Several years ago, I discovered an organization called Airliners International and was pleased to attend their three-day convention in 2022 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (see my post of September 22, 2022 titled Airliners International at Chicago O’Hare). I was accompanied by Dave, my AvGeek friend and the Navigator Program Manager for the Raleigh-Durham Airport. We had such a good time and met a number of other like-minded folks, we traveled to Dallas last year (see my post of August 12, 2023 titled Airliners International at Dallas-Fort Worth) and decided to put the show on our calendars for 2024. The annual expo is conducted under the auspices of the World Airline Historical Society (WAHS) and is held in a different US city each year. This year’s gathering was held in Kansas City from June 26 through 29. The close-by Kansas City International Airport (MCI) was first opened in 1972. The new single terminal project replaced the existing three-terminal facility and includes upscale dining, a beautiful and spacious Delta Sky Club, commissioned artwork and inclusive amenities. Its mid-continent location and low number of flight delays have long established MCI as one of the most appealing commercial airports in the world. In addition, the region has a long and proud aviation history, all of which made it an excellent location for this year’s gathering.
Check-in at the American Airlines desk at my home airport’s Terminal 2 was pretty slow on that Wednesday morning. I waited more than 20 minutes for the single agent on duty as she was busy with a couple who appeared to be having some major problem. Then, after being quickly processed at the CLEAR lane, I waited yet again behind two wheelchair-bound travelers who encountered some difficulties with the TSA agent at the security checkpoint. Things were looking up as our first flight to Charlotte departed on time from Gate C15. We flew aboard an Airbus A321 EOW. Those initials stand for “Extended Over Water”, meaning the aircraft meets the FAA requirements to fly up to 400 miles off shore. It was a quick 30-minute flight for us at an altitude of 22,000 feet and we landed at 11:53 AM, pulling into Gate B10. With a few hours before our next flight, we stopped at the American Express Centurion Lounge located at the intersection of Concourses D and E for a welcome lunch. But unfortunately, things went off the rails later that afternoon.
We boarded the connecting Boeing 737-800 aircraft that was to take us to Kansas City at Gate A4. Scheduled departure was for 2:07 PM, but neither the boarding door or that of the fight deck ever closed. After a 40-minute delay, the Captain announced we were experiencing a “maintenance issue” that should be resolved shortly. By three o’clock, we could see the luggage being unloaded and the aircraft was soon taken out of service. Although we were instructed to check with the gate agent, he referred us to the customer service desk. We decided to stop in the at the closest Admirals Club instead. Although we had First Class tickets, the helpful agent could only confirm me on the 4:15 flight (in a middle Economy seat). and waitlist Dave who was confirmed on the 9:30 flight that night! As we were walking towards the 4:15 flight, the agent called him to advise us that our original flight had not been cancelled after all, so we headed back to Gate A4. (I was surprised the agent called him since I’m the Admirals Club member.) On arrival at Gate A4, we learned the flight would now depart from Gate C9. Once there, a flight to Indianapolis was boarding and we were then told the flight would depart from Gate C12. It was utter madness, compounded by the narrow corridors at the Charlotte Airport and the crush of passengers trying to get from one gate to another. Eventually, we took off with the original crew and arrived in Kansas City at 7:17 Central Daylight Time, some four hours behind schedule! We missed the Jet Midwest tour we had booked for 5:15 that day. After checking into the Kansas City Airport Hilton Hotel, we met up with some friends at the Asado Urban Grill for a quick dinner and then called it a day.
Thursday morning found us at the registration table where we were fortunate to run into one of the conference organizers who confirmed us on a Jet Midwest tour on Friday since we’d missed that tour the previous day with our delay into Kansas City. Captain Tom Livesey, who serves as the current treasurer of WAHS and is a Boeing 757/767 Captain for a large overnight express company based in Louisville, Kentucky, conducted the first Seminar titled “Double Nickels for the 747.” Captain Livesey presented a thorough review of Boeing’s “Queen of the Skies” which turned 55 this year. One of the world’s most famous aircraft, the 747 was initially designed for Pan American World Airways. The airline wanted an aircraft that was two and a half times the size of Boeing's previous project, the 707. Pan Am would take delivery of the first “jumbo” in January 1970. The large aircraft's size of production forced Boeing to build a new assembly plant. This led to the construction of the famous Everett factory, which is the largest building by volume in the world.
We later visited the Aviation Weather Center in nearby Pleasant Hill, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Meteorologists at this location deliver consistent, timely and accurate weather information for the world aviation system. These highly-skilled professionals are the trusted authority for vital aviation weather information. Jennifer Stroozas, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, explained that as much as 67% of delays in the national aviation system can be attributed to weather resulting in US economic losses of roughly 23 billion dollars on an annual basis. We also learned their aviation program relies on 122 weather forecast offices located throughout the nation, along with 21 center weather service units, 3 meteorological watch offices and 2 volcanic ash advisory centers. Their Domestic Operations Branch alone provides 24/7 coverage for ceiling and visibility, turbulence and icing information while the International Operations Branch offers global weather charts for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. We had an exceptional opportunity to learn what a vital role the center plays in the safety of the skies.
As an avid Trans World Airlines flyer for many years, I was enthusiastic about our scheduled tour on Friday to the TWA Museum located at the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport. Kevin, a retired TWA mechanic, was our guide and was very passionate about the airline with which he was employed through both good times and bad. The exhibits showed us the range of the storied carrier’s 75-year history, from the birth of airmail to the inception of passenger air travel, to the post-WWII era of global route expansion. Kevin’s first-hand commentary helped to bring much of it alive. Several flight simulators were on display as well as a number of intricate, hand carved cutaway models of the airline’s Boeing 747 and Lockheed L-1011 airliners, complete with individual seats. A mockup of a TWA Ambassadors Club Lounge was also put together at the museum and included several sofas and armchairs which originally graced the offices of the legendary Howard Hughes, principal stockholder and owner of TWA from 1939 until the early 1960s. The highlight of the tour, however, was seeing and being permitted to climb aboard a restored 1937 Lockheed Electra 12A that was on display in the hangar adjacent to the museum.
That afternoon we went on our rescheduled Jet Midwest tour. Located in the former TWA Maintenance Center at the Kansas City Airport, Jet Midwest is a full-service commercial aircraft, engine and spare parts trading company. They perform a variety of heavy maintenance related services, such as line maintenance, engine change, modification, structural repair, aircraft storage, return to service, tear down, and interior modification, including conversion to VIP configurations. We were fortunate to see aircraft in various stages of work, which bore the liveries of many carriers, including those of Air New Zealand, Eastern, Japan Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Saudia and Singapore Airlines. Originally built by TWA to maintain a fleet of DC9, MD-80, 757, 767 and 747 aircraft, the hangars are now part of the Jet Midwest facility that boasts an impressive 11 bays capable of accommodating over 20 narrow body aircraft and multiple wide-body jets. The complex as a whole consists of 1.2 million square feet of hangar and shop space and 64 acres of paved ramp and tarmac space. It’s a very impressive operation and kudos to the staff who kindly allowed us to spend as much time as we liked and patiently answered our small group’s many questions.
Flying Solo to Sudan was the title of the Saturday Seminar we attended presented by Charles Kennedy. Charles was a low-hour British recreational pilot who wanted to accompany his highly experienced pilot friend Timothy on the delivery flight of a Cessna 172 aircraft from England to Sudan. But, the weight of extra fuel needed on the journey meant it was a one-person job. However, he soon got a text from Timothy telling him he was in the hospital and asking him to make the delivery on his own. Charles told this amazing story with witty travelogue, honest introspection and self-deprecating humor, describing his incredible journey through Europe and Africa, crossing mountains, water and desert, arriving in Khartoum on the eve of Sudan's current conflict. How to fly a plane, the utility of fear, the joy of solitude, and the lessons he learned along the way made this a most interesting presentation.
While there was much to rave about this year’s convention, there was much room for improvement as well. The Kansas City Airport Hilton Hotel was a big disappointment. The property claimed Housekeeping would service the rooms after the third night, but I stayed at the hotel for four days and never once saw service of any kind without first requesting it. In fact, while they were supposed to replace towels and empty the trash cans on a daily basis, I had to request this service after three days and then someone arrived at my door with bed linens! Front desk staff explained I never received service because the “Do Not Disturb” sign was still on my door at 6:30 in the morning. Really? That’s utter nonsense. The hotel notwithstanding, there were hiccups at the show as well. Transportation to the “Friday Night at the Props BBQ” was a disaster. Since only one bus showed up to take us to the TWA Museum hangar, most attendees ended up booking a ride share both ways at personal expense. In addition, only two picnic tables were set up for the crowd resulting in most folks scrambling for a place to sit inside the museum while balancing food on their laps. The exhibits themselves had a preponderance of tchotchke for my taste and the Saturday evening Banquet speaker Noel Philips failed to draw much of a crowd for his talk In Search of the YAK-40, which described his quest to fly aboard every aircraft type flown in the former Soviet Union.
The good outweighed the bad and so we are looking forward to attending next year’s show in Atlanta, which will take place at the famous Delta Flight Museum.
Until next time…safe travels.
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