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Pan Am Series GREENLAND AND NICK NOLTE, by Pan Am Captain Bill, Part 6

By Bill Travis

Real Estate Agent with Captain Bill Realty, LLC

May 18, 2010 03:48 PM

Pan Am Series GREENLAND AND NICK NOLTE, by Pan Am Captain Bill, Part 6

I was fortunate to have many Pan Am eastbound flights from London to New York on days that Greenland was visible from the air at around 35,000 feet.

On so many days it was too cloudy to see anything. However, I always prepared the passengers that if Greenland was visible I would wake them up to see it. Greenland Glaciers

Usually the only complaints I received were from the flight attendants. They had to take turn taking breaks, and it's easier when the passengers are asleep. After I would wake passengers to see Greenland they would keep the fight attendants busy with drinks requests, so it would mess up their rest schedule.

However, our Pan Am flight attendants were very understanding because they knew it was a once in a lifetime experience for passengers; and they also enjoyed the view.

The best seat in the house for this view was the cockpit, because we had a 180 degree panoramic view that was spectacular to say the least.

The Polar Bears

One day as we were flying overhead I gave my usual announcement that "if you look closely you "may" see a polar bear and her cubs down on the left". That was always fun because people would look for them. My wife was on one of the flights with me when we could see Greenland, and she asked me later if I really saw the Polar bears.

After Landing

It was customary for the Captain to stand at the cockpit door to say goodbye to the passengers and thank them for flying with Pan Am. That's when people would comment about how much seeing Greenland meant to them.

The Gottcha

One gentleman with a gruff voice came up to me seeming to be a bit angry and said:

"I was sleeping very soundly up until some guy got on the microphone, woke me from my sound sleep and started talking about Greenland and Polar bears; was that you Captain Bill?"

I said "yes sir, and I apologize for disturbing you, but most people want to be awakened for that view because they may never see it again."

He said, as his demeanor changed and he added a slight grin:

"Well I just want to thank you for waking me up. It was the most beautiful view I have ever seen in my life, and I would not have wanted to miss it. But I didn't see those damn Polar bears!" And he walked away.

His face was familiar to me but at the moment I couldn't put a name to the face. I was still stunned by the way he came at me.

So I asked the flight attendant who he was, and she said that's Nick Nolte.

Well, Nick Nolty got one on me.

I suppose he thought that since I was playing the Polar bear game that he could play the mad passenger game. And he played that part very well. He sure had me convinced that he was upset.

I'm in the process of writing a book, half of which will be about the non-aviation phase, and the rest will be about the aviation phase of my life, and I'll tell as many stories as I can recall that I hope people will find interesting, and will give younger generations more insight into Pan Am the once greatest airline in the world.

I'm requesting that if anyone wishes to make any suggestions about what should be in the Pan Am section, or in any other section, that can make the book more interesting, I'm open to all suggestions.

For information or to offer suggestions, send an email to Pan Am Captain Bill Travis

My goal is to have the book completed in ebook form by the end of July 2013.

Other Blogs about Aviation and Pan Am:

Secret Sex Life of a Pan Am International Pilot

Pan Am, Most Exciting and Dangerous Approach and Landing

Pan Am series, First Airline Pilot Job Interview

Pan Am series, My First Flight as an Airline Pilot

Photo of Zantop C-46 on Zantop Ramp at Detroit Metro Airport

Pan Am series, Hong Kong Victoria Harbor Photo, 1986 by Captain Bill Travis

Pan Am series, Greenland and Nick Nolte

Pan Am series, Marlon Brando, the Celebrities

Pan Am series, Pan Am Pilot Photos, 1 Don Rees

Pan Am series Pan Am Pilot Photos 2 Bill Spence

Pan Am series Pan Am Pilot Photos 3 Dick Mayer

Pan Am series Pan Am Pilot Photos 4 Keith Woodmansee