The good news was the crew hotel was first-rate, right on the beach. There were excellent inexpensive restaurants in Nice, and the company gave us a twenty-four hour layover to recuperate. One return trip stands out in my memory as being the epitome of It was the last run of the monthly bid; we were all looking forward to returning to New York and a few days off. The flight started out badly when Carole, the senior flight attendant, came forward to tell me a fight had broken out in the cabin between two passengers arguing over a seat. We were parked out on the ramp at Nice; still loading from the bus that transported the returning travelers from the terminal to the plane. you want me to go back and settle it?” Dennis, my copilot asked. “Do Remember when Marshall went back to stop a fight in the cabin and one of the “No. guys broke his nose? I don’t want to lose a copilot when we’re headed home.” Addressing Andre, our French ground representative I ask, would you mind seeing if you can “Andre, calm those passengers down?” captain, no problem; I will take care of it,” he said as he handed me the manifest “Oui with the weight& balance information and excused himself to follow Carole to the back of the plane. Handing Dennis the paperwork so he could get started on his part, I lightly commented, Let him get the broken nose.” “See? Less than five minutes later Carole burst into the cockpit, captain they’re “Captain, beating up on Andre!” “What!” two assholes are pushing and punching Andre they tore his shirt.” “Those – Jesus Christ, what a way to start a flight. Picking up my mike I called, ground “Nice control, this is Ona 8-2-1 we’d like the gendarmes to come out here to assist with a problem – in the cabin.” 8-2-1 what sort of problem do you have?” “Ona ground, we have two passengers fighting in the cabin.” “Nice boxing?” “Fighting – fighting.” “Oui, will send security right away.” “We “Merci.”
The good news was the crew hotel was first-rate, right on the beach. There were excellent inexpensive restaurants in Nice, and the company gave us a twenty-four hour layover to recuperate. One return trip stands out in my memory as being the epitome of It was the last run of the monthly bid; we were all looking forward to returning to New York and a few days off. The flight started out badly when Carole, the senior flight attendant, came forward to tell me a fight had broken out in the cabin between two passengers arguing over a seat. We were parked out on the ramp at Nice; still loading from the bus that transported the returning travelers from the terminal to the plane. “Do you want me to go back and settle it?” Dennis, my copilot asked. “No. Remember when Marshall went back to stop a fight in the cabin and one of the guys broke his nose? I don’t want to lose a copilot when we’re headed home.” Addressing Andre, our French ground representative I ask, “Andre, would you mind seeing if you can calm those passengers down?” “Oui captain, no problem; I will take care of it,” he said as he handed me the manifest with the weight& balance information and excused himself to follow Carole to the back of the plane. Handing Dennis the paperwork so he could get started on his part, I lightly commented, “See? Let him get the broken nose.” Less than five minutes later Carole burst into the cockpit, “Captain, captain they’re beating up on Andre!” “What!” “Those two assholes are pushing and punching Andre – they tore his shirt.” Jesus Christ, what a way to start a flight. Picking up my mike I called, “Nice ground control, this is Ona 8-2-1 – we’d like the gendarmes to come out here to assist with a problem in the cabin.” “Ona 8-2-1 what sort of problem do you have?” “Nice ground, we have two passengers fighting in the cabin.” “Fighting – boxing?” “Oui, fighting.” “We will send security right away.” “Merci.”
ONADaveCaseMAVERICKPILOT1.docx