Travel Day

Yesterday was travel day.

We arrived at Fayetteville Regional Airport on a beautiful, sunny day. Our flight didn't take off for a couple hours. As we entered the terminal it felt like it was siesta time. Fayetteville Regional Airport serves small commuter airlines. I would think that the largest plane that visits is a 737, and probably not very often.

Turning in the rental car was painless. The lady behind the counter was very friendly but I couldn't help wonder what she did all day. There were at least three other rental car agency counters next to hers. All silent.

Next, on to the airline counter to check in. US Airways and Delta service the airport and their counters were just as abandoned as the one we just left.

Check in complete, on to the security screening. CLOSED. Not to be reopened for 30 minutes. I felt like Opie checking in at Mayberry Regional Airport.

As we sat around the empty terminal, people began to emerge one by one to wait with us for the 11:10 flight to Atlanta.

Finally, we are on the plane and taxiing down the runway. The pilot comes on the PA and announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are number one in line for takeoff." I chuckled lightly to myself. Number one? Other than our aircraft, there was only one other sitting at the terminal.

The engines roared to life, the brakes released, and we rolled down the runway picking up speed. Barely down the runway, the pilot pulled back on the throttle and applied the brakes enough to slow to a taxiway. Mechanical problems. Crap.

After about ten minutes on the tarmac, the pilot came over the PA again and said that the mechanics checked things out and all was well. We were off again.

The takeoff was a bit scary. It seemed that as soon as we lifted off the ground the aircraft slowed and groaned. We leveled for a short while while she made some strange noises then we accelerated and were off to Atlanta.

I guess after such an uneventful trip, a little aircraft problems were in order. It is good to be home. At least until the next trip.