned the radio off.

‘Don’t worry,’ Patroni said. ‘Enjoy the music. We didn’t really expect you to come and help us with our work.’

‘I have my job to do. You have yours,’ the captain said, in his correct but rather stiff English.

‘Sure, but we all want to get this plane out of the mud. Would you like me to drive it out?’

‘No thank you,’ the captain said coldly.

‘It will be very difficult, and I’ve done it before.’

‘Mr Patroni, I know who you are. I am sure that you are very good at your job. But I am the captain of this plane, and I shall remain in control of it!’

‘All right. But when I tell you to, make sure that you give the engines full power - and I mean full power!’

Patroni left the captain. Outside the digging had stopped. They were ready to move the plane.

‘Ready to start! ’

There was a sudden burst of noise as engine number three started.

‘Clear to start four!’

The maintenance men were running out of the way of the plane.

‘Clear to start two!’

‘Clear to start one!’

Patroni was on the telephone to the captain. ‘Let’s get moving! More power!’ he shouted, as the engines and the plane shook.

The engine noise grew, and then suddenly died.

‘It cannot be done,’ the captain said. ‘If I give the engines more power, the plane will stand on its nose. Instead of a stuck plane we shall have a damaged one.’

‘It can be done! It can, if you have the courage to try!’

‘You may try now, if you like. Let us see what your courage can do. Will you accept full responsibility for this plane?’

‘Yes!’

‘Good night, then.’

As the pilot left, Patroni examined the ground beneath the plane. As he had feared, the plane was now deeper in the mud than before.

They would have to start the whole operation again a hard job to ask tired men to do. Patroni knew that he could move the plane. This time, he would take the controls.