“Good. Kids shouldn’t have to suffer like that.”
“How close are you to certification?” she asked.
“Closer than it looks. Some of us have been up here working for almost a year, even though we just got into this office space. We hired a consulting firm out of L.A. to help with the manuals, and the FAA has been real flexible with us regarding substituting our principals on the certificate for the consultants. Mark Shows is our maintenance principal, and we just made an offer to a VP of Operations and he’s going through the motions of getting approval from the feds. By the time everyone is approved, we’ll be ready to hire our first classes of pilots and flight attendants to start training, mini-evacuation and proving flights.”
His reference to the final exams in the birth of an airline gave her a little rush; the enthusiasm and optimism of the entire employee group during these trials were always at fever pitch. The mini-evac was held at night on the edge of the airport when the FAA timed a random selection of flight attendants in emergency evacuation procedures. The proving flights had FAA-check airmen riding with a pilot and copilot, grading every second of their flight from preflight checklist to landing—the final test before the airline could load up the passengers. When that plane returned to the airport to land with a thumbs-up, every employee of New Century Air would be on hand to cheer the crew into the gate.
“You going to join us, Nick?” he asked her as he walked around his desk to sit down.
“It’s tempting, but I have a lot of seniority at Aries.”
He made a face. “They’re in trouble.”
“Everyone’s in trouble,” she said, so sadly accurate. “How are you going to make this work?”
“We have some innovative ideas. I’ll have Paul take you through the business plan item by item if you’re interested, but the quick and dirty is that it’s a damn good time to start an airline. The equipment is cheap and available, we’re going to get really good people, and we’ve got some of the best marketing analysis and yield-management experts in the industry on our team. Plus, you got me. I’m still right more than I’m wrong.”
“Who did you ask to be VP of Ops?” She wanted to know, because anyone in pilot management would ultimately be working for him.
“I’d rather not say—he hasn’t signed the contract yet, but I think we’ve got him. Our executive search company highly recommends him. You might even know him, but—” He stopped himself. “Let me ask you this—is there anyone you’d refuse to work for?”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I just wanted to talk to you about—”
“Can you think of anyone you’d run away from?”
She shrugged. “Not offhand.”
“And you wanted to talk about…?”
“I’m just curious about your operation. What are you looking for?”
His lips curved slightly. He reached behind him to the desk and lifted a piece of paper, handing it to her. “These are the positions in operations that haven’t been filled.”
She looked down the list—chief pilot, director of training, director of flight control, crew scheduling and a host of management positions in Maintenance. Once the first batch of pilots were hired, there would be lots of check-airman positions.
“Have you been interviewing for these?” she asked.
“We’ve had some calls. Some interest.” He nodded toward the page. “Anything on that list spark your interest?”
Something came over her, and it was so spontaneous that she almost flushed in surprise. “Chief pilot,” she said, handing him back the list.
He gave a short laugh. “A woman chief pilot, imagine that. What makes you think you’re qualified?”
“I’ve either worked in or directed every department on your list, and I have a lot of experience. I’m current in your choice of aircraft, I have a degree in aerospace engineering and mechanics, and I have a very good relationship with the FAA—I’ve been a check airman and training captain for years.”
“But you’re a woman,” he said.
“Yet another advantage.”
“You think the boys will work for you?”
“Let’s see. Are we going to hire boys who are looking for work? There’s thousands of them out there, right?”
“They’re usually a little, you know, indelicate….”
A laugh burst out of her. She’d been raised in an airport. She’d gotten a degree from a college dominated by men. She’d worked with the louts for years. Hah!
“What about Training?” he asked.
A year ago she might have settled for that. Even a few months ago. But damn it all, those deals she hadn’t screwed herself out of, she’d been screwed out of by some guy who had the balls she lacked. She couldn’t believe what she was doing. It was a leap from where she was, but she wasn’t sure if it was a leap into a great opportunity or off a cliff. What would Buck say? Would the kids go along with this?
But all she could think of was going for it.
“No way I’d come up here, move my family, give up my seniority at Aries for anything less than chief pilot. And that’s only because you think you’ve filled VP of Ops.”
A little voice inside her screamed, Are you crazy? Taking on something like that before thinking it through? What if the men pound you into a bloody pulp before you even get this outfit airborne? What if the kids balk at moving?
“You want to think about this?” he asked. “I’ve known the guys to be a little…Well…Sexist?”
“Hah!” she said aloud. “After ten years of having the cockpit called the box office when I’m in there, you’re going to scare me off the boss’s job with sexism? Shit, Joe. You must think I’m some kind of candy ass.”
“You want it?”
A huge, insane grin broke over her face. “I’m going to be their worst nightmare,” she heard herself say. Then she gathered her common sense, cleared her throat and said, “I’m sure the pilots and I will have an excellent relationship.”
He looked at his watch. “All right, then. You should see Paul, say hello to some of the people who put this business plan together, and get a bona fide tour. Tell you what, I got a ten-thirty. It shouldn’t take long. By the time you’re done with Paul, I’ll be free again and we can talk compensation.” He stuck out his hand. “Welcome aboard, Nick. You’re going to like this New Century.”
“I bet I will,” she said. But someone inside her, some woman who’d had more than her share of rotten luck, was screaming, Holy shit! You’re the chief pilot! How’d you pull that off?
It didn’t take much to sweep Nikki up in the energy of the place. Paul DeLeon gave her a brief explanation of their plan to offer a nonscheduled charter service in and out of Las Vegas to major U.S. cities and scheduled service to a few others. Included were presold seats to corporations that needed dependable, comfortable travel. Not only was Las Vegas the number-one tourist attraction in the United States, the Grand Canyon being second, but it was the number-one convention center.
After successfully launching that service and slowly adding planes, New Century would add cities to its scheduled air service. Their 757s, reconfigured to hold larger first-class sections for lower prices, would lure both the business traveler and group charters like professional ball teams, entertainment groups and political and governmental junkets. The airline also hoped to certify for international passenger carrying to be ready to launch any charter service out of the country.
Paul then walked her around the building, introducing her to people. The only one she knew was Mark Shows, the Wrench; she had met him at her dad’s fixed-base operation in Phoenix many years ago. The minute Mark saw her, his ruddy face lit up. A burly man of about sixty, he chewed on an unlit cigar that looked like the same one he’d been chewing on for the last twenty years. He pulled her unceremoniously into his big, bearlike embrace and shook her a little, like an animal does to his catch before biting into it.
“Finally that good-for-nothing kid in the front office
listened to me,” he said. “Riordan called you, eh?”
“No,” she said. “I called him.”
“Either way—at least we got you on board.”
“Well, that seems to be a fact,” she said.
“What are you gonna do for us, Nick?”
“Chief pilot,” she said almost weakly. She was going to have to practice saying that; she couldn’t afford to sound unsure.
“That’s fine, that’s just fine!” he replied, no doubt in his voice. “And how’s your old man?”
“Ornery. Where’d you come from?”
“I helped certify Universal and was there when Riordan came on board and had to shut her down. I took a little time off while he poked around, trying to decide what to do next. I figured it’d be something like this.”
She took his ham paws into hers. He was the VP of Maintenance, not the mechanic, but like always, his big, callused hands looked like they’d been working on an engine.
Mark had been all over this industry, having started at American Airlines. He’d worked for at least three of the major airlines in different capacities under the maintenance umbrella, and had also put in time in smaller, deregulation start-ups. Of everyone she knew, next to her father and Riordan, this was the man she trusted the most. He had a down-to-earth, basic common-sense approach that always proved true.
“What kind of chance do you give this operation?” she asked him.
“I’d give us a better chance than any of the big guys right now. They can’t even make their low-fare spin-off regional carriers work. They’re so big and ungainly and have so many labor issues, every day’s a struggle.” He stuck the cigar back in his teeth. “But that doesn’t mean this’ll be easy. It’ll be tough.” He grinned around the butt. “It’ll make you feel like you did something.”
Nikki had a folder full of confidential planning materials when she made her way back to Joe’s office. The Gatekeeper’s desk was abandoned and the doors to Joe’s office stood open. She heard men’s voices within and decided to wait for them to finish rather than to interrupt.
“I had someone else in mind for that position,” she heard a man say, and she knew that voice. Deep, distinguished, the merest touch of the South…Who was that?
“Did I lead you to believe you’d be filling all those positions without input from me?” Riordan asked the man.
“If she’s going to report to me…”
“Shows will also report to you, and I hired him before I even talked to you. So will the director of flight control. I’m using the same airline-executive-search agency that I’ve used before, the one that recruited you. If you bring on anyone with promise, he or she will have a chance to move up the ranks.”
“Look, if you’ll excuse my candor, this one could be a problem.”
Silence followed this last remark, Nikki drifted closer to the doorway. This one could be a problem? Who was this guy? He obviously knew her, though apparently not very well.
“First of all,” he went on, “I don’t know how well you know pilots, but their wilfulness to work for a woman is questionable. And this one—well, I don’t mean any disrespect—but she lacks that necessary air of command, if you know what I mean.”
“I hear nothing but praise about her air of command,” Riordan said. “And she worked in management when I was at Aries. She impressed everyone. She’s smart, capable, experienced and loyal. You’re the one I know very little about.”
Thank you, Joe! she thought, a smile coming to her lips. She looked around guiltily.
“I’m just saying, this could open up a madrid of problems with the boys,” he said.
Riddle! It was Riddle! Oh, God, she thought. I can’t answer to Riddle! Can’t can’t can’t! She let her head drop soundlessly against the wall three times, as if bashing it.
“What about with the girls?” she heard Riordan ask. “Because we might be hiring some of them, too.”
“What I mean is—”
“I know what you mean,” Joe said. “The fact is, we need her kind of skill, experience and ethics. You see,” he said patiently, “I think you’re what I want. You certainly have the qualifications on paper and that particular headhunter hasn’t let me down before, but I happen to know Nikki Burgess is what I want. We clear on that?”
That’s when she knew—he had played her. From the moment she called him, if not before, he meant to have her in that job. His slight hesitancy to give her the position was only to make her insist on it. Well, fine then. She’d show him.
“Just thinking about your interests, boss,” Riddle said.
“That right? Well, rest easy. So am I.”
But there was no question, she would not have pitched for the job had she known Riddle was the VP. When Joe had given her a chance to name any person she’d refuse to work for, it had never in a million years occurred to her that Riddle could be an executive here. Talk about making your bed…
A toilet flushed in the distance and Nikki looked around in confusion. The door behind Jewel’s desk opened and the magnificent blond stepped out to spy Nikki, but she looked curiously unsurprised. “Does he know you’re here?” she asked, one side of her mouth curling up suspiciously. For all Nikki knew, the Gatekeeper might have surveillance cameras in the john.
“Ah, no. He seems to be with someone….”
Jewel tapped on the open door and stuck her head in. “Captain Burgess is here.”
“Send her in, send her in!” Nikki stepped through the portal and faked surprise at seeing Bob Riddle. She stuck out her hand and shook his. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag, Nikki. Bob has agreed to take the position of VP of Operations. And according to him, you two are acquainted.”
“Congratulations, Bob,” she said.
“And to you,” he returned. If she hadn’t overheard him, she might almost think he welcomed her.
“Well, Nikki and I have a few things to discuss, so if you’ve concluded your business…?”
“Ah! Yes, sir. I guess I’ll start getting settled in my office and see both of you later.” With something that resembled a courtly flourish, he quit the room.
Then the doors were closed. Nikki had the distinct impression that opening or closing those doors was never accidental. During her time with Joe, they only opened once, when Jewel brought in a tray that bore coffee cups, glasses, cream, sugar and a bucket of ice. Nikki had a cup of coffee. After roughly two hours, they had hammered out the bare bones of a deal that included her pay and benefits. By pushing on Riordan a little here and there, giving him one last chance to look further for his chief pilot, she had ended up making a great deal for herself. Her compromise was that she’d get back to Las Vegas as quickly as possible to concentrate on completing the certification process and hiring the pilots.
Deal made, Joe went to a cabinet against the wall and retrieved a bottle of Scotch from the lower cupboard. He poured two fingers in each glass. Nikki helped herself to a couple of half-melted ice cubes while he took his neat. He raised a glass. “Welcome to the best experience of your life.”
“Thanks for the opportunity, Joe.”
The opportunity that will change my life, whether I like it or not, she thought.
On her way out, she passed by the office that would be hers, and stood in the doorway. By the time she returned to Las Vegas, this room would hold a desk, credenza, small conference table and four chairs, computer and phone. The reception area outside was for her yet-to-be-hired administrative assistant, and soon would be populated with everyone from pilots to job applicants to vendors from aviation suppliers.
“Excuse me?”
She turned around to see an attractive man in his forties standing behind her. He held a folder in his large hand. “Yes?”
“I read about this company in Aviation Week and wondered if anyone could tell me when hiring would begin.”
“For what position?” she asked.
“Pilot. I’m qualified in the Seven-Five.”
“Interviews
should be starting in about four weeks. Training will begin in about six weeks for a November 10 start date.”
“Is there anyone around to give my résumé to?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’ll take it from you.”
“Thanks, but I was hoping to meet someone in pilot management.”
She stuck out her hand. “Captain Burgess,” she said. “Chief pilot.”
He was startled for a moment, something she decided she’d better get used to. But then he broke into a big grin. “Awesome,” he said. “That’s awesome, a woman chief pilot.” He shook her hand vigorously.
“Well, I wasn’t expecting that reaction,” she said. But his smile was infectious and she immediately found herself smiling back.
“I don’t know that you’ll always get that reaction, but I’m the father of two daughters, nineteen and twenty-three. We dads like to see our girls break the gender barrier.”
“I suppose my dad feels exactly that way,” she said. Then, thinking This is going to be fine, absolutely fine, she said, “How about a cup of coffee?”
They went to a restaurant around the corner, a place that would likely hold many impromptu meetings and lunches in the days and months to come. The pilot’s name was Sam Landon, he was fifty, had worked for one of the smaller airlines that failed after 9/11 and had been out of work for a couple of years. He was a retired military pilot, a widower with one daughter recently married and the other a full-time college student, so he was very flexible about starting work. And he was very eager to get back into the cockpit.
He asked a lot of questions about New Century Air and Joe Riordan, and Nikki surprised herself by being able to answer them. In her very first official act as the chief pilot, she said, “I’ll get in touch with you in a few weeks, Sam. I can’t promise you a job, but I can promise you an interview.”
“That’s all I can ask,” he said.
She went away from that brief meeting thinking that if she could hire about thirty guys like Sam, she’d be able to put together the perfect first class of pilots.
Back in Phoenix, Nikki drove out to Burgess Aviation. It was late in the day, the sun was low in the sky, and the devastating heat of the desert was lifting. She headed for the open hangar, where a couple of mechanics were at work on a corporate jet under Buck’s watchful eye.