Flight Plan (FLIGHT series #01)

Flight 13 - Autokinesis

Autokinesis

Staring at an isolated and stationary light when other visual references are inadequate or absent, may cause autokinetic movements of the eyes. This gives the illusion that the light is moving and can lead the pilot to believe that a single star is another aircraft. Numerous cases have been reported of mistaken identity of lights. These illusions can be avoided by shifting the gaze to eliminate staring. The illusion is created by small movements of the eye ignored by the brain and interpreted as motion of the object.

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Dedicated to the entire Cargo and Ramp Department, who've been a big family in the field of aviation for me during my OJT days. Thank you for the knowledge and experience that made me appreciate the industry more. But most of all, thank you for your sacrifices and lessons of life. I salute you, each and every one of you!

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"Shit," malutong na mura ni Christine noong dumating kami ng WAA. Tamang-tama for lunch lang ang dating namin, at nakita namin ang isang truck na mukhang nagpreprepare for an event sa gymnasium habang nagbababa ng mga pagkain. "Pinning nga pala ng Bravo ngayon." And bago pa kami makapagtanong kung anong mayroon, sinabi niya, "And kaka-receive ko lang ng message mula kay Sir Art na required tayo umattend."

"Uniform?" tanong ni Philipp.

"Unfortunately, yes," Christine answers.

"Fuck." Tumingin si Eli sa mga kapwa niya Pampanga boys. Apparently, mukhang kailangan nila umuwi ng San Fernando para lang kumuha ng uniform and umattend ng Pinning Ceremony. Looking at the time, kakain pa ng lunch and three o'clock daw ang event. So, parang magiging biyahe lang ang kahihinatnan nila and mabilisang kain, if ever.

Christine assures all of us. "Ganito na lang, okay? 'Yong mga malalayo ang bahay and hindi makaka-attend since kukuha pa ng uniform, if ever, sasabihan ko na lang si Sir Art na hindi makaka-attend. May reason din kung bakit. Pero sa mga malalapit, please, attendan na lang natin, okay?"

May magagawa ba kami kung hindi ang umattend din? Though nakakatamad dahil sayang 'yong uniform. You know what I mean... Mag-uuniform lang para umattend sa event, and then, that's the end of it. Not to mention na part ng planning namin is to originally have a practice after lunch sa may clubhouse sa subdivision nila Erick. Yeah, 'yong practice para sa Christmas Party.

So, para hindi mawindang sa schedule, we've decided na i-push through ang practice after drive-thru sa Burger King, which is along the way. Kainin habang nasa biyahe or during breaks ng practice. Good thing that it ended that way. Medyo naayos-ayos na rin namin as a batch ang steps for two hours, and then we're all back to our dorms, switching to our uniforms and being part of the audience for the Pinning Ceremony.

Pinning Ceremony, is, after all, a trademark milestone para sa batch. A proud moment since it marks the batch as completers of First Solo, finally earning that second bar for the epaulettes and then that pin of silver wings to the uniform. Hindi sila nakapag-solo all today, but in the past few weeks. Pinning Ceremony is more like a commemoration to honor the batch. An event to celebrate with their families and the rest of the WAA community. Think of it as recognition or a level-up. Since, ang totoong graduation is completing the A320 training.

Christine sits next to me during the event, since we've decided to start taking notes para sa Pinning Ceremony namin soon. And surprisingly, hindi naman talaga kailangan, si Nikolai naman ang umupo sa kabilang side ko. Himala na hindi niya dala-dala 'yong makapal na folder, pero may dala-dalang parang planner and busy sa pagsusulat. Since, maganda nga ang sulat nitong lalaking ito, naiintindihan ko ang sinusulat niya, and it appears that it is all for their company business pa rin. Samantalang opposite ang sinusulat ni Christine (and also handwriting) sa kanyang handy notebook na para sa mga plans din namin.