Co-Pilots Sometimes Actually Fly the Plane

So Do Assistant Coaches

I have a son-in-law who is a pilot for a major cargo airline. He flies all over the world. He has flown passengers (mostly military), and cargo of all kinds, including livestock.

When he was a co-pilot under the tutelage of a senior pilot, they were transporting registered cattle from Ohio to England. The cattle were each in small separate crates with openings to allow breathing and other anatomical needs.

The night before the flight, the pilot called my son-in-law, the new and inexperienced co-pilot, to inform him of the time they should arrive at the airport etc. Just before he hung up the phone, he informed my son-in-law to not forget to bring a couple of towels from his hotel room for use on the flight.

My son-in-law was puzzled by the request but did as he was told.

The actual flight was uneventful…until they began their descent in preparation for landing. The pilot then turned to his co-pilot and said, “Did you bring those towels from the hotel?”

My son-in-law replied that he had. The captain told him to get them out and put them over his head.

It turns out that one of the anatomical needs of cattle is to expel methane gas during the flight. That gas floats to the top of the airplane while in flight and eventually ends up between the ceiling cracks and the outside exterior of the plane.

Upon descent, the gas transforms into liquid methane and because the plane is now in descent it means that liquid naturally would run to the front of the plane where the pilots are seated.

In the battle of cracks and crap in the cockpit, the cracks and pilots both lose. Hence the hotel towels on top of the pilots’ heads turn out to be extremely useful, but never re-usable.

Photos Don’t Lie

Here is a photo of my son in law giving me a few pointers on flying an Airbus.

Disclaimer: No animals or humans were harmed or maimed in the shooting of this photo.

Here are before and after photos of towels used in the flight.

BYU Basketball is also flying in rarefied air. I’m not your Captain, but I suggest we all bring some towels to be used in the remainder of the season.

BYU is not going to win the National Championship in Basketball. They will play in the tournament but are at least a year away from being a legitimate contender for that crown.

This team has expelled plenty of methane and magic this season but only one team gets through the tournament unbeaten. It isn’t BYU. If it is, I will personally have my pilot son-in-law fly me with his next cargo of cows and I’ll go towel less.

Meanwhile, the ride isn’t over yet, and it has been spectacular. Kevin Young has proven to be the right pilot for the program. He has also hired the right co-pilots for the plane.

Speaking of co-pilots, check out the BYU’s sideline from the Iowa State game.

It has to be a big plane to carry the co-pilots, analysts and other personnel.

The video below caught my attention concerning one of the co-pilots circled in white in the photo.

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