Legendary Captain

Chapter 190 Where Did Your Courage Go?

In the forward cabin of Star Travel 6554, after flight attendant number three added hot water to the cockpit, the cabin service ended, giving them a long-awaited chance to catch their breath.

At this moment, only flight attendant number three and the chief flight attendant were in the front cabin. The two of them put down their seats and enjoyed a moment of peace amidst their busy schedules.

Today's flights were quite large, and almost every segment was fully booked. The flight attendant hadn't been this tired in a while.

After setting down the seat, the chief flight attendant yawned, rested her head on the shoulder of flight attendant number three, and half-closed her eyes.

"Take a nap if you're tired." Flight attendant number three was still in good spirits, so she let the chief flight attendant lean against her, and even supported the chief flight attendant's cheek and moved the chief flight attendant's head slightly so that the chief flight attendant could lean against her more comfortably.

The flight attendant's nostrils twitched, like a kitten rubbing against the shoulder of flight attendant number three, her lips barely moving: "If I really try to close my eyes, I'll definitely fall asleep. I'm worried about those girls who have only flown a few times. I'll just lean against you like this for a bit."

This flight was not only long and had many passengers, but it also brought two new flight attendants. Although everyone has to go through a novice phase, the purser wouldn't be displeased by the new flight attendants' clumsiness. However, training new staff is indeed a very tiring job.

That kind of exhaustion comes from the outside in, from both the physical and mental aspects.

With experienced flight attendants on board, the flight attendants don't have to worry about everything and have plenty of opportunities to relax. But if they're training newcomers, the purser has to handle almost everything, fearing the new flight attendant might cause problems. Add to that the occasional oddball passenger, and the purser really can't keep up.

Given the flight attendant's current condition, if she were to truly relax and fall asleep, she would practically fall asleep instantly. And if she did, she would sleep soundly for a long time; even if she were woken up, she would likely be dazed and disoriented for a while before fully waking up.

In the event of an emergency, even the chief flight attendant might not be able to get into peak condition. Since it was the last leg of the journey anyway, the chief flight attendant thought she should try to stay awake and not actually fall asleep.

"I'm closing my eyes for a bit. Call me if you need anything. If you notice I'm sleeping, wake me up!" the flight attendant instructed. She was still a little worried about her concentration, afraid that she might accidentally fall asleep.

Flight attendant number three gave a soft "hmm".

But not long after, the flight attendant spoke up again: "Anything fun that's happened lately? Tell me about it."

Flight attendant number three turned her head and glanced at the purser's face, her thick eyelashes fluttering. It was clear the purser had realized she lacked composure and was only able to stay alert by engaging in conversation.

Coincidentally, the third flight attendant had a strange thing on her mind that she had to say.

"Sis, when I went to the cockpit to deliver towels, I thought I smelled a slight burnt smell." Flight attendant number three had been bothered by the burnt smell ever since she returned from delivering the dry towels.

The flight attendant, who had been drifting off into thought, was immediately pulled back to reality. She opened her eyes abruptly, slightly raised her head, and, meeting the profile of flight attendant number three, softly asked, "Did you tell the crew?"

Flight attendant number three shrank back slightly. The chief flight attendant's warm breath tickled her neck, making her feel a little uncomfortable.

"I did tell the crew when I smelled it."

The flight attendant pressed further, "What did the crew say at the time? Did they express anything?"

Flight attendant number three tensed up: "No, the captain called me out later."

"They just let you out like that?" The purser was a little surprised. The smell of burning should have been enough to alert the flight crew, so why did they just let flight attendant number three out?

Flight attendant number three was already worried about this matter, and seeing the chief flight attendant's thoughtful expression, her heart tightened slightly.

"Sis, is there a problem?"

"It's not that there's anything wrong, it just feels a bit strange." The flight attendant smiled and gently scratched the third flight attendant's chin with her fingernail, feeling the smooth texture.

"Your skin is so well-maintained, what's your secret?" The flight attendant thought that since the flight crew hadn't said anything, it probably wasn't a big deal, so she didn't bother with it. Leaning on the third flight attendant's shoulder, she could see up close the skin on the third flight attendant's face, which was truly flawless, like a baby's. So, she couldn't help but start touching her.

Flight attendant number three couldn't withstand such an onslaught, her pretty face turning bright red: "Sister, I didn't pay any special attention."

"Really?" The flight attendant smiled, and said meaningfully, "Your skin is so smooth on your face, I wonder about the rest of your body?"

The difference between married and unmarried women is enormous; at least, under the purser's teasing, flight attendant number three even started breathing rapidly.

Seeing that Flight Attendant Number Three was struggling to keep up, the chief purser had no choice but to stop teasing her: "Stop joking! By the way, why do you need dry towels in the cockpit? Aren't they wet towels?"

The towels usually sent to the cockpit are slightly damp; it's rather rare to receive dry towels.

"I don't know!" Flight attendant number three shook her head, blushing. "But I saw some water stains on the dashboard in the middle. Is the cockpit going to wipe it clean?"

Flight attendant number three didn't know that the instrument panel in the middle was called the central control console; she only described it in her own words.

However, the chief flight attendant was quite knowledgeable and actually understood from the third flight attendant's words where she was referring to.

"You mean there's water on the platform?" The flight attendant straightened up abruptly. "Is it a lot?"

Just as the purser finished speaking, the cabin intercom suddenly announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, the aircraft is about to descend rapidly. Please fasten your seatbelts and follow the instructions of the cabin crew."

The broadcast was very abrupt, without any warning.

"It wasn't broadcast by the flight crew? It was broadcast from the cockpit?" Flight attendant number three immediately realized that something seemed wrong. The announcement had just been made by a woman's voice.

"A woman's voice? Is that the female pilot?" Flight attendant number three looked at the chief flight attendant. Lian Shanxue had barely interacted with them since the start of the flight, so she wasn't really sure if Lian Shanxue's voice sounded like that.

The flight attendant hadn't really interacted with Lian Shanxue much, and she wasn't entirely sure if it was the female pilot's voice. However, since the announcement wasn't from the flight crew, it must have come from the cockpit.

Regardless of who said it, the current situation is far from normal. She tapped the flight attendant next to her, number three: "Check your seatbelts!"

Then I made another passenger announcement, reminding passengers to fasten their seat belts. Finally, I opened the cabin crew compartment in the rear and reminded the new crew members in the back to fasten their seat belts again.

After everything was done, the flight attendant checked her own seatbelt, and once she was sure everything was in order, she let out a long sigh of relief. Her previously tired spirits instantly lifted.

"Sis, what's going on?! Is it related to that strange smell I smelled earlier?" Everything was fine before, and suddenly the plane is about to descend rapidly. The only reason the flight attendant could think of was the burnt smell she had smelled when she went into the cockpit earlier.

The flight attendant shouted, "Don't talk nonsense, mind your own business, and wait for instructions from the cockpit."

As she spoke, the flight attendant also became somewhat worried. The company had just experienced a major incident a few months ago; could it be that another one was about to happen just a few months later?

Looking back now, wasn't the co-pilot in the emergency landing crew right in the cockpit?

Is this some kind of predetermined fate?

As soon as the purser stopped flight attendant number three, the aircraft began to exhibit a very noticeable change in attitude. Normally, when an aircraft descends, the pitching motion is not significant and is barely perceptible in the cabin. However, this time, the change in attitude was clearly perceptible. This indicates that the aircraft's pitching motion was unusually large.

Furthermore, the aircraft experienced slight, continuous shaking. It felt like a car driving over a gravel road; the shaking wasn't intense, but it was clearly perceptible and continuous.

Now it seems that what was mentioned on the broadcast earlier about a rapid decline was indeed true!

Passengers accustomed to the smooth rides of airplanes probably never imagined they'd experience a rollercoaster ride at 10,000 meters altitude. After reaching its highest point, the plane plunged down like a runaway horse.

Some passengers, unable to bear the spectacle, couldn't help but gasp in surprise. Fortunately, apart from the plane's obvious dive, there was nothing else particularly unusual. Therefore, although some passengers were confused about the situation, aside from a few being astonished by the extreme descent, they didn't show any other signs of agitation.

The relatively normal order in the cabin reassured the flight attendant somewhat. Now all that remained was to wait for the cockpit's response.

Inside the cockpit, with the throttle slowed down, the combined effect of the high speedometer and the raised speed brakes propelled the aircraft into a rapid descent at an extremely low pitch, with the rate of descent soaring to over 4,000 feet per minute.

Faced with such a huge decline rate, Xu Xian was still a little uneasy and couldn't help but worry, "Teacher, is such a large decline rate necessary? The people who come later will feel it very clearly."

To be honest, Xu Xian didn't think a rapid descent was necessary in the current situation; at least, speed brakes were unnecessary. Speed ​​brakes could increase the descent rate under the same aircraft configuration, but they would cause a problem!

That is, raising the speed brakes disrupts the fluid state on the wing, thus reducing lift. This is one of the principles behind how speed brakes increase the rate of descent. However, due to the increased turbulence on the wing surface caused by the speed brakes, the aircraft experiences continuous turbulence. In other words, when the speed brakes are deployed, passengers in the back will feel that the plane is bouncing as it descends.

Such a significant downward pitch was already quite noticeable to passengers in the rear cabin, and coupled with the continuous turbulence, anyone with a modicum of common sense could tell that there was a problem with the aircraft. This has a negative social impact on the company.

Star Airlines was already under intense scrutiny due to the emergency landing incident at the Kunyang River a few months ago. If they were to create another widely known incident a few months later, wouldn't that solidify Star Airlines' reputation as a problematic airline?

Of course, Xu Xian didn't disagree with Instructor Wang Lingkun's suggestion to descend quickly, but he felt it was unnecessary to go to such extremes. A higher airspeed indicator and altitude adjustment would have sufficed. Making such a dramatic change in aircraft status was no different from announcing an emergency.

Having experienced the forced landing incident on the Kunyang River, Xu Xian deeply understands the terrifying power of public opinion, and at least he doesn't want today's events to spread.

"Do I care if they know or not? If I think it's necessary, I'll do it!" Wang Lingkun snorted. He didn't have as many concerns as Xu Xian; what did it matter to him whether the passengers knew or not?

What can you do if you know? What can you do if you don't know?

Without dwelling on Xu Xian's words, Wang Lingkun immediately ordered, "You two, remember this! If the smoke from the communication panel worsens, take the following actions!"

"Put on your oxygen mask and use 100% oxygen. Put on your smoke goggles. Close the busbar switch. Turn off the CAB/UTIL power switch. Turn off the IFE/PASS SEAT power switch. Turn off the recirculation fan! Then follow the smoke or dense smoke removal checklist!"

Xu Xian's eyelids twitched. Wang Lingkun had actually recited the first part of the smoke, fire, or dense smoke inspection form verbatim. Except for omitting a few steps involving interaction with the flight crew, it was flawless.

If Wang Lingkun had recited other commonly used, non-memorized test results, Xu Xian might not have been so surprised. After all, Wang Lingkun had been flying for so long and had gone through many commonly used test results countless times; he would definitely have some recollection of them.

But the smoke, fire alarm, or dense smoke inspection forms are different!

Firstly, the smoke, fire, or dense smoke checklist is one of the least popular checklists in the entire quick checklist. Even someone as "studious" as Xu Xian has only read it twice and only has a general impression of its contents. It would be quite difficult for Xu Xian to memorize the smoke, fire, or dense smoke checklist. Xu Xian estimates that some pilots might not even know that such a checklist exists in the quick checklist.

Furthermore, even if an instructor suddenly has a flash of inspiration and wants to practice this exercise during training, it's extremely difficult. Among all the training centers in the country, only the Xiangyu Training Center has a few simulators capable of setting up smoke environments. Most other simulators lack this feature.

Of course, training crews can also perform without props. However, the effectiveness of such training without props is highly questionable.

Since the effectiveness of the training is questionable and the training equipment cannot be guaranteed, instructors find it difficult to set up training programs even if they want to. This has led to this checklist becoming increasingly unused.

In fact, if it weren't for a specific event, Xu Xian probably wouldn't have known anything about this inspection report. That event was the volcanic ash incident involving Chimelong Airlines.

At the time, the plane entered the volcanic ash zone, causing smoke to fill the cockpit and passenger cabin. Fortunately, the plane soon left the ash zone. Otherwise, Xu Xian would have had to follow the smoke, fire alarm, and dense smoke checklist. Afterwards, reflecting on his handling of the volcanic ash incident, Xu Xian realized the importance of the smoke, fire alarm, and dense smoke checklist and even studied it intensively. It was precisely because of this experience that Xu Xian was able to instantly understand what Wang Lingkun was talking about.

"If the smoke is heavy, initiate smoke extraction procedures!" Wang Lingkun continued, "High flow levels for both components, landing altitude set at 10,000 feet! Ensure the cockpit air conditioning and ventilation vents remain unobstructed!"

Since it can be determined that the smoke source is the communication panel, rather than the components, both components can be kept in the ON position. The fresh airflow from the components will disperse the smoke in the cockpit.

Of course, if the smoke source is caused by the component, then you should disable the component!

"If that still doesn't work! After we apply to descend to 14,000 feet, put the pressurization mode selector in manual position and keep the outflow valve switch in the open position until the outflow valve position indicator is fully open!" Wang Lingkun said.

One of the reasons Wang Lingkun needed to descend rapidly was precisely this. Because once the outflow valves were fully open, it meant the cabin's seal was compromised, and the aircraft would rapidly depressurize. Wang Lingkun needed to ensure the aircraft's altitude was low enough that the passengers' oxygen masks would drop.

Xu Xian was startled: "Instructor, won't this blow the smoke into the cabin? Won't the passengers all know then?"

If the outflow valve is fully open, the air inside the aircraft will move backward due to the pressure difference and be expelled through the outflow valve at the rear of the fuselage. In this way, the smoke will also move backward with the airflow until it is expelled from the aircraft.

This is, of course, the standard procedure.

But if the smoke moved to the back, wouldn't all the passengers in the cabin be able to smell it? Frankly, even if the cockpit door isn't completely sealed, the smoke from the communication panel isn't much, and with the recirculation fan turned off, the passengers in the cabin wouldn't be able to smell it. The crew handled it quietly, and everyone was happy.

But if the outflow valve is opened, wouldn't that be announcing to everyone in the cabin that the plane is on fire? And if that gets spread after landing, Star Travel will be on the front page again tomorrow.

Having suffered greatly from public opinion, Xu Xian never wanted to experience such a thing again.

Upon hearing Xu Xian voice his concerns, Wang Lingkun immediately became displeased: "What's wrong with you, kid? Where's that fierceness you showed during the emergency landing? Are you a pilot? Or are you sitting in an office? What does it matter to us whether the passengers know or not? Is that something we need to consider? As long as the conditions are met, we should follow the checklist. That's what a pilot should do. Not hesitate and worry about public opinion. Kid, I know what you're afraid of! It's acceptable to minimize the social impact while ensuring safety. But conversely, worrying about the social impact and acting timidly—is that what a professional pilot should do? Don't put the cart before the horse!"

As he spoke, Wang Lingkun reprimanded him with a hint of exasperation, "You were capable of making an emergency landing on the Kunyang River, so why are you so timid now? Pilots need to be bold yet careful. If you're afraid of everything, what's the point of flying? You might as well go home and raise pigs!"

Although Wang Lingkun deeply disliked Xu Xian's master, Qin Zongyang, and consequently held a negative view of Xu Xian himself, he greatly admired Xu Xian's courage and decisiveness demonstrated during the forced landing at the Kunyang River.

Wang Lingkun was also a veteran pilot, but unlike Shi Lanxi, the former editor-in-chief of Tianyan Magazine, who placed great emphasis on rules and hierarchy, Wang Lingkun adhered to pragmatism.

If he were in Xu Xian's shoes, would he have politely announced the captain's incapacity? That incompetent captain—if it were him, he would have simply seized control. The captain dared to resist; he'd have slapped him across the face. Incompetent people who don't deserve their position shouldn't receive any respect, especially in a crisis.

But this very co-pilot, who was so courageous and dared to make an emergency landing in a river in the city, has now become hesitant and indecisive, which truly pains Wang Lingkun.

At this point, even if Xu Xian wasn't his apprentice, he would still reprimand him. If he believed he was right, then he shouldn't care about public opinion. A pilot's code of conduct is the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), not public opinion.

Wang Lingkun's words were truly thought-provoking!

Xu Xian was indeed terrified by public opinion. During the investigation of the Kunyang River forced landing incident, the overwhelming criticism and abuse online made even the carefree Xu Xian feel a chill down his spine.

What does it mean to be condemned by a thousand people? This is what it means to be condemned by a thousand people!

Countless people, hiding behind the internet, relentlessly criticized Xu Xian without any consequences. Arrogant and callous remarks about human life abounded, placing immense psychological pressure on Xu Xian.

If Xu Xian hadn't had a relatively strong mental fortitude, he probably would have fallen into deep self-doubt at that time.

Although he managed to weather the storm, Xu Xian still subconsciously harbors a certain fear of public opinion. Therefore, in handling matters, he unconsciously places excessive emphasis on the social impact. This leads to Xu Xian appearing hesitant and indecisive in his actions, constantly considering the pros and cons.

As the saying goes, an outsider's perspective is often clearer. Wang Lingkun immediately saw through Xu Xian's mental state and offered his incisive criticism.

Meanwhile, Lian Shanxue was somewhat confused about the situation. Firstly, her technical skills were limited; she didn't understand the various steps Instructor Wang Lingkun had explained, and naturally, she didn't grasp the point of contention between Xu Xian and Wang Lingkun. Secondly, how old was Lian Shanxue? A mere youth! Her insight was nowhere near that of the seasoned Wang Lingkun; she couldn't possibly see through Xu Xian's thoughts, so how could she possibly discover the problem?

"Teacher." Xu Xian blushed and didn't know how to respond for a moment after being refuted by Wang Lingkun.

However, Wang Lingkun waved his hand dismissively: "I'll just ask you one question! Where has your courage gone?"

Yunnan Airport apron.

Qin Zongyang's plane arrived at the port early and was already waiting to disembark. The co-pilot next to him was already packing his things, preparing to go home. But Qin Zongyang looked completely lost in thought.

Judging by the time, Xu Xian and the others should be landing soon, but what should they do after they land?

Xu Xian has just experienced the Kunyang River forced landing incident and is still in the eye of the storm of public opinion. If something else happens, wouldn't he be drowned in online criticism? And that's not all! As Xu Xian's mentor, his superiors are accusing him of poor teaching. It's a huge accusation that he's not easy to accept!

"How can I get away?" Qin Zongyang racked his brains but couldn't come up with a good solution.

Just then, the passenger on the right noticed Qin Zongyang's troubled expression and couldn't help but ask, "Instructor, are you feeling unwell?"

Qin Zongyang was preoccupied with his troubles and had no interest in paying attention to the passenger in the front seat. He waved his hand dismissively and said, "Leave me alone!"

"Oh!" The passenger in the front seat shut his mouth very decisively when he saw that Qin Zongyang was unwilling to talk to him.

After racking his brains without finding a solution, Qin Zongyang glanced at the co-pilot and suddenly asked, "Let me ask you something! Suppose—and I mean suppose—the captain and the observer are chatting on the plane, and they're having such a pleasant conversation. When the captain gets a drink of water, he doesn't notice it's hot and spits it onto the center console. Do you think the observer would be held responsible?"

The co-pilot frowned and thought for a moment before saying, "No way! The causal relationship between the two is too far-fetched. Only the captain knows how much fun they were having, whether they were so happy that they forgot to check the water temperature. It's perfectly normal to chat in the cockpit. If this can get the observer punished, then who will dare to chat during patrols in the future?"

It's normal for the crew to exchange a few words during cruise. On the contrary, a constant silence and a tense atmosphere in the cockpit isn't good for the crew either. If the observers are blamed for this, then there's no more chatting! A cockpit that's stiff all day long—who could stand that?

"Kid, you've got some insight!" Qin Zongyang laughed. "However, the observers' chatter did distract the captain."

"Sometimes when we're working on the program, the air-to-ground communication can distract us. But if something goes wrong, is that a valid excuse? No way! So I don't think there's any causal relationship between the two. However, it still depends on what the investigators think!"

Everyone has a different perspective on things, so their focus will also be different, and naturally, their standards for whether the causal relationship between the two is valid will also be different.

"That's true! But we can't control what the investigators think!" Qin Zongyang sighed.

"Instructor, is it your business that you know people?" the co-pilot suddenly blurted out.

Just as Qin Zongyang was sighing deeply, he was caught off guard and blurted out, "Yes! It's so annoying!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Qin Zongyang sensed something was wrong and immediately warned, "Don't talk nonsense, kid!"

The co-pilot chuckled, "Instructor, you're too tense! Whether the observer is responsible or not is really a matter of minor details; there's always the possibility of manipulation."

"But I can't manipulate the investigator's thoughts! Even if the possibility exists, what can I do?" Qin Zongyang saw that the co-pilot was somewhat clever, so he didn't deny it and directly expressed his concerns.

The co-pilot smiled mysteriously: "Instructor, I think your rank is high enough to be an investigator!"

"Me?" Qin Zongyang was stunned for a moment, then instantly understood what the passenger meant, and slapped his thigh: "You're actually quite useful!"

"The main issue is that this doesn't affect the nature of the incident. It's just some minor disagreements, easy to handle!"

"Okay, okay!" Qin Zongyang's expression suddenly turned serious: "Then what about our conversation?"

"Of course not!" The passenger in the front seat was quite perceptive!

"Great!" Qin Zongyang was very satisfied, and immediately dialed the number of Security Director Chen Fei: "Mr. Chen, this is Qin Zongyang. There's something I need to tell you!"

(End of this chapter)