By Steve Sterner
Handling Company Manager
Washington Dulles
After many months of preparation and start up activity, Bob Saitta finally decides to take some vacation time. Since there was no Air France Assistant Station Manager at the time, I was designated to be the “responsable” in his absence. Wouldn’t you know it, the very next day the Concorde blows an engine and diverts to Halifax (YHZ).
Few months ago, Air Canada YHZ ground staff has been to IAD to prepare for this moment and understands the Concorde passenger handling requirements. We were contacted by dispatch. The backup Concorde was prepared and took off from CDG to YHZ. Normal arrival time into IAD was 1700. So the day was moving fast. Air Canada delayed their YHZ-DCA (Washington National Airport) flight in order to accommodate as many passengers as possible. But still, many remained behind, by choice.
The phone in Saitta’s office was ringing off the hook. I remember one call from the Associated Press. I explained to them I was not an AF employee, so “you cant give me attribution, but here’s what’s going on”. I then referred him to the AF local Press Relations guy, Jim Collins (who I had hired previously into the handling company and then AF hired him) who would have all the same information and could speak for Air France.
Lots of calls for sharing internal information, updating management etc. Telexes were flying left and right. For our part, we had to plan for the eventual passenger and aircraft handling when the backup Concorde arrived, and to meet the Air Canada flight at DCA and ensure arrival and transit handling of our passengers. Of course, we had a couple of celebrities on board. Jimmy Breslin, a NYC based reporter who was not a fan of Concorde landing at JFK. And famed designer, Pierre Cardin. Cardin arrived on Air Canada. Breslin stuck it out for the backup Concorde.
Around 2200 or maybe later, the backup Concorde flight arrived. We had a full staff to meet them and assist with whatever needs they had. The bigger challenge was to clear all the baggage of the Air Canada passengers and get their bags on the way to final destination. When Pierre Cardin woke up the next day, his bag was waiting outside his hotel room door!!
Finally having finished the arrival activities sometime well after midnight, we got a little sleep. Back at 0800 next day to prepare the departure at the standard schedule 1300. A very busy and stressful day.
Preparation for departure in Washington: the famous G7 jet bridge is in place for the loading of the rear galley and refueling is in progress. @ Steve Sterner
Although not our responsibility but leaving no stone unturned, next step was to fly a maintenance crew, spare engine and equipment on an AF freighter from CDG into YHZ for the repair. Once back in service, another freighter stopped at YHZ, recovered the broken engine and equipment, and returned it to CDG.
Saitta praised our team of young “20 somethings”, for their flawless handling of a critical situation, and told us we had made aviation history.
Boy, was he right!
SS