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It’s KSEA to KGEG and Candidate Branden is PIC.  Over the last day or so I’ve been operating around the Vancouver Seattle area shuttling Olympics travelers back and forth, and for this flight Candidate Brandon is taking his official checkride for Flight Officer.   It’s his turn to run the ship and all I have to do is ride, observe, instruct, and then issue a set of wings if he passes.   

Departure tonight is prior to sunset and I finally get to put my vampire fangs away for a bit.  On departure the angle of the sun and the tone of the air create beautiful shadows and lighting effects on the mountains below.  Wow… Not only have I not seen a mountain for some weeks now (due to excessive darkness) but I also sometimes forget how beautiful the scenery can be at altitude.  Now, I know that the song America The Beautiful was written in the 1895 and that most of this part of the country was only just being explored.  I also know that when they wrote the “purple mountains majesty part” they were probably talking mostly about the Appalachians.  But just the same it could have easily been written about these mountains right here.   Just lovely.  

I also notice I’m able to enjoy the scenery much more on this trip than any other, and that has a lot to do with Candidate Branden’s flying.   I’ve heard him and his ship UAL224 on com a lot over the last few weeks.  And yes, you really can tell a lot about how someone is doing just by listening to their com traffic.  And yes, I do pay attention.  Everything about Branden’s operation of the ship tonight is satisfactory and he’ll be receiving his Flight Officers wings tonight.  The first set I’ve been able to hand out so far.  I’m so pleased with everything right now I might even dance a little.  

But don’t bet on it.  Normally I don’t dance.