Last week, I enrolled in a 6 day training course to become certified in corporate aircraft evacuation, CPR and First Aid. The training was very hands on, using the simulator to stage different scenarios in the event of an emergency. I met some really great people and learned a lot about corporate aviation. I realized that I was entering into an industry that I barely knew exhisted. The flight attendants I met told stories about the amazing far away places they've been able to travel to and the interesting people that they've taken there. Some fly for large corporations and others take care of families who are fortunate enough to charter these beautiful private jets to any exotic destination. A weekend in Aspen, a week in Tahiti or a month flying around Europe and South America...doesn't sound so bad! On Thursday, I took my final test and passed. As we sat at the hotel bar after class celebrating, another student in the class asked what I would be doing for the next 4 or 5 days. She was asking if I would like to join her and her crew on a private 707! Of course, I couldn't refuse and by Friday afternoon I was on a plane to London!
We found out we were flying a Middle Eastern Government Official to the United States. The trip left Stansted Airport on Sunday afternoon. The plane was like nothing I had ever seen before. It had 5 full bedrooms, three bathrooms, showers encrusted in gold and just about anything you wanted to eat, we could serve. The view from the cabin was breathtaking. We flew over Greenland and could see the icebergs - I had no idea that Greenland was so mountainous! Some of the ice-covered peaks were almost 13,000 feet!
When we arrived back in the U.S. the Captain took the crew out for a yummy Italian dinner. Early the next morning I was on a flight back to LAX. It was quite the weekend! Needless to say my first trip was a success and now I'm totally hooked. I'm glad to be home with my husband though, and spent the day relaxing at the beach!
Until next time...
