A fix/waypoint that serves as a transition point from the high altitude waypoint navigation structure to the low altitude structure or an arrival procedure (STAR).

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December 5th, 0200Z (1000LCL)
Location: Bohol, Philippines

I feel myself often in daze nowadays all because of the dreams; but today is definitely the worst one. I find myself staring at a distance, losing focus most of the time, that I need to slap myself to stay alert. Thankfully, the pressure builds that when my second alarm rings, denoting the fact that we're to have breakfast as a team, I practically succeed in taking a bath in record time and only be late for a good five or seven minutes for breakfast. And even when I am to prepare for the morning, I am thankful for my stars that I am quick to return back to the routine when the third alarm, signaling the time for me to be out of the room and meet the others all again at the hotel's lobby, breaks through my thoughts.

I know that dreams shouldn't affect me. But not such when it is so vivid and clear, as if it is really happening in real life. And definitely not such a dream that ignites desires that make me worry if it is my brain's thinking that I better start getting laid. I mean... it is really strange and weird and embarrassing!

Like, I am once again telling myself that dream me is too lucky with her love life. To be loved by such a man, I mean... fuck it all. I don't know what to do but just pray to the heavens that if I am to return back to that dreamscape, I hope that it will not be an immediate continuation. Because... I am hating my brain for remembering every detail of it. And when I say every detail, I mean it. Everything that the waking world didn't just take me away from it in the beginning or in the middle, but let me stay in the dreaming until the very end of it.

I can feel my cheeks heating up, and immediately press my hands against my face as if to hide away. And seriously, I really want to runaway and hide, all because of that dream. To add, I even need to deal with the continuation of this photoshoot and still see Elian.

Lord naman... pasensya na kung ang dumi-dumi na ng utak ko, pero... Tangina. Ganoon din kaya si Elian... o doon sila magkaiba ni César? Shit, kailangan ko siguro maligo sa holy water...

I slowly lower my hands, stopping to cover my mouth as I watch the team right ahead as the photoshoot continues with all of us trailing the steps heading to the peak of one of the hills to have a good view of the countless Chocolate Hills. And like the usual days of shooting that is not within the ramp area, the flight and cabin crews are in their casual get-up, too; and fuck it that Elian's choice of wardrobe had him radiating some CEO vibes.

Ever since that blunt conversation between me and Elian yesterday, during our way from Negros to Cebu, we have no further interaction at all. Despite what Lara told me last night regarding the on-going preposterous stories involving me and Elian, there is definitely no claim for such because I can firmly attest myself that there is really nothing at all. Knowing all that seems to add another embarrassment to me that I can't bear talking to him; my most recent dream is like some sort of the cherry on top of it all.

I cast a quick look at where he is right now, conversing with one of the flight stewards on their way up. And my eyes trail on to his handsome profile and his lean but visibly taut muscled figure. Regretting doing so as I guiltily almost sound like I am ogling him.

Then, once again, remembering how strands of his usually well-kept hair fall across his dark eyes cloud with passion and desire, his slightly parted bruised lips as he pants my name, and the warmth of his naked skin and the weight of his body above mine...

Good Lord... ayaw ko na!

This is bad. Just seeing Elian right now makes me remember that dream night with César.

I sigh heavily and Lara, who seems to be trailing the steps with me, didn't let it passed.

"Hoy, (Y/N)," she calls for me. "Ayos ka lang ba? Kanina ko pa napapansin na parang hindi mo alam kung ano ang gagawin?"

Hindi ko kasi talaga alam ang gagawin ko dahil sa napanaginipan ko kagabi!

I pout and didn't say anything.

"Hoy." Her voice suddenly grows worried and small. "Dahil ba 'yan sa sinabi ko kagabi? 'Yong usap-usapan na talagang kayo ni Capt. Elian tapos tinatago niyo lang?"

"Sabi ko naman sa iyo na walang kami talaga, 'di ba? Ewan ko na lang sa kanya; pero nakasama niyo na naman kami, ha? Sa tingin niyo ba may something sa amin sa mga pinaggagawa naming interaction for the past few days?"

"Well... ayaw ko sana i-bring up pero almost sabay lang kayong dumating sa may Magellan's Cross kahapon. Balita ko lamang ay may pinuntahan siya, dahil sinabi rin ni Capt. Zablan iyon. Tapos pareho kayong wala noong breakfast, pero sabi naman ni Ma'am Kathleen, nag-paalam ka naman raw sa kanya kung nasaan ka."

My God... ayaw ko na lang din talaga isipin at marinig kung ano sa tingin nila ang nangyari dahil wala naman talaga! Sa panaginip lang siguro talagang may label or what.

However, I am thankful that Kathleen didn't tell the truth to the others, maintaining the ambiguity about it. I can then easily swivel my way out and make an excuse; but I am definitely out of options to brush away the possibilities without me having to trip out of my own tail.

"Nagliwaliw lang ako," I tell her. "Day-off naman noong isang araw, tapos taga-Cebu 'yong iba kong mga kaibigan kaya nagkita-kita kami. Naiinis nga ako na wala kaming picture eh."

She looks at me, definitely checking if I am telling the truth. I am waiting for her to say that it is very unlikely that I'm meeting friends then forgot to have a picture taken to show as proof. However, thankfully, she sighs heavily and pats me on the shoulder. "Okay lang 'yan," she says. "Naiinis din ako sa mga pagkakataon na ganoon. Kapag nagkikita kami ng mga tropa ko no'ng college o high school tapos pag-umuwi na kami, doon lang namin maalala na wala pa kaming picture ng gala namin. Siguro dahil mas importante 'yong pagsasama at talagang sinulit 'yong panahon na makapagkwentuhan kahit na ilang minuto lang naman ang kailangan para magkaroon ng picture."

I smile nervously, wondering how easily such a lie of what happened had been accepted by hers. "'Yon na nga. Tapos ang weirdo pa ng naging panaginip ko. Pakiramdam ko parang totoong-totoo ang nangyayari na kinikilabutan ako."

"Hmm... ano ba ang napanginipan mo? Sabi nila may meaning daw madalas kung ano 'yong mga napapaniginipan natin. Tapos kapag talagang naalala mo pa, talagang mas lalong may pahiwatig. Naalala mo pa ba 'yong panaginip mo?" she asks.

I almost say that I do; but knowing her, she will definitely ask me to share it to her. In the end, I shake my head. I can't bear tell her how very detailed my dream is, and also involved Elian to top it all! Or César, or yeah, whatever it may be. "Kaya nga siguro ako kinikilabutan. Noong nananaginip ako, pakiramdam ko talaga totoong-totoo na iyon 'yong nangyayari."

"Since hindi natin mahahanap kung anong meaning ng panaginip mo dahil hindi mo maalala, madalas naman ang sinasabi nila ay kaya raw tayo nananaginip ay dahil iyon 'yong deepest desires natin," remarks Lara with a chuckle. "Hindi ko na lang din alam kung totoo iyon ha! Dahil hindi pa naman ako nagkakaroon ng panaginip na nakita ko si The One."

Tangina... sinasabi niya ba sa akin na ako at si Elian... na pagkatapos ng sinabi niya sa akin kagabi... In that way? Jusko... no!

But then... César, such a beautiful man, to be seen in a way by the dream version of me... it is almost a sin but acceptable of them for being in a relationship.

"Capt!" Lara calls out for Capt. Zablan, who've been sitting at one of the resting lounges on the way up the viewing deck. She hurriedly closes the few remaining steps and asks, "Okay lang po ba kayo?"

"Ah, yes," the captain remarks with a light chuckle. "Kailangan lang magpahinga saglit. Signs of aging, ika nga nila."

"Ba mahirap po 'yan, capt. Kailangan ka pa po namin."

"'Wag ka nga magdrama diyan. Mapapasa ko pa 'yong medical ko sa renewal, pero iba kapag akyatan talaga tapos mainit pa. Tapos aasahan niyong smiling faces kami sa shoot. Jusko, refresh muna ako rito."

Lara laughs. "Of course naman po, capt. Hintayin ka po namin sa tuktok." She then turns to me, ushering me to follow after her.

"Sabayan ko na lang si capt pag-akyat," I answer with a smile. "Wala rin naman sa akin 'yong mga kailangan na gamit para sa mga maaring i-shoot."

"Hindi rin kami magtatagal," Capt. Zablan adds, as if saving me from further inquiries. "Napapagod lang din siguro siya."

"Ah, sige po, capt." Lara finally concedes with a slight worried frown, and before turning around to continue on her way up, she adds, "Siguraduhin mo na sasabayan mo si Capt. Zablan, ha, (Y/N)?"

"Oo, promise," I reply before waving a hand at her, and finally, when she is continuing her climb, I drop my hand and sigh heavily.

"(Y/N), right?" Capt. Zablan asks me the next. "'Yong Atenista?"

I turn to him and remembering once more how he is absent in my dreamscape and instead be present as a fleeting figure for a field to be named after him makes me a little shy that he remembers me. I nod. "Yes po, capt. And I am hoping na hindi po ako nakaka-intrude sa inyong pagpapahinga."

"Hindi, 'no." He clicks his tongue, laughs and moves a little farther to give me a space to sit down. "I can use the company."

I then take the vacant seat just a foot away from him and then settle my backpack on my lap. It is quite a load to be part of the PR team for shoot locations as this, but I am being honest with Lara that I don't have the main gears necessary for the shoot; hence, they can proceed on even without me at the viewing deck.

A minute later, Capt. Zablan looks up at the sky.

And the curious one as I follow after to where he may be looking at, and it is easy to hint in the vastness of the clear blue sky what he is watching for. A visible plane passes overhead, descending from its altitude; but with the lack of reaction from Capt. Zablan, I understand that it is just part of the normal procedures. Perhaps, on its way for preparation for landing somewhere south of Bohol.

"Parang magic, ano?" he asks me. He is still following the plane with his eyes by the time I turn to him instead. "The thing that make airplanes fly. Air, magic, some more magic, and very important magic. No one will definitely understand how it is all math, science and much more of a miracle, too."

"Kung ganoon po, ibig-sabihin po ba na risky ang pagpipiloto?" I can't help asking him. "Alam ko po na, madaming nagsasabi and based din po sa statistics that air travel is the safest form of transportation. But if it is indeed magic, miracles, math and science... isn't it too complicated to understand that might lead it to be risky?"

At that, he finally turns to me with a small smile. "Yes. In a sense. Dahil hindi magiging ganito ka-safe ngayon ang industry if walang magtatangka ng risk na lumipad para lang maging ligtas ang mga ito. At kahit anong sabihin nila na, yes, the safest form of transportation... hindi natin maipagkakaila na incidents and accidents may still happen. Kahit anong ingat... Kahit anong preparations and maintenance... In the end, it is still a monster of a machine that we, pilots, only try to understand and not let it overwhelm or consume us, else turning us to be robots, too." He sighs heavily and then asks me the next, "You like traveling? I mean, not just the road trips or what, but by sea or air. Like, traveling, in general."

I nod. "Yes. Siguro isa nga rin po iyon sa deciding factor ko kung bakit po ako nag-PR sa isang airline company, kaysa po sa show business or what other toxic environments."

"So, hindi pa talaga toxic ang environment ng airlines?"

"Not much pa po compared sa mga naririnig ko sa mga ka-batch ko po no'ng college. So, yes, I enjoy traveling to different places pero not necessarily para po magkaroon ako ng intention to pursue flying as a career."

"You assume that it is the reason kung bakit namin pinili mag-piloto?"

"Hindi po sa ganoon. I feel like it is the most basic reason."

"Hmm... For most, I guess." He nods in understanding. "Porket napakitaan sila na isa sa mga possible perks ang travel as a pilot, I think it will change overtime. If ever man na ganoon, why not be on the sea and land? Hindi naman lahat ng piloto nabibigyan ng mga international routes kaagad-agad, and depende naman sa airlines kung saan ang mga destinations nila. Though it is definitely in the nature of people to visit and be curious of places. That's why, I think, dapat mas may malalim na rason kung bakit nila—namin—napag-desisyunan na maging piloto."

"Childhood dream?" I question.

He laughs. "Kung sinabihan ako kaagad ng mga anak ko na gusto nila mag-piloto, baka mas maigi at napag-ipunan ko na kaagad ang pagpapaaral sa kanila. You see, madaming nagsasabi niyan pero sa mahal magpaaral? Madaming nagiging hanggang pangarap lamang. Pero madami-dami rin sa mga piloto ang magugulat ka sa mga kursong kinuha nila bago nila mapagdesisyunan na mag-piloto." He looks at me, trailing at that last statement.

I know, capt. Lalayo pa po ba tayo? Eh si Elian nga lang na chemistry major, first officer na ngayon. At maging si César...

"Let me tell you something, (Y/N)," Capt. Zablan starts off another time, leaning his arms against his thighs as he twines his fingers and looks up at the sky, smiling. "Madami sa mga piniling mag-piloto ang masasabi ko na hindi alam kung ano ba talaga ang pinapasok nila. As I've said earlier, akala nila ganoon lamang kadali dahil nakita nilang parang napaka-chill ng trabaho, tapos kung saan-saan nakakapunta, tapos parang ang dali-dali magpalipad dahil nga raw sa mga computers and technology ngayon. Anong masasabi ko tungkol doon? Fuck them all.

"As in. Iyon ang masasabi ko sa kanilang lahat. 'Yong mga delays at canceled flights? Yes, I get why the passengers are angry. Pero 'di naman namin kasalanan; madalas, kasalanan pa ng isang pasahero na hinahanap pa dahil hindi pa nag-boboard tapos kailangan tanggalin ang check-in baggage niya, tapos maya-maya biglang darating at ilalagay na naman ng mga tao sa rampa. Malamang, kami, gusto namin lumipad. Gusto namin makaalis at dumating din on-time. All in the aspect of safety.

"'Yong mga demanding na pasahero na bakit may turbulence, na parang hinahayaan lang namin... 'Yong mga makaasta na akala mo nakapag-landing na sa buong buhay nila para sabihin na ang panget ng landing o 'di kaya hard landing... Tapos 'yong mga tumatayo kaagad habang nag-tataxi kahit na hindi pa naka-turn off 'yong seatbelt sign... I can go on with too many more, list them all out, and say to all those passengers with strained smile na 'Thank you', and then behind it all, sorry for my language but 'Mga putangina niyo'."

At the end of it, Capt. Zablan laughs, and I can't help but join in, understanding his dilemma.

"We're following protocols, studying every free time possible, taking examinations and recurrences every six months if not annually, medical examinations, performing correlated with a machine that we must know too well than anything else... hindi siya ganoon kadali kumpara sa iniisip ng marami. Ang top priority is always safety, comfort is secondary." He sighs heavily. "But on the early stages of flying bago kami makapasok sa airlines? That's like the jaws of death or the fires of hell. Dahil sa flight school, doon marerealize ng bawat inspiring pilots na flying is actually not a luxury. It is a sacrifice, wherein everything depends on the pilot's courage and skills. Every takeoff is optional, but every landing is compulsory."

"If that's the case, capt..." I gulp in hard. After surely hearing the tip of the iceberg behind the success of being a pilot, if it isn't all that glamorous with the continuous sacrifices and studies... "Then, why?"

"Hmm?"

Bakit sa kabila ng lahat... Bakit iniwan ni Elian at ni César ang isang fulfilling career sa chemistry at napagdesisyunan nilang mag-piloto?

"Bakit... Bakit po sa tingin niyo madami pa rin ang nagkakainteres?" I ask him, staring at him at that moment in search of a possible answer and understanding.

But Capt. Zablan shrugs his shoulders. "Sa akin, it's because I want to. And maging 'yon is a long story na paniguradong maiinip ka lang kapag kwinento ko sa 'yo. But I can assure you of two things. Kahit sino pang piloto ang tanungin mo." He raises a finger, enumerating the first one,"First, you'll be hearing a love story." And then another, "And second, you'll definitely hear the phrase: "Because flying feels like home"."

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A/N: Vote, comment and share! Whatever you do means a lot to me, and I am really wishing for some feedback! I recently watched the movie Midway (2019), and I could say that I love planes~ 😆🥹💙 It was set during WWII, during the Battle of Midway (1942).

A few list of notes to share!
1. The dilemma of delays is actually not a pleasant thing for a passenger to here; but, trust me, even pilots do also! Even from the perspective of a pilot in flight training, I hate delays, and even my flight instructors are, too. Because, you know, every hour counts as salary for them. Either way, I hate about those delays that turn to cancel flights because you've prepared physically, mentally and emotionally all throughout this flight and then that's it. Anyhow, most delays are cause by traffic that are also attributed to countless factors: such as priority landings especially emergencies, clearance deliveries, weather, short maintenance, and even late passengers. In a world where transport is critical, one flight that experiences just one delay may disrupt the entire system of delays! So, when you are experiencing some delays, don't throw your anger to anyone at all because no one wants to encounter such; and definitely not any pilots.
2. Regarding the late passengers... It is a hassle to call for the attention of someone who've check-in and still be missing. Those movies of passengers being left behind by the plane without any notice are fictional (because they are always called like some winner of a beauty pageant in need to be paged!), or having their luggage flown somewhere when they aren't in that plane... yeah, fictional (in a sense but they all could happen; roughly less than what movies and books not well-researched or has no idea about aviation does in their vain to gain popularity with the drama that made our industry a laughingstock!). Much more credible are luggages left behind than the other way around. You see, in my experience in training on the ramp area, it is a prevalent incident wherein we'll be called by the pilots that this passenger isn't accounted for. Hence, we're to search for his luggage from wherever it may be, and will need to show it to the pilots that we've removed the said luggage. In a nick of time, said passenger will arrive and we'll be returning it back to the plane. Not back to where it originally is place, where it might be in the safest and well-arranged one, but where all those late check-ins are tucked with just harnesses than be enclosed in metal boxes called as ULD. Anyway, if you're running through some delays in your flight, throw some glares on a passenger that recently just got onboard when everyone else are all looking-good on their seats; because they're usually the cause of delays! And the ramp agents deal with the consequences, and the pilots...
3. Turbulence are somehow unpredictable, as they are cause by updrafts and downdrafts. Well, not too unpredictable that they could be encountered in building bad weathers, but they are common. The only unpredictable turbulence are the Clear Air Turbulence (CAT). Out of it, turbulence during cruises are almost none as you're way up above the clouds; however, passing through thick clouds where bad weathers are accumulating, well, there's turbulence. If it so happens, in cruising altitude, the autopilot is on the work of returning back to its prescribed altitude. However, a pilot not dependent on the autopilot will have a feel of those turbulence, and it is second nature of ours to deal with it. Comes with the number of flying hours and we get the hang of how to deal with them, almost predicting what comes next after the first wave of it. However, as a general rule, when passing through those unfavorable weather conditions, maintaining a level flight attitude is the first thing. This doesn't mean "altitude" but yeah, "attitude". In short, keeping the aircraft in a coordinated straight-and-level flight of not banking, rolling or pitching. Adding a little power is also a given, not to pass through the turbulence at once, but to gain more positive control of the aircraft to keep that level flight attitude. And turbulence isn't deadly and no planes had crashed because of it for about 50-60 years already.
4. Hard landings. Trust me, I've flown as a passenger quite a lot of commercial airlines, and it is almost laughable how people consider good landings as hard landings, just because there had been some bolt and not a smooth one that you didn't feel the wheels touching the ground. To be honest, it is a general rule in the airlines to feel the wheels touching. From the cockpit, where the main landing gear is quite far back, it is almost a smooth landing for them. The reason you're feeling the rather "hard" landing is because you're situated where the main landing gear is, and it is an assurance to the pilots that the wheels are firmly planted on the ground. You'll hate experiencing some "dolphin landing", out of a commercial airline, right? Pilots definitely know what a hard landing is. For us, it is when the wheels suddenly slammed to the ground. Almost like you drop a few feet above the runway and just deal with it; usually happening when low in power and lift is lost at once. Another thing is the dolphin landing, or when planes bounce in landing. They call it dolphin for a reaon, because it didn't only bounce once, or twice... Anyway, passengers do not actually have to rate landings if ever they are not even pilots themselves.
5. Seatbelt signs are there for a reason, and standing up already during taxiing is a big no-no. You're not only putting the pilot's license of a risk with suspension but also putting yourselves in danger. Yes, the most crucial parts of the flight are the take-off and landing, but it didn't stop there. Not just because you make it to the airport or to the ground, the danger stops. I mean, let's be honest, you are more likely to die in a car accident than be in a plane crash. Taxiing is no different to car accidents, and anything can happen there, too. So, aside from being lenient to the license of us pilots, wait for the seatbelt signs to be switched off for your safety.
6. The truth of flight schools. No matter how safer training planes had been now due to how stable those planes are, the danger is actually much more existent in flight training. Airlines need to meet a requirement as they aim to be the best; flight training also do so, but not in a scale as the airlines do. There are only few flight schools in the Philippines that are rival with one another, and they are usually the costly ones due to their maintenance performance. I mean, not being a bias as an AAG student, but, believe me. My flight instructors recount the days they are as a student, not from AAG. Where they sometimes use a lower grade of fuel for their flight, where most of their planes are too old to perform crucial maneuvers, and where some of the instruments are already not working to be replaced by an image of Jesus Christ or of the Virgin Mary. I mean, there's that phrase that surviving flight training is one thing.
7. Happy as an airline pilot? It depends. Pilots are considered to have the best view of an office in the world; after all, who got to work 35,000 feet above the ground (well, except for astronauts) and make it to one place then to another? It may be a boring sight for others, but pilots have their different reasons why they choose their career. My reason had been because as a child, I can't help but feel that sense of fulfilment that a pilot brings people to their destinations for vacation, work or home. You know, even in a small chance of life itself, a pilot become part of memorable moments for too many people in their travels. And it warms my heart. However, I can attest to that statement by Capt. Zablan: I can (and I did with the FLIGHT series) write a book about my flight journey, and you'll think that I am dating aviation above all else; and being up in the air, minus the lessons and trainings of being shouted at and cursed by flight instructors, is a sense of fulfillment that I am home. Seriously, those shouting from flight instructors will remain but the view from above is quite too beautiful.

Chapter title: Catch Point. You'll be asking me how come we never get lost up in the air. (To be honest, I have a funny almost lost moment, given that I was flying VFR or with visual landmarks to the ground; don't worry, we can still see much even from 6,000 feet, unless there's a thick layer of clouds below). So, for higher altitude ones, those that go above the clouds or for airliners, cruising above 18,000 feet (which is the lowest altitude of Class A), where all flights are to be under IFR (or flying in reliance to instruments), we definitely have 'airways' to highways. And no, it is not our so-called traffic in the air; it is what happens for the approach on the runway for proper traffic separation. Anyway, catch point is where these high-altitude airways meet to lower-altitude airways before being redirected to waypoints for approaches and then ultimately for landing. Like how the chapter happens to be, the Reader continues on listening to what actually lead pilots to be pilots. Now, for her who could never understand how unreachable pilots had been are starting to have a good grasp of them.

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