New Faces

After almost a week-long maintenance episode we're back flying. A couple days ago we tackled the complicated job of flying over the largest and busiest airport in our grid, which also serves as a military base. It takes some coordination with ATC to go bombing over a busy airport at 200 ft AGL. As we crossed over the field I could see a row of six Mirage fighter jets parked on the ramp, and there were numerous green military hangars as well. Something about it felt really wrong - buzzing over an airport that had military establishments. Our flight yesterday was still in the vicinity of the airport and more than once we spotted fighter jets screaming past us at low level as well. We haven't been shot down or arrested yet though, so that's a good sign.

We also have some additional faces here on the job, as our geophysicist has arrived for the last couple weeks of the job to help wrap things up and review the data with the client. We also had the client here visiting for a couple days to review data with the geophysicist.

And finally a couple nights ago my boss arrived here for a visit for a couple days. This is our 3rd time in France working for this client now - they have all been very big projects - and from what I hear through the grapevine this has been the most successful project yet, so its good for the big man himself to show his face and make an appearance for the client. From what our geophysicist was saying was that our boss was really just looking forward to coming here to congratulate us in person. When my boss arrived the Captain and I had just landed from a flight and I was finishing up some post-flight operator duties out at the airplane when I saw the boss walk up. We greeted each other and made some small talk, and then he looked me in the eye and squeezed my shoulder and said "Good work." That was all he needed to say. I could tell he really meant what he was saying. Its really great to work for someone like that. The last couple nights he's also taken us out for dinner and drinks - all on him. I really do have a great boss, he is such a pleasure to work for. Its those kind of people that really motivate you to do a good job for them.

It turned out that he really doesn't have a whole lot to do here, but its good that he came anyways for the client. The client's family also owns a winery (oh yes we ARE in France, haha), so he brought some of his own Champagne to share. My boss was making the joke that usually he comes over to France to solve problems - but this time there aren't any so he has nothing to do!

We're so far 80% done, so we should be finished the main part of the flying within the next 10 or 12 days, and then there will probably be another 5 or 6 days to finish up any re-flights and pack up and ship out.