Flight Plan (FLIGHT series #01)

Flight 20 - Clear Air Turbulence

Clear Air Turbulence

Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) is a sudden severe turbulence occurring in cloudless regions that causes violent buffeting of aircraft. It also occurs around the boundaries of jet streams because of the large horizontal and vertical wind shears. Since upper level winds are stronger than those at the surface, the sharp changes in wind direction at upper level troughs are likely to produce considerable horizontal wind shear and consequent disturbance which may be experienced as CAT. It is nearly impossible to detect with the naked-eye, and couldn't be detected by radar or weather monitoring devices.

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Preceded by: FLIGHT LEVEL Flight 1.19.5 - Dewpoint

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Napagdesisyunan kaagad ng batch namin na mag-submit ng batch leave para sa Friday. Morning pa lang at nakalatag na kaagad ang papel, at pirma na lang ng bawat isa sa amin ang kailangan. Alam na naman naming lahat ang nangyari, maging ng mga GIs namin at ni Sir Art na binisita niya kami first thing in the morning. Ang hindi namin inaasahan, ay mga five minutes bago magsimula ang klase naming Aircraft Performance at patapos pa lamang ang pakikipagusap ni Sir Art sa amin, ay siyang dating ni Nikolai.

To be honest, napatigil kaming lahat noong nakita namin siya. Dahil nga, hindi namin siya inaasahan na pumasok. And bumati with his usual smile, though halatang pilit at puyat siya, "Good morning, sirs. Good morning, ma'ams."

Ang unang nakapagsalita ay si Sir Art noong sinabi niyang, "Oh, bakit ka pa pumasok? You're clear of the week, Nikolai."

Nikolai didn't even stop na maupo sa pwesto niya and he shakes his head. "No, sir. I'll continue the training."

"Sigurado ka, ha? Basta, you're cleared of the week, if ever."

"Thank you, sir."

Parang naging ordinary class lamang, except sa nag-abot ng 'condolence' si Capt. Paul, GI namin ngayon for Aircraft Performance and dati noong PPL sa Navigation, sa kanya. Pero, kahit ganoon, halatang may kakaibang aura sa room.

Alam mo 'yong lahat kami may pakiramdam na 'threading through thin ice'? 'Yong kahit close kaming lahat ay hindi mawala sa isipan namin na namatayan si Nikolai. And we already know what it means; our assumptions na sooner or later, he'll be forced to quit this flight training. Well, kahit wala pang formal na announcement, we know na kung anuman ang dating balak ni Nikolai sa future now crumbles to dust and be replaced a stone long ago already set. A stone na kaagad niyang natanggap at the death of his brother.

Bago niya inumin ang usual niyang dala-dala na Starbucks Venti coffee ay napatingin siya sa akin. Doon ko lang napansin na tinititigan ko rin siya. Ngumiti naman siya at sinabihan ako, "Good morning, golubka."

I bite my lower lip for a second and try to match that longing smile of his. "Good morning, Nikolai."

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Noong lunch ay nagkayayaan kaming kumain sa labas. To be exact, si Nikolai na ang nag-offer na sa condo na lang niya kami kumain, since may pinadalang pagkain daw sa kanya ang parents niya. But we know better na way lang 'yon ni Nikolai para makasabay pa rin niya kami kumain, since, for sure, napakaraming taong nag-aabang sa kanya to be sighted. Especially since hot issue pa nga rin kung sino ang magiging bagong tagapagmana. And tikom pa rin ang bibig ng mga Verano regarding it, kahit nagbitiw na sila ng ultimatum na they'll deal with it after the funeral.

Usual pa rin ang naging way of pagpunta namin sa condo niya. Ang nabago lamang ay imbis na si Nikolai mismo ang mag-drive ay may driver siya. Not to mention even a bodyguard. And iba ang sasakyang gamit niya: isang itim na Mercedes-Benz ang sasakyan niya ngayon.