Black Box Cassette 8: LAX to SEA

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## Black Box Cassette 8: LAX to SEA

### Air Date

25/12/19

> *"I have to admit, I've been wondering why you asked to fly with me? Why you asked specifically with me? Seems strange you would even know who I am."*
>
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This cassette is a recording of the Pilot's flight from Los Angeles to Seattle, done by the automatic black box recording system.

The Pilot apologises in the delay in takeoff, but there was a holdup with one of the passenger planes and several more passenger planes have been moved ahead in the queue to make up for lost time. When in the air, he tells his passenger that they can relax - though he is clearly nervous himself. He asks after the dog in the cage back in the cabin, but cannot remember its name (Widget or Gadget, possibly). He asks about the breed of the dog, unable to pin it down between Greyhound, Setter, Terrier, or something else entirely, but is clearly unsettled.

The Pilot explains the thirty minute delay in landing with the prioritisation of passenger flights, and tries to backpedal when he implies that him taking passengers isn't explicitly allowed. He offers to radio ahead and let anybody who was waiting for them know that they were going to be late, as they obviously would not appear on the arrivals boards.

He asks why their passenger asked to fly with him specifically. His friend Charlie told him that they waited a full week to take a flight when there were plenty of other pilots to take them, and it makes the Pilot self-conscious. He wonders if he's living up to whatever expectations they may have, if he's talking too much, and then asks if he seems nervous, because he knows he has no reason to be nervous. He hopes it was worth the wait.

The Pilot asks the passenger to put out the cigarette they've just lit, for policy reasons. He explains that cargo pilots transport a lot of different goods and it's a fire hazard to be smoking on board. He apologises, saying they'll just have to hold out a little bit longer as they're almost there. He also apologises for the flight being uncomfortable - he refer to the literal discomfort of the seat and the cold of the cargo hold, but are clearly also talking about the quality of conversation. He asks if work is what's taking the passenger to Seattle, and mention that he's not really sure what it is they all do - assuming they do all do the same thing, since they dress identically and lurk in the same fashion. The Pilot has always assumed it was government work, but doesn't really know why. He had a friend who claimed to know one of the men with cigarettes as a drinking buddy, but he was unconvinced, since she never seemed to find out what it was they actually did. He supposes there was no way to phrase the question that didn't come out as "Oh, you're one of the people who stands around with unpleasant dogs and cigarettes, what's the deal with that?" He hastily apologises for calling Widget-Gidget-Gadget unpleasant, but still asks what the deal is.

As they start their descent, he reminds the passenger not to smoke on the tarmac. It is also a fire (explosion) hazard. Additionally, they will have to wait until they're out of the airport to let the dog out of its cage. He hopes the passenger's visit to Seatle is whatever it's meant to be, and apologises for being rude earlier, admitting to being unnerved. He supposes they're just there to help... maybe. He hopes they don't see the passenger again.