Sometimes I forget just how good music makes me feel. This trip has been another long one – long days, multiple legs, and short layovers. I just haven't taken the time to put in the headphones.
Yesterday I got out to the airplane and it had no APU (auxiliary power unit). The APU is a jet engine hidden in the tail of most modern commercial aircraft. I say “most” because, even though the MD11 is a relatively modern airplane (only 20 years old) my company insists on doing no preventative maintenance on APUs. So, when one brakes, instead of fixing it, we take it out of the airplane. Why? Well, if you leave it in the plane you are under a time constraint to fix it; but you are not required to fix something thats not there (I love airline logic). The APU is a very useful piece of equipment, it allows us to power the various aircraft systems on the ground, including the air conditioning, and start the main jet engines. It is not required, but it really is a pain in the behind if you don't have one.
The point? (sometimes I just like to ramble on about aircraft systems) – Yesterday the temperature was 45 degrees celsius in Abu Dhabi, thats 113 degrees fahrenheit when you do the math! Setting in the cockpit greenhouse of an MD11 the temperature had to have been in the 130F neighborhood. Needless to say, doing anything in that temperature with no air flow (even thinking) is draining. And when despatch screwed up our flight plan, causing a greater delay than normal, I was one cranky pilot. Today, I was still feeling the effects of my bad mood until I put my headphones in and got lost in a 3 cord ocean.
Three cord string theory: the wave form that describes me must be modulated by the frequency of The Clash, because that particular vibration always smooths my mood.
I remember the first time I heard The Clash, it was “Straight to Hell ” played on Millikin University radio (WJMU). As soon as I could, I bought the album Combat Rock. Joe Kim told me that the best Clash album was their first; so I got that one and then everything I could get my hands on. You might never know by looking at me, but on the inside, my heart beats to a punk drum. This doesn't mean that I can't appreciate all kinds of music, because I do, but punk charges me up. A few favorite mood altering songs:
- White Riot – The Clash
- Divide and Conquer – Husker Du
- Last One To Die – Rancid
- True Believers – The Bouncing Souls
- A New Tomorrow – Screeching Weasel
- Carousel – Blink-182
Three working World MD11s all at one airport, Abu Dhabi. We all departed within an hour of each other.
I thought the airline name was funny on this 767 in India - Blue Dart. Lawn dart was the thing that came to mind, and thats not a good thing.
Sunset in Abu Dhabi, standing around waiting to go to the hotel.
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