All the best plans need to retain a degree of flexibility.
We start this trip after 10 hours of no power at home. Ah the fun of trying to sleep in 90 degree, muggy heat with no air flow. 4am Uber pickup, 6am departure. Weather issues in Atlanta so we wait an hour to take off. Land in Atlanta. Two-hour layover and its boarding time for Brussels. Flight takes off, dinner is served. Then the madness begins.
Two-hours into the nine-hour flight, pilots get a hydrolic leak notification. We’re just crossing into Maine. Decision time: keep going and hope its not a big deal or head to NYC for an inspection. Returning means complications due to excessive weight on the landing gear which the breaks might not be able to stop, they might also fail on the impact with the ground. Returning risks no break fluid to stop us. Decision is made to head to JFK.
Captain contacts JFK tower, declares an emergency landing. We’re carrying 357,000 pounds given the 10-hours of fuel we still carry. Max safety landing weight is 350,000 lbs. Headed to runway 22R, the longest of the two runways (12,000 feet vs 8,000). With the weight we’re also coming in 30 knots too fast. Over the intercom is the pilot “..don’t worry folks we’ve trained for this’. Remember that phrase.
Both runways are cleared, no plane is on any of the taxiways. First officer is landing, drops flaps to 20 (30 is normal) and we take every inch of that runway. The lower tower the flap setting the more drag is produced, kind of an air brake affect. We reach very edge of the opposite edge of the runway before we stop. Fire department runs out to see if the breaks are on-fire. Police chucks are parked all up and down the runways to remind other planes not to land.
Thankfully we get to the all-clear and we head to a gate. After an hour of searching for this mystery leak, flight is cancelled, along with the “good luck tonight, you’re on your own, see you tomorrow”. As I de-board, I talk to the copilot, He had ever only done that kind of landing in simulators. Apparently its something many pilots go their whole career never needing to do.
If you’ve been following along for a while you know I’m a big fan of the annual travel policy along with paying an annual fee for a credit card with good benefits. I’m the first person off the 245 passengers. Since a “7 miles away hotel” means an hour of driving and a $100+ fee, I book at the attached TWA hotel. Either the credit card or the annual travel policy will later reimburse me. Just get me into a room and I can plan my next steps.
This will be the first time staying the night here. Yes, it’s very expensive for what it is. However, A) it’s a 5 minute walk away and B) there is no Uber/taxi fees so it actually washes compared to a $300 room further away.
Headed to bed believing our flight will resume at 10am tomorrow. See you in the morning