Never heard this one before. Very good. Christmas greetings to all and Best
Wishes for 2017.
Denis
-------- Original message --------
From: Paul Reynolds <hippo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 2016-12-21 6:15 PM (GMT-07:00)
To: jhb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [jhb] Xmas Greetings.
May I extend seasonal good wishes to one and all and pass on something I
discovered on Facebook today...
T'was the night before christmas and out on the gate, not an airplane was
stirring, not even a Dash-8.
The aircraft were parked at the gates with care, in hopes that come morning
they still would be there.
The tugs were nestled all snug in their spots, while peak gusts reached up
to thirty nine knots.
I sat in the plane, all checklists complete, and wondered what the FA's
would offer us to eat.
When over the radio there arose such a clatter, I turned up the volume to
see what was the matter.
A voice clearly heard over the static and snow, wanted clearance to land at
the airport below.
He barked out his transmission so lively and quick, I swear that the call
sign he used was "St. Nick".
Then he called his position and there could be no denial, "St Nicholas One
is turning base to final."
When what to my wondering eyes should appear, a 73 sleigh with eight turbine
reindeer.
Cleared for approach, down the glideslope he came, as he passed all the
fixes he called them by name:
"Now Biley, now Vibes, Now Beauty at Ten, On Comet, On Cupid, Donner and
Vixen!"
Those last couple of fixes left the controllers confused. They called out to
Santa to give him the news
The message they left was both urgent and dour, "When you land Santa, Sir,
please call the tower"
He landed like silk with the sled runners sparking, then we heard "Exit
Charlie and taxi to parking"
He stepped off the sleigh, but before he could talk, the rampers ran out
with their best set of chocks.
He ran up the jetbridge with a sigh of relief, then picked up a phone for a
flight service brief.
And I thought as he silently scribed in his log, that with Rudolph he could
land in an eighth-mile fog.
He completed his pre-flight from the front to the rear, then he put on his
headset and we heard him yell "Clear"!
And laying a finger on his push-to-talk, he called up the tower for his
clearance and squawk.
Fly the Jutes Two departure the tower called forth, "And watch for an RJ
inbound from the North"
Then we heard him proclaim as he climbed through the night, "Merry Christmas
to all! I have traffic in sight!"
Author- Adria Drew
Paul Reynolds
