Novel Square
Chapter 36
Chapter 36
At the base, Madison joined the line-up of ten pilots.
The instructor, clad in a flight suit, iterated the basic rules from the Mukino International Pilot’s Handbook. He then added, “Other airlines might not have such an extensive retraining program. But Mukino International prioritizes passenger safety above all, so we ask for your patience and diligence during these drills. After twenty-odd days, those who qualify will officially become Mukino pilots.”
“Sir, yes, sir!” they responded in chorus.
The unity and fervor in that response seemed to ignite Madison’s competitive spirit.
She had never been someone to cower or be trampled upon, nor was she overly soft or forgiving.
She had always been a person with edges sharp enough to cut.
How could she have lost herself over someone like Lucas?
At the academy, Madison was top of her class. At National Air, even
pilot, she was always the best.
as
er own sake…
d for Ethan’s. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
At the very least, she couldn’t let him down.
“Madison.”
She stepped forward promptly, “Here!”
The others glanced at her out of the corner of their eyes, slightly
astonished.
This woman exuded an air of confident poise, her face devoid of smiles, tinged with an almost imperceptible fierceness.
“You have the least flying hours here. You’ll be piloting an Airbus A340. Can you handle it?”
Her reply was short and confident, “Yes, I can.”
“Good.”
“These flight paths are clear of other aircraft. You will each take this plane and follow the route I give you. The shorter the time without incidents such as turbulence, the higher your ranking, and so on,” the instructor explained.
The group was quickly led away.
Among the ten pilots, only Madison was female, and with the shortest flying hours.
The rest were seasoned pilots or those grounded for various reasons, all more experienced than Madison.
But the instructor issued a stark reminder as they took off, “We have made applications to the Civil Aviation Authority; thus, the retraining lasts over twenty days. Many of these training exercises are
based on militar
tandards. Therefore, at the end of training, we will hire ee as official captains. Even those previously
Op
ll be considered. The rest, who qualify, will be relegated
yone disagrees, you still have the chance to withdraw. Should choose to leave during training, Mukino Airlines will permanently ose its doors to you.”
The other nine pilots murmured amongst themselves, their expressions uneasy.
These ten were undoubtedly skilled Among them were veterans
from military aviation, others who had flown hours eclipsing those of usual captains–a gathering of talent.
Failing to secure one of the top three spots meant settling for a co- pilot position.
No captain would willingly accept being demoted to a subordinate role.
So now, it was a choice-leave, or fight for it.
Observing the sole female pilot show no sign of backing down, someone from the instructor’s side quietly began typing something on their phone.
“If there are no objections, let’s wish everyone the best of luck. Now, who’s first?”
After some hesitant glances, a young, eager man stepped up.
Madison wasn’t foolish enough to be the first to volunteer-amongst this crowd, she was the junior.
The training was rigorous, reminiscent of military exercises.
A pas grade would be set by time-if completed within the limit specific set of obstacles on the flight path, the pilot
and
y tested a pilot’s skill.
dison waited for over five hours, watching as the leaderboard Owed each pilot’s number and score.
As the last to arrive, she was Number 10.
“There are three different false radar obstacles with varying altitudes,” someone muttered upon returning.
“It’s a challenge to keep the plane stable and make it through quickly. These requirements seem tailored for fighter pilots,” the complaints continued.
Of those assessed, four had already qualified.
To secure her place, Madison had to make it into the top three.
First place was Number 2, a veteran military pilot, with twenty-three minutes.
Second place, Number 6, landed safely in twenty-five minutes.
Third place, Number 4, finished in twenty-nine minutes.
And fourth, Number 8, in thirty-three minutes.
Meaning Madison had to fly within twenty-nine minutes to maintain a top-three position.
“Number 10,” called the instructor.
Madison stepped out at a slow pace.
Some held their breath, while others dismissed her prospects.
The one holding his breath was the pilot currently in third place.
As long as Madison didn’t break into the top three, his position in this exercise was secure.
The initial phase of retraining was assessment; what followed would be simulator training. Surviving the initial phase meant the rest
should be relatively smooth sailing.
Before boarding, the instructor added, “I forgot to mention, your results for each exercise will be transmitted directly to the Civil Aviation Authority. Everything is transparent and fair, so no one should rely on luck or try to pull strings-it won’t work here.”
Madison was no stranger to the captain’s seat.
When the old captain rested, it was she who steered the aircraft.
This control panel and these instruments were her true familiars.
As the undercurrent of blood surged through her body, Madison felt a surge of combativeness.
She never allowed herself to be the one left behind.
The ground crew signaled for taxiing and take-off.
The plane gradually accelerated along the runway, ascending into the sky.
Her operation was flawless, without any hint of rustiness or error.
“Her take-off is as good as the number one old military pilot,” someone whispered.
Another retorted, “But what good will that do? She’s still a woman. Her reaction in a real situation will be weaker, and she’ll likely falter at
the obstacles.”
Only the veteran military pilot remained silent, his gaze fixed on the radar tracking the A340’s trajectory.
M
ached cruising altitude and soon encountered the virtual dicated on the radar.
le, these required pilots to navigate around without a visible
it of reference.
To maintain safety would inevitably extend flight time.
But Madison was aiming for the top three.
On the ground, the nine pilots who had completed the challenge had started chatting, especially the top three.
The veteran pilot said little, focusing intently on the radar screen.
“Damn!” The ground crew member couldn’t contain his surprise, blurting out a curse.
Following his gaze, the rest of the group gasped in unison!
“How is she so fast?”
At that moment, the other pilots stood up, the reality of the situation dawning on them.
And it was then that the true Madison finally came alive.