The Liberty Gazette
December 27, 2022
Ely Air Lines
By Mike Ely and Linda Street-Ely
The morning of December 20, 2022, the urgent call went out around the world to certified flight instructors who specialize in international procedures. It seemed there had been an oversight. A very important pilot with a sizable crew had been so busy with work that they missed the deadline for recurrent training, with just days left until their annual flight around the earth. To complicate the matter, there was no time to get to the usual training facility. But they couldn’t fly out of currency – that would be illegal! Oh, the border crossings! The permits! The flight plans to file! The Honorable Kris Kringle was going to be in a pickle!
“Emergency!” read the memo from the Chief of Flight Training. “No time to wait! International Procedures Instructor needed. All expenses paid + bonus. Travel required. Client is at the North Pole.”
Ricky and Jessica were proud new parents. This would be four-month-old Grant’s first Christmas. They thought back to the excitement of Christmas in their own childhoods, anticipating an impressive rooftop landing, even if there was a crosswind and snow. Now, they were both pilots. They could help!
In a flurry of thumbs, Jessica texted the Chief. “We’ll do it! Ricky and I! But we need to bring baby Grant with us – will that be okay?”
The Chief was elated to get this message, but he wondered if bringing an infant would be a good idea. There was no time to spare. “Bring little Grant,” he replied. “It will be the most special first Christmas, and you can write about it in his baby book.” He blinked and shook his head. Did he really just write that? Well, there was no time to ponder. There was no way the Chief was going to be the cause of millions of children not getting their presents on time. There were puzzles and games, bikes and dolls, toy cars and trains, and so much to be done. While Professor Kringle and his team weighed all the gifts and completed their weight and balance calculations, the Chief would do his part.
“Be at the airport tonight at 7:00 am sharp!” he texted back to Jessica. “It will take a day to get there, then you’ll have one day to give the crew their training. You will be back in time for Christmas. You, Ricky, and Grant are going to be heroes!” He hit send. Then he remembered one more thing. “Bundle up!”
The new family boarded a 737 and flew north. Little Grant cooed and smiled, entertaining the elves while the jolly man and his furry crew listened intently to all the knowledge Jessica and Ricky had to impart. At the end of a full day of training, the instructor-heroes signed the FAA documents, making Santa Claus and his eight crewmembers legal to fly around the globe. Then Ricky patted Rudolph on the head and said, “Remember to light up those landing-noses on final approach.” Then they all gathered ‘round for a group selfie for Grant’s baby book.
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