Flight Plan (FLIGHT series #01)

Flight 04 - SARPs

SARPs

Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) are for regulation of air navigation; the installation of navigational facilities by the contracting states; and the facilitation of air transport by the reduction of customs and immigration formalities.
SARPs, as quoted, is, "Each Contracting States (of the Chicago Convention of 1944) undertakes to collaborate in securing the highest practicable degree of uniformity in regulations, standards, procedures, and organization in relationship to aircraft, personnel, airways and auxiliary services..."

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Here's how ground school is. Vital, necessary knowledge compressed in a crash course. Yes, crash course. Hours lang ang kailangan per subject, as per CAAP standard. And for PPL subjects, ten subjects ang need for the license. So, the schedule goes like this. Classes start at 0830H and ends at 1730H, separated by a lunch break from 1230H until 1330H, from Monday to Friday. Both morning and afternoon is separated into two different classes, but for Tuesday until Thursday, those slots are only for two subjects: Air Law and Aircraft General Knowledge, the latter being a subject until Friday along with Meteorology. Apparently, AGK seems to have much longer hours necessary than Air Law.

But, in the following weeks, there will be other subjects, too. Schedule is given through us by e-mail and only sent weekly. Magkakaalaman na lamang ng schedule by Friday for next week.

Carina and I are already in the room just as asked of us fifteen minutes before the class. Good thing na wala masyadong seniors or iba pang tao sa labas mula sa dorm namin papunta sa classroom, or else, we'll be needing to greet them as expected. Apparently, almost kumpleto na lahat ng ka-batch namin sa room; siguro takot din sa kung anong masasabi ng iba if mag-go against sa mga nasabi sa briefing kagabi.

Noong naupo ako sa seat ko, nandito na 'yong mga nasa paligid ko, pwera lang kay Venti Guy. Wala pa 'yong bag niya, so I assume na 'di pa talaga siya dumadating. Pero nandito na si Eli sa left side ko, tapos si Ange likod niya and si Sage sa unahan; si Spencer na nasa likod ko and si Kael sa unahan; and si Marcus at Zander sa likod at unahang bakanteng upuan ni Venti Guy, respectively. Medyo awkward pa lahat kaya walang nagsasalita, edgy as the minutes tick and pumasok na 'yong iba pa naming mga ka-batch. And parang kasanayan na, they enter greeting us with the usual "Good morning, sirs. Good morning, ma'ams."

A minute past a quarter before eight-thirty, here comes Venti Guy. He appears to be the active person he is yesterday morning, and so far from the dangerous eyes he had thrown at my direction last night. He greets upon entry, "Good morning, sirs. Good morning, ma'ams."

It is starting to rub at my ears whenever we are to reply back the same way. Medyo nakakabingi na and starting to be redundant. Well, not for Venti Guy who've recently arrived. And as he lives on with his title, here he is again with a Starbucks Venti cup of hot coffee. Pagkatapos niya mailapag sa carpeted flooring ang flight bag niya, at sinampay ang dala-dala niyang jacket sa likod ng upuan niya, umupo siya and greets me before taking a sip sa coffee niya, "Good morning, Miss Bonifacio."

I almost bite my tongue in order not to greet him back, but feeling ko masyadong impolite na kung hindi. Looking away from my phone, I turn to him and greet in return, "Good morning to you, too, Mister Verano."

He chuckles lightly. "Handa ka na ba para mamaya?"

I stop myself from asking him, instantly reminded by what he means. Naalala ko bigla na, for lunch today, 'yong formal meet-and-greet. Kung anong sinabi namin kagabi sa introduction, ganoon din ang gagawin naming introduction mamaya. Though formally compared kagabi.