ZJX

        Dave read over the performance calculations and other items that were on the briefing sheet.  Also on the sheet was the names of the co-pilot and flight engineer that were on today’s flight.  Dave recognized the names and smiled.  He knew them to be good pilots and quickly reasoned that today’s flight will be both fun, and, quite an experience.  As he reached in his flight bag for a route map, the dispatcher called over to him.
        “Dave, we are going to use the new weight and balance program that Donna Derringer developed.  It was put in the computer before she busted her leg.”
        Dave turned with a surprised look. “Busted her leg?”
        “Yeah,” the dispatcher responded.  “She went skiing last week and somebody ran into her.  Busted up her left leg pretty badly.  The program she was developing was entered in the flight planning computer a couple of nights ago.  The boss figured she was done with it and it was ready to be used.  He said to go ahead and use it.  It will be kind of a surprise for her, when she finds out.”

************

        Taking the same figures, Donna manually did the sample weight and balance.  Comparing the two, Donna said, “That can’t be right?”
        She took several other numbers and tried again.  The results were the same.  Donna felt the energy drain from her…..
        She sat back in her chair and started to breathe heavily.  Not believing what she saw, she tapped through the computer program until the DC-10 program was on the screen.  Again, Donna entered numbers representing a normal cargo load.  The types of cargo loads that she has dispatched aircraft with for the last ten years.  As the computer figured the problem, Donna hastily wrote the numbers on the paper and figured it using her calculator.  Again, the results were the same.  Donna leaned forward burying her head in her hands….

************

Taking a couple of deep breaths, Donna suddenly sat upright.  Looking on the right corner of her computer screen, Donna saw that is was 2:55 P.M. local time.
        “The departures!” Donna said out loud.
        She looked on her computer desk for her phone.  She remembered that her telephone was on her nightstand.  Forgetting about her broken leg, Donna quickly turned to the left and tried to get up in one move.  Her left leg swung into the desk leg.  Donna screamed in pain.  Her leg jammed between the desk leg and the chair she was sitting in.  Her momentum caused her to topple over the side of the chair and onto the floor.  The searing pain that tore through her body as she twisted her leg was unbearable.  Donna tried to get up, but, the pain was too intense.  She laid her head on the floor and started to black out.

************

        As Dave and Jerry were about to start the checklist, Phil handed Dave the take-off performance numbers that were just radioed in from dispatch.
        “Here is the take-off data, Dave.  Company is using a new weight and balance program.  It is supposed to be more precise on the balance.”
        Taxiing out, third in line, was Triple-S five heavy.  Triple-S five was one of SSAS’s DC-10’s that was headed for Boston.  The flight engineer, Andy Summer, was making his second flight since being upgraded to the DC-10.  As the aircraft taxied out, Andy received the final weight, balance, and take-off performance numbers from dispatch.  As he wrote the numbers down, Andy sensed that something was not right.  He was present during the loading of the aircraft, and he thought it was odd that extra cargo was added to the rear of the aircraft.  After writing the performance data and handing it to the Captain, Andy took out his DC-10 flight planning charts and performance book.  He knew that this Captain had a reputation for being a hard headed old timer.  The kind of Captain that thinks everyone in the cockpit better listen to him, or else.  Andy wanted to make very sure that anything that he did was not going to incur the wrath of this particular Captain.  Andy did the weight and balance calculations and was surprised at what he saw.  Not believing the numbers, Andy re-calculated the numbers as the DC-10 was approaching the take-off end of runway seven.

************

        Donna raised her head and looked in the direction of her nightstand.  The pain was so intense, she could hardly see.  She fought the temptation to just lay her head down and rest.  She fought the urge to scream out loudly from the pain.  She tried to dislodge her leg from between the chair and desk legs.  Every movement was agony.  Finally, she freed her leg.  Donna knew that she could not even attempt to stand.

************

        Dave and his flight crew were almost at the departure end of runway seven, when ground control called.  “Triple-S thirty-three, JAX Center has instituted a SWAP to the East due to thunderstorms.  SIGMET three East is valid for the area, also.  Did you receive your new route?”
        Dave keyed his microphone and said, “Jacksonville ground, affirmative.  We did receive both the SIGMET and the SWAP re-route.  We are almost ready to go.”
        The ground controller then said, “Roger, Triple-S thirty three.  Contact the tower on one-one eight point three at the end.  Have a good flight.”