JET LAG! (8 page)

              ‘Ten………..five, four, three, two   0900…hack!’

              At this point the Met Man stood up and began his short briefing regarding the weather for the day.

              ‘Good morning gentlemen. The weather for today should present few problems. This spate of warm weather is due to continue for some time. The high pressure system is moving slowly southeast and a weak front is passing across the UK. This is causing isolated CB activity and thunderstorms have been reported over northern England. Consequently, it is possible that an isolated shower may reach us by lunchtime. However, I believe that your take off is 1100 and you will be back on the ground by noon. Additionally, the weather for tomorrow looks excellent and also for the transit to Italy. Any questions.’

              ‘Are you coming on the rehearsal, Jim?’ Todd was sure he would be, but Jim Charles the Senior Met Forecaster at Marham was famous for his dislike of flying.

              ‘If I have to, yes I am. I’ll take a seat at the back of the room and catch the remainder of the briefing, if you like.’ He realised he was fighting a losing battle.

              Todd smiled and the audience tittered. They all knew Jim Charles and about his phobia.

              Whilst Jim was taking his place Todd continued with the briefing. He’d done it many times before and his audience had heard it many times as well, but today the AVM was present, so the brief had to be done again - in full - and as slickly as possible. Take-off was indeed 1100, so crews were required to walk to their aircraft at 1000. Ten minutes to get changed plus twenty minutes to tie up loose ends – this briefing must finish by 0930. Consequently, Todd got on with it.

              Every now and then during the brief, the AVM would throw in a fastball question. On every occasion the answer came back without hesitation. It was clear that this was a good team who knew their job and were determined to get it right.

              At 0925, Todd brought the proceedings to a close.

              ‘Any further questions?’ To which there was silence.

              ‘Right then, let’s do it.’

              The AVM stood up and turned to face his audience. It was normal for a few words of praise and encouragement to be directed at the team before they set off on a difficult or important mission. However, the AVM surprised everyone in the room with his brief and somewhat curt statement.

              ‘I hope you all realise the importance of this task. Both today and in the future you will need to be as sharp as possible to ensure the success of this mission. Remember who’s in charge and make sure that you are ready for any unexpected changes of plan. Whatever you do - don’t panic. You are all experienced crews so I expect the highest standards of professionalism and loyalty to be displayed. Do I make myself clear?’

              He was greeted with silence. The aircrew were taken aback by this so-called pep talk and could only watch open mouthed as the AVM walked from the room. Todd remained and as the door closed behind the AVM the room erupted.

              ‘What the bloody hell was that all about?’ shouted one voice. Others nodded their agreement and Todd was bombarded by comments from disenchanted flyers.

              ‘Settle down, settle down. The AVM is under a great deal of pressure from MOD to get this right, and clearly he wants you to remember your responsibilities. I don’t think that that is unreasonable. Do you?’

              The room quietened as flyers stood up to leave the room. Todd stopped them in their tracks.

              ‘Have a good one, boys – sorry – and girls, just do your job and there will be no problems. Just do it as we have done it before.’

              The team dispersed to complete their ‘personal admin’ before getting changed. Todd was left in the room with the Station Commander and OC 619.

              ‘What the fuck was that all about?’ blurted Andy Millar.

              ‘I have no idea,’ replied Todd, ‘I’ve never seen him like that before.’

10

RAF Marham

1 April 1992

              The pre-flight for the flypast went smoothly except that everyone got wet as they walked for the crew buses. A lone rain shower skirted along the edge of the airfield and soaked the aircrew as they ran from the shelter to the bus. Crews busily packed their private kit into the usual cubby holes in the cockpit and by 1000 hours, the last pilot checked in on the radio that he was ready. Todd called for taxy clearance and the aircraft made their way – in strict order - to the runway. The spare aircraft remained at the Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS), just in case they were needed at the last minute. But everything went as planned and the aircraft taxied out to the runway and took off on time. As they turned downwind and headed for the holding area, Todd looked out to the north and saw a line of four or five Cumulonimbus (CB) clouds out over the Wash. They looked nasty but didn’t appear to be affecting the flypast route. Nevertheless, he hit the radio and spoke to Air Traffic.

              ‘Radar, this is Purple  lead. Can you give me some idea of the direction and speed of the line of Cu-Nimbs over the Wash area?’

              ‘Roger, Purple, my radar shows them to be moving East-South- East at around two-five knots’

              ‘Purple, copied.’

              ‘Shit!’ mouthed Todd, quickly followed by a similar expletive from Stumpy up front.

              ‘We’ll just have to go out to the area and see if they interfere with us. If we can’t hold there we’ll proceed to the standby area off Yarmouth. I’ve got both routes in the TV-TAB so it shouldn’t be a problem.’

              Todd checked the crews in and gave them a quick update of the situation. As the formation turned left towards the holding area near Cromer, the aircraft were skirting the leading edge of the bad weather. It started raining and visibility became worse. However Todd could see a clear area over Cromer and his weather-radar in the rear cockpit concurred. Todd checked everyone in after the turn and gave another update. However, Green and Yellow  formations were having trouble with their radios. Todd had to try three times to get them checked in, but eventually they managed it – so he was certain that they were on the correct frequency.

              Todd looked ahead again and was now getting worried. The Cu-Nimb activity was spreading south-east. It was pissing it down with rain now, and turbulence was growing stronger by the minute.

              Todd spoke to Stumpy.

              ‘What do you think – go for the standby area?’

              It was sometimes nice to share the decision making.

              ‘I reckon so – but it's up to you, boss,’ Stumpy was not taking any responsibility.

              ‘Thanks a lot mate.’ Todd was unimpressed. He needed some support but was not going to get it. However, he had made his decision. They would turn right and head one-one-zero degrees for Great Yarmouth. He changed the route on his navigation TV-TAB and hit the radio once more.

              ‘Purple, check.’

              Silence

              Again – ‘Purple  formation, from lead – check.’

              Nothing.

              ‘What the ….’

              Then, ‘Red Two reading you loud and clear and I am in contact with Blue, Green & Yellow – shall I relay for you Purple?’

              ‘Roger, Red Two, I cannot read the others. Relay this message. Alternate holding route, repeat, alternate holding route. Turning in three-zero seconds at 1109. Do you copy?’

              ‘Roger lead, Alternate holding route, turning in three-zero seconds at 1109.’

              Red didn’t need to repeat himself as Blue, Green & Yellow all acknowledged with a sharp:

              ‘Copied.’

              Red relayed the confirmation to Todd and he prepared for the turn which was due in about ten seconds. It was definitely the right decision. Although the area by Cromer was clear these CBs were causing poor radio reception – and the rain was getting harder.

              Then the bombshell landed.

              ‘Purple, this is Yellow Five, do you read?’

              Todd recognised the voice and was annoyed that his father was apparently going to stick his oar in.

              ‘Loud and clear Yellow Five, pass your message.’

              ‘Purple lead, continue with original holding route, I repeat, do not change to alternate.’

              Todd was fuming.

              ‘Say again Yellow?’

              ‘Purple lead, continue with original holding route, I repeat, do not change to alternate.’

              Todd was now beside himself.

              ‘Negative Yellow, the weather is too bad. Switching to alternate.’

              The AVM came back immediately.

              ‘That is an order, Purple lead. Continue with original holding route, we’ll discuss it on the ground.’

              This was a usual ploy that aviators used to avoid embarrassing arguments on the radio in front of subordinates.

              Todd waited ten seconds and replied,

              ‘Understood Yellow Five, continue, but will you take responsibility for this.’

              ‘Affirmative Purple lead, my decision.’

              Todd immediately got back to his team. Purple check – original route’

              Silence and then Red Two chirped up:

              ‘Red Two relaying; all formations copied – original route.’

              Todd was furious. What the hell was his father playing at? This was clearly a very poor decision. The formation was now flying towards bad and dangerous weather, the radios were dodgy and to top it all his father had undermined his authority in front of subordinates. There would be hell to pay when they all landed safely – if indeed they
did
land safely. Todd was certain that this weather would cause severe problems – especially for the tanker. However, he had been over-ruled. So he now concentrated his mind on the task ahead. He spoke to Red Two again and asked him to relay all messages. This would save time. The formation was now approaching the holding area off Cromer and the aircraft began their holding patterns as briefed.

              As Yellow reached their assigned position and height they checked in. Todd could now hear all members of the team on the radio as they circled above him. At least that was one worry out of the way. The holding pattern would last about fifteen minutes, so Todd decided to talk further with his father. He was still extremely unhappy with the situation. The weather was creeping ominously closer, so Todd was going to try once again to change the plan. He told Stumpy to monitor the primary frequency whilst he switched frequencies on the standby radio box.

              ‘Yellow Five, this is Purple lead – switch to 366.7, go.’

              Both aircraft switched frequencies.

              ‘Yellow Five check.’

              ‘Yellow Five.’

              Todd wanted an explanation from his father.

              ‘Yellow, can you please explain your decision to stay with plan A. You can see the weather. There will be a significant Flight Safety risk if we stay around here for much longer. Why won’t you allow us to proceed to the alternate?’

              ‘Purple, just do as you are ordered and do not challenge my orders. Do you copy?’