Early shifts have their advantages

Afternoon and evening shifts come with the advantage of having a lie-in, but early shifts come with the bigger advantage of being less stressful and are worth the 0330-0400 wake up call. Even the drive to work is stress free at that time of morning. Forget minimum ground time(MGT) turnarounds, most of the aircraft have been sitting for hours during the night and are awaiting their first flight of the day, fully serviced. It’s surprising if the aircraft doesn’t get away on time. In fact, it’s frustrating if it doesn’t leave early.

My first flight is an 0620 departure with all but two seats occupied with bleary eyed passengers. Despite the small hour of the morning (or night) and the sleep still in my eyes, I always perk up as I walk across the ramp towards my aircraft. Airports are generally as busy as they get at this time of the morning with a fleet of aircaft littering the ground. These aircraft need to depart on time or it starts a knock-on effect on the the flights due in from other destinations. Airline crews and airport staff queue patiently at security checkpoints. It's like a fancy dress party queuing for lunch in a canteen, except the trays contain our personal possesions as we strip off anything remotely metallic to avoid setting off the detector as we pass through.

0520: STD-1. I arrive at my aircraft at the same time as the crew. They begin to prep the aircraft for departure and I take my ritual walk around the aicraft to see how the rest of the preparation is going. The fuel truck is pumping the last few hundred litres of fuel into the wings, baggage loading is in full flow, there's no cargo to worry about, the pushback tug is already connected and awaiting it's first action of the morning. Excellent, everything is going to plan so I return upstairs to check with the crew, deliver them their paperwork for the flight and have a chat with some friends who are working this morning.

0540: They are ready and the first passengers step onboard the warm aircraft, greeted by smiling faces despite the unsociable hour of the morning. The last of the bags are loaded onto the aircraft and I let the ramp guys know not to close up the holds just yet, if someone doesn't turn up we'll be back in belly holds hunting for bags.

0558: The last of 178 passengers passes through the door and take their seats. Excellent, see why I love earlies? Still 20 minutes left. I exchange further pleasantries with the lovely crew, collect my paperwork and close up. A few minutes later we’re pushing it back as the sun rises across the ramp. Some days I really love my job. The smell of jet-fuel, the engines spooling up, the sun beaming off the fuselage and a perspective many don’t get to see aircraft from. And most people are still fast asleep.

Hopefully this 20 minutes we have saved will carry throughout the day, or at least ensure an on-time departure for the aircraft’s return back to base. That way, my colleagues this afternoon won’t have to endure the stress of achieving MGT.

Another two aircraft to go and then I can return to the office and get another breakfast. Call me greedy if you wish, but the first breakfast was force feeding myself cereal at 0330 and it'll be 0930 before I get anything to eat again by which time my body clock is saying it's lunch time.