Mettiti nei miei panni .................................................. IN YOUR SHOES

Avete mai pensato alla vita delle vostre scarpe? Io no, ma proprio mai fino a quache giorno fa. 

Chissà quante paia ho indossato nella mia vita? Chissà quante invece sono rimaste nell'armadio a guardare uscire le altre senza aver mai provato la stessa gioia di esplorazione. Ma magari erano delle scarpe pigre a cui stava bene rimanere al calduccio pulito e sicuro tutto il tempo e ascolare solo i racconti umidi e puzzosi delle altre.

E quando vengono mandate al primo lavoro (nel negozio) dove devono sfoggiare tutto il loro splendore per venire scelte? Chissà che padrone si immaginano o quale preferiscono? 

Magari quelle Sketchers comprate a Chicago si aspettavano una padrona tutta fashion e pulizia, di essere sempre intonate con l'abbigliamento e pulite ogni qual volta qualche polvere ne ombreggia lo splendore. Camminare per le strade comode, ordinate, pulite, fare poca fatica e molto glamour? 

La scarpetta di cioccolato dal Chocoshow di Bologna

E invece si sono trovate con questa instancabile camminatrice a marciare sul sito archeologico di Selinunte in Sicilia (ed è proprio lì che mi è venuto questo pensiero!). Una che fa in media dai 10 ai 20km al giorno a piedi. Una che ama esplorare cammini nuovi, presumibilmente mai percorsi (o meglio dire poco percorsi). Arrampicarsi sulle montagne, sugli alberi, nel deserto, ma insomma: poco cemento! Dopo tutta quella fatica si aspetterano almeno una spolverata, se non un bagnetto. Dopotutto hanno sudato tanto e provveduto al massimo comfort.

Per non parlare delle ballerine che sognavano di visitare teatri, sentire la freschezza dell'erba nei parchi durante un picnic oppure salire sul palcoscenico durante un concerto corale. E invece si sono trovate a VOLARE! Passare più tempo in aria che per terra. E che aria poi: quella riciclata, secca degli aerei! E sempre a contatto con quelle calze di nylon, che fastidio! Certo, la vista dall'ufficio non ha prezzo, che si tratti di mari, monti, isole o deserto. O semplicemente un cielo stellato. Ma a volte può risultare un pò claustrofobico, sopratutto se ci sono altre scarpe antipatiche. Che sollievo quando, dopo ore e ore di clausura, atterrati a Londra e aperto la porta, arriva un freschissimo soffio di brezza mattutina con sullo sfondo un'alba multicolore (penso che sia stata l'unica volta che ho apprezzato il clima degli isolani del nord). Ahimè, è la vita da hostess.

Put yourself in my shoes

Mia sorella invece è una che bada alle proprie scarpe, il proprietario perfetto. Le cura talmente tanto che dopo anni di uso affettuoso, quando le passa a me, sembrano completamente nuove. Le sue scarpe sarebbero felici se non sapessero che il loro servizio non finische con mia sorella. E io gli dò il colpo di grazia. Non c'è un terzo proprietario perchè dopo me sono da buttare. Ma quante avventure gli ho fatto fare alle mie scarpe!!! Solo a quelle scelte, ben si intende. I requisiti sono semplici: comodità, versatilità, estetica, non sempre nello stesso ordine. 

Quelle scarpette deliziose di un colore difficile da abbinare, potranno aver vantato 1 o 2 uscite ed è tutta l'esperienza che hanno. Oppure quel tacco 15 che tutti i sandali invidiano...magari non è mai uscito di casa, perchè troppo scomodo! Alla fine della fiera dipende tutto dalle aspettative. Se vogliono l'avventura come arrivare in capo al mondo, dovranno sopportare fatica e sudore nella forma di scarpe da tennis. Se vogliono una vita agiata e danzosa va bene anche la forma del sandalo con un tacco medio o una décolleté classica. Se gli piace solo l'odore di casa e famiglia, ovviamente sono delle pantofole. E se invece non vogliono lavorare, ma solo essere belle, beh torniamo al tacco 15 o un colore sgargiante.

Chocolate shoes and bags from a Chocoshow exibition in Bologna, Italy

Sembra quasi di parlare di certe conoscenze! Non vi siete riconosciuti in nessuna di queste? Andiamo, ognuno di noi ha delle preferenze e lo stile di vita si riesce ad intuire proprio dalle nostre scarpe! Certo, l'abito non fa il monaco e magari proprio quel giorno quando hai incontrato l'amore della tua vita, mezz'ora prima hai pestato una pozzanghera piena di rifiuti malodoranti oppure hai strappato le Converse sulla tua bici, oppure ti si è rotto il tacco, oppure hai macchiato le scarpe di tela con il gelato. Sono cose che capitano. Però la nonna mi diceva che la fine della guerra (la seconda guerra mondiale) si intuiva anche dalle scarpe dei tedeschi: non erano più perfettamente lucidate e a puntino come dettava la pedanteria del Reich.

Io faccio del mio meglio ad accudirle senza farmelo pesare (che sollievo quei macchinari di pulizia delle scarpe che si trovano negil alberghi! Li uso sempre). Ma la scelta migliore sarà sempre la qualità. Se sono ben fatte, si mantengono da sole. E durano!

Chiudo ricordando che...a volte la cosa più bella è camminare scalzi. Oppure, come dice Nutini, mettersi delle scarpe nuove e tutto si aggiusta.

Fairy flight MAN

Let me stop you right there before you start thinking that I cannot spell the word right or ask yourself how is it possible that after 6 years of flying I did not learn the right word for "flying an empty aircraft"?! ✋

Fairy?

Ok, ok, we are talking about FERRY flying. Doesn't it sound boring though? Isn't it just so much nicer to call it FAIRY flight? As in light and free as a fairy? Because that's what you are: empty aircraft=light aircraft, no passengers=you're free to do what you like! 

Ferry flight

Why on earth would an airline waste their money on a fairy flight? Well there are multiple reasons, like delivering a brand new aircraft to a customer, moving from one base of operations to another, maintenance operations or, as in my case, returning to base.

My first Fairy was after a diversion case on a HYD turnaround which I talked about in my previous post. Since we had an unexpected layover in Hyderabad, after minimum rest we were to bring back the aircraft (and ourselves) back to base. With no passengers, The whole experience was quite adventurous and it was impressive to see the Dreamliner with empty seats and only Crew on board. Being able to observe the panorama from every angle of the aircraft was unique. We felt kind of special, kind of Fairy light, you know what I mean.

My second Fairy was my last operational flight before the Covid19 quarantine, we're talking about March 2020. The majestic hotel in Manchester was still open only for us, as most of the hospitality structures were already on lockdown. It was quite hunting to find ourselves in that big Harry Potter Castle-like hotel which is a proper labyrinth, only about 25 people, all Crew and the rest totally empty. It was also sad to see that colorful lounge wrapped in silence and only room service available. On the streets people started following social distancing when grocery shopping, but generally UK woke up quite late regarding all the Covid19 prevention. Or maybe they're still living the dream, who knows?

Empty Manchester Airport, March 2020

Seeing the airport in Manchester completely empty was hard core movie style. As if we were protagonist of those horror movies about the end of the world and just waiting the moment when the zombies are gonna come out and rush at us. Still following all the safety protocols, that's our job, but hey. Talking to ourselves only. And then back to base. Strong feeling of a "last time". Last flight before the lockdown, last Manchester, last time in my favorite European hotel, last time in that uniform, last time spreading wings, last time Crew? I took it all in and preserved that energy. What was to follow is months and months on ground while the world is changing. Reshaping. Nourishing. Getting reborn.

Same song by Bublé applies. And I'm feeling...Good! Whatever you do, one thing never stop: DREAMING!!!

Boeing 787 - the Dreamliner

Lightning strike HYD

Do you know what is Diwali? It is a Hindu festival of lights celebrated between mid October and mid November. And that is precisely when, as by some game of irony, during my turnaround bound to Hyderabad (India), I had a lightning strike. A whole different on board lights festival!

But lets rewind. Peaceful departure, quite a calm night flight and Crew with only cabin trolley bag, since we were supposed to go back and forth the same night. And then through the pitch black night we heard raining, visibility zero. Couple of bumps here and there, but still ok. We latch ourselves on the jumpseats, cabin is ready for landing. Except the bad weather wouldn't let us! Bumps become more intense, visibility still zero, we can all hear the rain hitting the aircraft and then BUM, a blinding white light that showed me all the puzzled faces in the cabin, a sound as when a circuit breaker pops up at home and then darkness again. No worries, all commercial airplanes are manufactured with a conductive body, such as aluminum. Even the composite planes, such as the one we were flying on, are safe as long as they have the protective mash. Shortly after our pilot announces that we will be diverting to Bangalore. Another two airlines followed our example and diverted as well. That was not an aborted landing, as we didn't even get close to the ground, but it was a go around since we announced the landing with the control tower, but then weren't able to do so, until the decision of a diversion.

We finally landed safely in Bangalore at the first lights of dawn. Spectacular morning colors and a deserved break while the lightnings engineer is checking the aircraft for a possible damage, water tank gets topped up and petrol refueled. Ready to take those passengers to their festival destination, Hyderabad. Now we had daylight and the storm was gone, so we managed to land. But by that time the Crew wasn't legal anymore to operate the flight back to base. In fact duty hours surpassed 12h already. Sooooo improvised layover was the airline's verdict.

Diwali, Hindu festival of lights

We found ourselves in Hyderabad for a ground version (and more pleasant one!) of Diwali festival of lights! Yaaaaay! Thankfully our aircraft was a Boeing 787- 3 classes, meaning that the First Class had fancy amenities like pajamas, sleepers, toothbrush and socks. Just enough for our 13h layover.  But since then I have learned that some items are just essential to have on every single flight, just in case some unexpected situation like this happens! 

Make a list: t-shirt, leggins, flip flops, extra panties, toothbrush and paste, comb, make up, wet wipes, charger, little bag, tablet and a book!

Aborted landing CAI

This is something that you learn in the aviation academy and you train for in the simulator.

Aborted or rejected landing is when for some reason it is not safe to land anymore, so the pilots decide last minute to abort the landing. The reasons can be bad weather or technical issues, in any case the decision is made last minute, so there will be no communication about it, even though everyone will realize quite soon what is happening. Sometimes the landing gears already touched the ground when the plane goes back up in the air abruptly. The following action is to gain altitude, go around and attempt another landing. General rule is that after two unsuccessful attempts, it is advisable to opt for a diversion.

Thailand, Phuket airport attached to the beach

It can be a routine challenge, but when unfavorable conditions start to pile up, it can turn into a disaster. Do you remember that case of FlyDubai crash in Russia in 2016? I do very well, because just a couple of months after that I had my first rejected landing! It was a Cairo turnaround, demanding day, we all knew in advance. During the approach to Egypt pilots advised there is a sand storm in Cairo and the landing might be bumpy. Well, not only was it bumpy, but it seemed like the aircraft was dancing left and right all the time. At that time we were still cheerful and carefree as it is normal to have a bumpy landing. Until just before the touchdown we found ourselves attached to the back of the seat, heard the sound change and felt the abrupt motion of sinking before returning up in the air. That's how I can best describe the feeling of an aborted landing. It wasn't funny anymore. Too bad that we had 2 suppy Crew with us (newbees that just finished the academy and are doing their observation flights before finally getting their wings) and they were quite puzzled. The turbulence became so bad that the passengers started screaming and woooowing and unfortunately vomiting as well. I started to feel nauseous myself from all that shaking. Second attempt, fingers crossed. We are ready. But the weather doesn't get better and the landing gets aborted AGAIN. So that is the moment when I started thinking about FlyDubai case (peace be upon them), and began to worry. All the attention was on the pilots decision: divert or attempt again?! There were 2 more airlines who like us couldn't manage to land and were performing a go around as well for more than 1h. The situation was tense, the air was heavy, smelly and fragile. Everyone were serious and on alert. Third attempt. Shaking, dancing, shouts and then finally touchdown, we made it!!! A huge applause was heard in the whole cabin as a sense of relief was palpable. During the disembarkation people kept thanking the pilots who in this occasion came out to greet them. Cabin Crew included! I will not tell you about the mess in the cabin upon arrival. Looked like the hurricane passed our way!

And you would think that was the end of the day: I wish! We still had to operate the return flight and after the sand storm was gone we were safe to depart. On the way back we had a medical case, a diabetic person collapsing in the middle of the cabin, so we had to stop the service and assist him, since on the small Airbus 320 there isn't much space (he occupied the only existing aisle) and the Crew in economy are 2 (the suppies are there to observe only, remember?). Well it all ended well, paramedics assisted the casualty as soon as we landed. But back to base we truly thought among ourselves: "What a hell happened today?!". We were utterly exhausted from such a psychological effort on both sectors. After a day like that you just need to sleep and reset. Start over, thankful for a new day. 

I like to think about the new day with one of my favorites from Bublé "Feeling good".

Turbulence

Turbulence is a totally normal phenomena for the flying Crew, in fact there is no flight without a tiny bit of turbulence. The question is only when and how intense is it going to be.

But let's start from the basics. What is turbulence? It is an irregular motion of the air due to currents or even due to the motion produced by a bigger vehicle than yours (let's say you are flying on Airbus319 and you pass by Big Mama A380. It's like being on a highway on a motorcycle and passing by a truck, you get the idea, right?). 

Usually during the pre-flight briefing the flight Crew informs the Cabin Crew about the expected turbulence on route. They know the when and how intense while still on ground. That way Cabin Crew can plan the service accordingly. So most of the times they know already when it is coming, how long it is going to last and how strong it is going to be. Sometimes the route might be adjusted in-flight in order to avoid storms and possible turbulent areas. Pilots will never decide to go through an area of severe turbulence, because that can cause structural damage to the fuselage and take the plane out of control momentarily. So if that happens, it means it was unexpected. In other words it didn't show on the radars, it came out of the blue sky. And that is pretty much the only time you might experience severe turbulence, because pilots will avoid even the medium ones, while a light turbulence happens on a daily basis.

As a matter of fact, light turbulence can even be pleasant. I've heard many Crew say (including myself) that the best time for the turbulence to happen is during the in-flight rest on the long flights. It literally feels like you are cuddled to sleep! But if the bumps become too sharp turning to medium intensity, it might prevent you from sleeping. On the other side the worst timing for turbulence to happen is during the service. Spilling drinks on passengers or yourself is not fun. Neither pushing a 100kg heavy cart down the aisle against the strength of nature.

How will you know what intensity you are experiencing? If there are few bumps and your Cabin Crew continue the service and move around the cabin with nonchalance, it's probably light turbulence. If the bumps are persistent and your Crew discontinue the service and sit down themselves, that is most likely to be medium turbulence. I have never experienced the severe one, but I have colleagues who did. I also saw the effects of it, because they teach your that in the aviation academy. Something as heavy as the 100kg full cart with food, cutlery and drinks will be taken to the ceiling. Any person who is standing will fly to the ceiling. Any loose objects will hit the ceiling (and back). THAT is severe turbulence. If it happens, you'll be fully aware of it.

So why the pilots put the seatbelt sign on and then there is no turbulence?! Well first of all, unless it is unexpected and you're required to comply immediately (and you will, trust me), pilots will give you time to comply. So they will turn the seatbelt sign 5-10 minutes  before it starts, so even the people in the lavatory will have time to go back to their seat and secure themselves. Then Cabin Crew need to stay safe as well, so they first need to check on the passenger compliance and finally seat down themselves and that takes time. And finally sometimes the radars show certain intensity of turbulence which at the end turns out to be less strong than predicted. But better safe than sorry, right?

So the general rule is very simple: observe your Cabin Crew and copy paste. If they are seated with seatbelt fasten, there is a reason for it. You should do the same!

And one more tip. When you are sleeping with the blanket, fasten your seatbelt OVER the blanket, so it will be clearly visible. That way if there is turbulence during your nap, not only you'll stay safe, but Cabin Crew won't need to disturb you by waking you up to fasten your seatbelt. Because they will, it's their job. Simple as that.

Safe flights and clear skies!