SEPTEMBER 11, A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

By DELL ARTHUR

            This past Friday, September 11, was the anniversary of the most horrific tragedy experienced by the United States since the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, when terrorists flew two high-jacked airliners into the Twin Tower Trade Centers at New York City. Nearly 3000 people died as a result. The effect on Americans was disbelief and anger—neither was a war declared nor any identifiable enemy army to confront.

As a result of the unprecedented attack all aircraft, both civilian and commercial, was ordered to make an immediate landing wherever possible. All across America airplanes, large and small, landed at any airport able to support them. Aircraft flying from foreign countries headed for the United States had to change course and land wherever they could. Canada opened their airports allowing airliners to seek refuge. Once on the ground Canadians opened their homes, school gyms and any other facility to harbor their new guests in the emergency. For the first time in aviation history the skies across the nation was silent with the exception of military fighters patrolling high overhead.

For Doug Hawley, chief pilot and director of operations for Ross Airlines, the day was starting out with a visit to his dentist. Sitting in the chair the news was just starting to hit the airwaves. Thinking a small airplane had hit the buildings he was shocked to learn that instead two airliners had deliberately smashed into the buildings. There was no question in his mind that this was an act of terror. Quickly he called his office and confirmed the tragic news.

Ross Airlines had only one client—the Department of Energy. Based at Albuquerque, New Mexico all of their work centered on delivering precious and sometimes secret material to various government facilities. Returning to his office he stood by awaiting instructions from the DOE. Shortly after his arrival he was contacted to fly to Dallas, Texas to pick up several high level government officials and then on to Washington, D.C.

The only airplane available was one of the companies Lear jets that was flying from Phoenix, Arizona back to their Albuquerque base when the towers were hit. The crew was instructed to land immediately but since their airplane was nearly at their destination controllers allowed them to continue.

Packing a bag Hawley contacted the Federal Aviation Administration and contacted FAA operations inspector Ken Hand to help file a flight plan. It took the full day to get approval for the flight before he was able to head for Texas to pick up his passengers. By now it was darkness. Arriving at the airport he was astonished at the tight security. He said it took about 10 minutes for security personal to finish inspecting his car he recalled. Finally he got to his airplane and headed for Texas on the first leg of his nocturnal flight.

Once he picked up his passengers he took off and headed east to Washington, D.C. “We were tired. It had been a long day” he recounted. Once at altitude under a clear star-studded

black sky he felt a sense of loneliness. “Usually when you fly at night you can hear airplane pilots talking with center or now and then to each other,” he said remembering the incident. But this night the sky belonged to only two civilian aircraft—his and an emergency mercy flight carrying a human heart for transplant.

Flying a direct course for Washington he bypassed the regular airways normally flown by aircraft on instrument flight plans. As he concentrated on his instruments he heard two military F-16’s calling center asking who this Lear jet was heading east. Looking out he saw a jet fighter right on each of his wing tips. “At that point I turned on every light on the airplane!” he said.

The military jets were advised that Hawley’s airplane had special permission to fly on to Andrews Air Force Base. As the flight continued both of the military jets flew close formation with him. Nobody was taking any chances.

The time passed swiftly and the darkened sky of middle America quickly gave way to the lights of metropolitan cities. Reaching Pennsylvania Hawley started his let down in preparation to landing. The small Lear jet was flying at high speed and it covered the remaining miles quickly. Finally center called and gave him instructions. By this time the Air Force jets were flying right on his wings and continued the let down with him. As he approached Andrews one of the jets pulled ahead and Hawley did a turn to give separation. Apparently the Air Force jets were running low on fuel and since Hawley was obviously no longer a threat, landed ahead of him just as two other Air Force jets were taking off to take their place in the sky.

Hawley’s stay at Andrews was short. The next day he filed a return flight back to Albuquerque. Leaving his hotel he got a cab to a ride back to the airport but found all the gates were locked. Traffic he said was backed up for miles. “A lot of the security people were wearing uniforms and one gate was even guarded by a tank!’ he said. Once on the base he headed for a bus for a ride to his airplane. “I made eye contact with the MP guarding the main gate and the soldier briskly said, “…There’s your bus, get on it!”

Now with daylight Hawley took off. Looking down at the Pentagon he could see the black smoke where the third hijacker crashed into the building.  It was a sight he would remember for the rest of his life.

The uneventful flight back to Albuquerque required only one fuel stop. Pressing on he finally ended his unique flight. For the next 12 days he stood standby and for the following six weeks he was busy ferrying DOE back to Washington, D.C. and elsewhere.

On the night of September 11, 2006, Hawley and the lonely mercy flight were the only two civilian airplanes in the night sky. It would be several days before normal flights would resume but 9-11 would always be a night to remember for Hawley.