Movements

I Learnt about
Movements from that.......
Many years ago at Brize Norton, not long after
we had successfully invaded and re-occupied the
Falkland Islands we did not have the capacity to
fly large passenger loads to the FI. The MOD in
its wisdom chartered British Airways B747-100
and 200 aircraft to fill the gap. Naturally the
Movers would need some additional training on
the In Plane Systems and Load Sheets. A few of
us lucky ones were selected to become BA B747
Dispatchers and were sent to the RAFMS to be
trained by BA and the then FS Ian Berry. A quick
trip to Heathrow and a walk around a B747 was
most impressive as we still only had VC10s and
Hercules at this time. We were only just procuring
the Tri-Star at this time and they certainly were
not ready to start long haul ops to the FI.
So, there I was as the Trim Clerk on days, living it up in
London, travelling to Brize Norton when on shift leaving
at 0530 for a 0630 start. Things have not changed since
then because just like it is today with C17A Supervisors,
there was a shortage of B747 Dispatchers. In came FS
Dave Wall the then Sqn Adj, would I be prepared to stay
behind and dispatch that nights FI Charter as the night shift did
not have anyone qualified...sounds familiar doesn’t it! Being a
proud JNCO with a ‘can do’ attitude and now a BA Dispatcher,
yes say I, no problem. If my memory serves me correctly, the FI
schedule departed at 2130 hrs or there abouts. Also departing
around that time was a VVIP VC10 taking the then Foreign
Secretary Geoffrey Howe to Hong Kong as well as at least one
other aircraft on the go...sound familiar! A brand new DAMO
was on duty and was to say the least a little excited or even out
of her depth with all that was going on.
B747 Load Sheets were of the Herringbone variety, many of
you will not be familiar with these, all hand written of course.
I had my work sheets all completed and every thing added up.
I started the Load Sheet but was being continually interrupted
by Ops Staff and the DAMO who at one point placed a Flight
Folder on top of all my work whilst attempting to field problems
with the VVIP. This naturally not welcome by me as I was trying
to concentrate on producing the Load Sheet whilst leaving the
fresh shift to handle everything else. Yes, errors were made on
the Load Sheets and I elected to re-write it......sound familiar!
Just one point to add here, as mentioned at the beginning two
versions of the B747 were operating to the FI. The B747-100 and
the B747-200, principally the same aircraft except the B747-200
took about 8000lbs more payload. You can see what’s coming
can’t you....
By now time is getting on and where everything was fairly cool
and calm it is now beginning to get exciting, not only that I am,
really feeling k*******d now. The Ops Staff and the DAMO are
really beginning to P*** me off by continual interruptions and
the B747 Captain is calling for his Load Sheet. ‘Nearly finished’
I shout and rush out to the aircraft, load sheet in hand, smiling
at the Stewardesses and proudly spring up the stairs (yes I know
it’s along time since I sprang anywhere!) to the Flight Deck and
give the captain his paperwork. He signs it as he does not really
know what he’s looking at and is really only interested in the
ZFW. Signed copy in hand back to Load Control, departure
message sent and down the A40 (not all the M40 existed then)
and home by midnight some 17 hours after leaving, not such
a long day by todays standards I know. Thank god it’s swing
shift so a lie in.
The following afternoon I drive back to Brize Norton to find a
note on my door to telling me to contact the SAMO immediately.
It is at this point that the SAMO asks me what went wrong the
previous evening with the FI Schedule as Ascension Island found
two pallets total weight 6600lbs in the rear hold which were
not entered on the Load Sheet. Thinking back why or more
importantly how had I missed two pallets off the Load Sheet.
My belief is that I was tired and had too many interruptions
and my ‘can do’ attitude, although well intentioned was misplaced
on this occasion. Luckily, the aircraft was a B747-200
10 Movements