Tango Oscar Juliet

Just had an enjoyable 3 days training at Gatwick airport and as part of a treat - I think it was a bribe for a pass certificate really - I was allowed into the cockpit of one of the aircraft being prepared for flight later today.

As it happened there was a major incident on the in-coming runway this morning - not me trying to fly a plane! - but a plane having to land with faulty undercarriage. All fire-fighting crews were dispatched, the runway closed and towing equipment sent to help.

We were able to watch as the pilot successfully landed his plane without further incident, much to everyone's relief - not least the passengers and crew on board - and the plane towed to a stand where passengers were allowed to dis-embark and the fault rectified.

As a user, albeit infrequently, of the airline services, it was good to see that the emergency procedures worked efficiently.