Chapter 0191
Their flight paths mirrored each other: equal distances, identical arcs. After flying the prescribed routes, they would converge at the same point, where they would then navigate through airspace that might be fraught with thunderstorms.
No wonder attaining an ‘S’ rating was a feat; at this moment, everyone was convinced of the challenge. While the international civil aviation authority could control many things, the weather remained beyond anyone’s grasp.
Some aviators might get lucky, encountering no thunder even within the storm-prone zone. But as Madison and Leck flew into the storm at that very moment, fortune seemed far removed. Thunder roared in their ears!
Rain appeared suddenly, in a vast, sweeping front.
Ground staff had readied large umbrellas early on, sheltering the pilots underneath. But even so, they could feel the overwhelming siege of the wind and the downpour.
Sitting here was agonizing enough; what of the two pilots aloft?
Mukino Airlines’ pilots were all in a tight knot of concern for Madison.
The Deputy Director was half-soaked, but he stayed out with the pilots, eyes glued to the big screen. The distant sky was a massive swathe of deep grey, with only the faintest glimmer to the far left.
He’d just checked the weather forecast before-the thunderstorm was swift, both in its onslaught and retreat.
If only they could weather it…
In the throbbing heart of the airspace, having flown the designated
route in one minute and thirty-four seconds, the two returned to the heights from which they had parted, mere twenty meters apart.
The storm loomed overhead, eager to unleash its fury.
“It’s gathering faster than I expected” Leck noted.
Madison glanced at the time. “No choice. We have to burst through
now.”
Neither knew if lightning would strike the very moment they flew through, potentially cleaving them in half.
Should that happen…
Leck, seizing a moment when the clouds around the storm slackened, shouted, “Charge through!!!”
The two Airbus A380s accelerated, hurtling towards the assigned
return route!
Everyone could see on the big screen; they were rapidly approaching the thunderstorm zone.
Some screamed, some covered their mouths, and others hid their eyes, unable to watch.
But not a single Mukino pilot closed their eyes-they all stared intently at the big screen, particularly at the left red dot, representing Madison.
On the ground, thunder rolled in waves, the rain turned into torrential onslaughts, and the gales were relentless.
And just when everyone was holding their breath…
“Crack=”
A peal of thunder erupted.
“Screams erupted. “Ah-”
“My God-”
Eyes turned unanimously to the big screen.
“Where are they?!”
“Where did they go?!”
Following that crack of thunder, the two red dots on the big screen vanished in an instant.
The officials from the assessment committee rose simultaneously, panic painting their faces amidst the storm.
They frantically communicated over walkie-talkies.
The control tower called out ceaselessly for the two pilots.
The countdown above the screen had forty-some seconds left…
But the pilots had disappeared.
Panic ensued.
But if lightning had struck, why hadn’t the planes fallen?
Could they be in an airspace beyond their sight?
Gusts and dark clouds piled lower before them.
To the uninitiated, it might seem as though the heavens were caving
All eyes strained at the clouded sky.
Where had the people disappeared?
Rescue vehicles sped off in every direction, the scene teetering on chaos.
Had a tragedy unfolded?
With thirty seconds to go…
Charlie, white-faced with urgency, exclaimed, “Where’s Madison? The plane? How could the signal just vanish? What kind of assessment is this!”
Old Gao tried to calm her, “Don’t panic yet!”
Over a thousand pilots grew restless.
The rain lightened a bit after the thunderclap, as was the way with thunderstorms-swift in arrival and departure.
But Deputy Director Ye was already in a frenzy. If anything happened
to Madison, how would he explain it to Mukino International?
“Could something have happened to Captain Madison?”
“It shouldn’t have…”
“Send out a search party, quick!”
The crowd grew disorderly.
People from the U.S. confronted the civil aviation officials directly.
Training a mature pilot like Leck cost the nation considerable resources and effort; they couldn’t bear to lose him to an assessment.
Mukino Airlines shared the sentiment.
At that moment, someone ran up, panting heavily. The crowd was
taken aback.
“Manager Xiao?!”
Indeed, it was Frank, drenched to the bone.
His plane had been delayed due to the stormy weather, leading to his late arrival.
He hadn’t been at the assessments because he was managing the company’s other pilots, too busy to spare a moment.
But now, for the final assessment, as the head of the flight department, he had to be present.
“Where’s Madison? Where is she?” Frank’s legs were giving out.
From afar, he’d heard a deafening clap of thunder, then closer, the cries about lost radar signals.
“Talk to me!” Frank hadn’t stopped since disembarking. Arriving to such dire news, he couldn’t stay composed.
He strode swiftly towards the civil aviation officials and international -judges, launching into a national-style tirade before bellowing, “You’re trying to kill our pilots, is that it? What kind of assessment is this? If my pilot suffers even a scratch, I’ll have your head!”
Old Gao hurriedly pulled him back.
In truth, it wasn’t a firm pull, just a gesture.
Intimidated by Frank’s murderous intent, Director Tate quickly said, We’re searching! We are looking!”
They, too, were frantic!
But all pilots had signed contracts before the assessments; any accidents during were not their responsibility.
Although that was the case, they feared offending the major airlines.
Chaos nearly broke out across the field.
Then, just as the countdown on the big screen dwindled to twelve seconds-
“Look!”
“Look there!!!”
“It’s the Airbus A380!!! It’s them!!!”
Countless pairs of eyes turned towards the oppressive clouds.
he clouds,
In that moment, the Airbus A380’s wings brushed against the bursting forth, heading straight for the landing runway.
Everyone was stunned, forgetting to react, transfixed as the plane burst from the clouds, descended towards the runway, decelerating for landing.
Thousands of pairs of eyes, heavy with anticipation, followed the aircraft until it landed a few seconds later.
The black base, the blue design, the white letters.
Mukino Airlines!!!
“Damn it!!”
Veteran Brian cursed out loud, eyes red-rimmed as if on the verge of tears, clapping fervently.
“Awesome!!!” he bellowed.
As the plane touched down, the countdown had just five seconds remaining.
And at that instant, the other Airbus A380 also emerged from the clouds, touching down on the runway in the final second.
The sound of the plane sliding across the runway couldn’t drown out the thunderous applause of thousands.
That moment, clouds at the edge of the sky began to drift away, and sunlight started to peek from the left.
The first ray of light bathed the Airbus A380 bearing the Mukino
Airlines logo.
Simultaneously, the image on the big screen switched.
The final task of the rating assessment was over.
And for the first time under the ‘S’ category, a line of text appeared-
Name: Madison
Nationality: China
Pilot Rating: S Class
Affiliated Airline: Mukino Airlines China
Mukino’s pilots applauded with all their might, some so empathetic that tears fell freely.
They swelled with pride!
Madison was their pride!
In this moment, with her individual prowess, she had eclipsed every international airline company!