USAIR TALES #14 KSFO - KLAS Barney's Last Flight...

I couldn't sleep...

I'd been thinking about Jess all night. The words were stuck in my head. "I want a divorce... We are better off as friends."

You ever been there? That place where you know you messed up, but it was messed up anyway? But you cannot live with the reality of it being messed up?

So I checked out super early, knocked on Jess' hotel door, told her goodbye, and went to the airport.



...And sat there... watching the sunrise.

Today was an auspicious day... Barney's last flight with me... and I was going to make it one he would remember, even if my confused mind was running a mile a minute.

It was a short trip to Vegas on AWE178 (We now have to use America West flight numbers... Remind me to change that since I am now CEO), but I am certain that it would be a very reflective trip for me.

The sun came up, and in due time... I could hear the rattling of people assembling at the jetway.



Well... I could afford no more time for my thoughts... Barney and company would be onboard any second now, and as a good CEO I have to maintain composure...

...As best as I can.



"Morning Boss! You sleep well?"

Don't ask Barney. Let's get this show on the road...

"Ummm ok Boss."

I could tell he wanted to know more, but his next flight would find him in his own left seat of an Airbus, and it was not worth it to me to go into all my personal issues. Leave your personal life at the cabin door I am used to preaching...

Problem is... my personal life has to serve drinks and food on this plane.



As we pushed back, Tiffany began her safety speech... and I could not help but think that I need to be more like her. She still manages to do her job in spite of whatever she is feeling at the time.

I VOWED I would use her as an example. If she can do it, I can do it!

I decided to speak up...

Ok Barney, this is it... last flight. You have any requests?

"None Boss... except cheer up."

I smirked.



I smirked even more when we passed Alaska Air, with its godawful Dude on the tail... ugh... I swear if you look just right he looks like the Devil... mocking me! Maybe I can get the board to perform a hostile takeover of that airline... and repaint all the tails.

We got our clearance and taxied to our runway.

Barney, I wanna thank you for putting up with me. I know I am not the easiest person to deal with and I owe you a lot for being there for me.

"Boss... enough with the mushy stuff PLEASE!!! I learned a lot from you. That is all that counts."

Ok... Ok...



Stuck behind United.

You know, I had the chance to fly with them before... but I passed on it because I like what US Airways Virtual is doing. The last week has been spent in meetings, signing off on this and signing off on that... making speeches, christening aircraft... but you know what, I like it. SOMEONE has to be the go to guy... and I suppose I have earned that right.

Still... I wish United would hurry up and move.



FINALLY!!!!

Cactus 178 at runway 19R ready for IFR departure to Vegas...

"Hold short Cactus 178, traffic is Boeing 737 on the runway..."

Yeah... we know this... I swear they are doing it deliberately...

Ok so I did not ACTUALLY say that... But I thought it!

Precious seconds ticked by...

"Cactus 178, clear for takeoff... wind 189 at 7 knots..."

I turned to Barney... Mr. Rusilko, do the honors please.



We took off at breakneck speed and before long were gear up over SFO... and off into the humid sky again.

Yeah... he's ready for the job...



We turned to the sun, and begun our climb to cruise.

I looked back to San Francisco... Just yesterday I was having dinner with Jess, Garth, and Tiffany... seems like so long ago that Jess was telling me she wanted more from a relationship, and Garth was basically shrugging his shoulders.

I expect Tiffany was a little miffed at me since I left her in the hotel room to go sit in Steeler Air at 5 o'clock in the morning... We did not have to takeoff till 8:55...

In any event... I think it is a weight off my shoulders in a way. I am free... At least till the child support requests come in.



I decided to forget it all...

Might as well right? I am a CEO... thousands of employees depend on me... my problems should come second!

As Tiff made her announcement, I once again vowed... a NEW DREW... Here we go!



I stared at Lolo as Steeler Air made its way to cruise...

I wondered what she would think of her father? I rarely have time to spend with her... She's in Florida... No idea when I will see her again... Is it worth it to be at the top? Who knew...

I knew one thing... the greatest joy short of seeing her be born, is being in this left seat.

Speaking of which...



Hey Barney... I have an idea...

"Sure thing Boss."

How about we switch seats. You may as well get used to this side of the aircraft.

"Umm, are you kidding me?"

Nope... Put her on Autopilot... Let's make it happen.



Barney got up, and went behind the seat so I could move over, then he took my place as Captain of the aircraft.

I looked over at a tentative First Officer with his first time in the seat. He felt elated, yet uneasy... I knew it would pass.

A knock on the door...

Come in Tiff.

"What the?"

Hahaha no we are not playing musical chairs... I am giving Barney a first taste of what he will have to do.

Tiff rolled her eyes and dropped off our drinks.

On her way out she popped back in and leaned over to me.

"In answer to your question last night... Yes... I will move in, but when I am ready..."



Well that was a relief...

I was sure after the somewhat drama last night that she would want nothing to do with me, especially after Garth was giving her "the eye". He's a handsome man, I would not blame her if she wanted to be with him, but judging from Jess' expression, it looks like all those years of friendship was not going to take her next man away from her, even if she had already lost this one...

It does not matter anyway... When I get back to KPIT I will not be flying much, and I can only hope Tiff still gets her flights in, even if she is not with me.



It suddenly dawned on me that the green of California had begun to make way to the brown of Nevada. I once made the offhand comment that out west was nothing but scrub, and my West Ops head, Steve C. somewhat took offense at that.

I did not mean anything by it. I am just not used to out west... I expect by time I make it back to Pittsburgh the leaves will have changed or fallen and out east will look like deadwood.

Life balances out I like to say.

I asked Barney how he liked the left seat.

I got a giggle as a response.



"Cactus 178, traffic is Boeing 757 at FL350, report them in sight."

I have the traffic. Wow... I bet I would not have seen this were I on the other side of the plane...

"Hey Boss, you know what I like the most about this?"

No idea Barney...

"I get someone new to boss around hahahaha!"

I rolled my eyes.



Viva Las Vegas... one of our stops on our way back to KPIT. Of course Barney would not be with me... He had other planes to fly... and the reality hit that I would have a new First Officer for the trip to Chicago, and then back to Pittsburgh.

As you can imagine I was not looking forward to it. I thought back on Copilots past... There was Fred... who was with me when I was merely a Category A pilot... flying a Dash 8 from points Southeast to Pit... There was John, who was with me when I first signed on with USAirways Virtual, and did not last very long due to his bad attitude... and of course Barney... best copilot I ever had so far.

I would miss him the most.

Heck my voicemail was already full with pilots wanting to right seat with me... I expect in Vegas I would have to make a decision...



Barney began our descent, and followed the books to the letter.

I could not ask for a better initial descent.. As a matter of fact he is starting to make me look bad here!

I did the work to contact the tower and get our vectors in.

Barney in his first left seat decision overruled me. I wanted to bring us in on runway 25R... but he insisted 25L would be better this time of morning.

I bowed to his decision.



Ok there Barney, your plane... Just don't hit the mountain please.

"Aww come on boss? Can't I just use it as a ski ramp? I promise I will bounce right off!"

Yeah, you do that and I will make CERTAIN you are flying cargo planes full of rubber chickens from Des Moines to Blacklick, Montana!

"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh you know me better than that Boss!"

Yes I do... sad to say... I am gonna miss you man.

"Yeah well if you are in the neighborhood... drinks are on me."

I smiled. He was TRULY ready...



"Gear please!" Barney requested.

Like a good little CEO turn copilot, I obliged.

You see I spent my entire career building up the confidence of those who fly with me... so for me this is indeed the culmination of my efforts!

Well... provided he lands safely anyway...

Gear down and locked. Ok Mr Rusilko... what next?

Barney went through the checklist and I called em off...for the first time in a long time since I have been in this seat.



I have to admit, I have been really fortunate...

I have been able to live my dream, and while i cannot keep my house in order, I am at least at the place where I can make the big calls... and still be a humble pilot.

Gotta love it.

Of course I am sure I have a mountain of paperwork waiting for me in Pit.

I should just move to Phoenix and get it over with....

WHAT AM I THINKING!!!!



Final approach... and well on the way... Just like always... just like the first time, Barney is a little high, but at least on target for 25L.

I can't bust his balls this time, he has worked so hard to get to where he is, and he at least does it by the book.

"Here we go Boss... you may wanna close your eyes here. hahhaaha."

Not a chance Barney... remember I gotta sign off on this flight.

"Oh I know... by the way... Gonna miss you too."

I think I saw a tear in the corner of his eye?



A little off center but NOT BAD for his first landing in the left seat.

I think he overcompensated due to having a different point of view, but all the same, I was not about to make mention of it to him.

He done did well...

I reached behind me for my bag, and the paperwork within that would seal this deal.



As we waited for company traffic to go by on 25R (And yes, Barney was right... traffic on that runway was fierce... good thing we landed where we did)... I brought out the papers and signed off.

I could tell he was beaming with glee and looking over at me to make sure I actually signed Andrew G. Bolton on the papers that would make his current physical position a permanent one.

I looked back at him and raised my eyebrows.

Didn't think I would do it eh?

"OOOOH NO BOSS... Did not think this day would COME!"



Wait, what you trying to say there? You WANT to be rid of me? I will tear these freaking papers up right now if that is what you are saying!!

"HAHAHAHA! No no no, I meant to say it has been an honor to fly with you Mr CEO Sir!"

That is what I thought you said!

We glanced at each other and laughed heartily! So heartily we forgot to announce to the cabin that we were in Las Vegas!



As we pulled up to the gate, reality again set in.

As a matter of honor, I carefully removed my epaulets from my jacket, and gave them to Barney.

He in turn carefully replaced his with mine.

I stood up and saluted him as best as I remembered how to.

Captain Rusilko... It has been an honor and a privilege.

"Thank you Boss... So see you tonight in MGM Grand?"

HAHAHA Try to keep me away!




Once again I sat there.... in a cold dark airplane...

Just me and my thoughts...

And a lot of future ahead of me that I had no idea what it had in store for me.

A gentle knock on the door stirred me.

"Hey... I got someone who wants to see you Drew." Tiffany chimed.

Ok who...

She sat down in the Captain's chair and pointed back to the eager eyed First Officer who made his way in...

"HEY DREW! Remember me?"

Nick Cooper????

You got to be kidding me.....