Null
Every cloud, as they say. I was on 6Hr standby when there was a call out to take a hydraulic flush team to a crew needing "pool time" in the one below. As befits the efficiency of Group, when we suggested the quickest way to the beleaguered frame on a pacific island was to fly the gyro route over the pole from Bardufoss to Elmendorf it was turned down because they had already booked us into Gander. With the eng team all assembled we then launched across the pond. Another night stop was in Sacramento and a third in Hawaii. Such a drag. We were all good mates by the time we arrived on the island, with a healthy kitty and a fund of top of climb stories. What a sorry bunch met us though. They were half way through a global trip and had already been out twice as long as planned and had broken down everywhere.
Well the boys got stuck into the flush and eventually the filters didn't look like we were panning for silver in Nevada. The crew kept the team supplied with fluids and scoff till it was all done and we repaired to the Regent (Apparently it's cr@p now) for a libation. At this stage the stranded captain asked us if we wanted the rest of his global because of low morale in his crew who wanted to go home. This time Group did agree and the following day we planned to go to Whenuapai and the global crew prepared to take our frame home. (It had run like a sewing machine on the way out). Whilst changing all our kit over - and nicking their route bag - one of the eng team said "can we go with you?" which sadly we couldn't do. There were still unexpected good times in these 6Hr call outs though.
