I recently organized my iCloud account and removed files I no longer needed. During this process, I revisited some old photos from my trips in the early 1990s. These images, scanned from the original film developed by a camera, evoked wonderful memories. The camera was an old brass 35mm Titan. Being an enthusiastic photographer, I owned perhaps two extra lenses, but that was all.
These photographs were captured from the cockpit of a Boeing 757 airliner in June 1990 during a flight from Newcastle, UK, to Toronto, Canada. The 12-hour journey took us over the southernmost edge of Greenland and the Labrador Sea.
An invitation I'll never forget.
While on the flight, I occupied myself by cleaning camera lenses and reorganizing the camera bag, as one typically does when feeling bored. The flight was fairly empty, with around 50% occupancy, and I was lucky to have three seats to myself, including the window seat just ahead of the wing.
Seeing my camera gear, a kind flight attendant leaned over and quietly inquired if I'd be interested in viewing the scene from the cockpit. The flight was calm, with most passengers asleep and the plane only half full. I found this to be an exceptionally generous offer, considering I wasn't a young child wanting to sit on the captain's knee; I was 21 years old. I felt both thankful and thrilled. With minimal security back then, we proceeded to the cockpit with my camera.
Jaw-dropping moment
As I entered the cockpit, the captain and co-pilot greeted me with smiles, yet even now, I couldn't tell you their names or any details about them. The breathtaking view and the beauty of the sunrise ahead truly astonished me. It was indeed a jaw-dropping sight. I distinctly remember saying to the captain, with a touch of sarcasm, "Wow, you have to deal with this every day; what a job." The captain politely responded, "Actually, no, it's not always this spectacular; you should take some photos." We were flying relatively low, with almost no cloud cover in sight. The views of Greenland were stunning. Not only from the glowing reflection on the ice-capped mountains, but you could also see incredible detail in the terrain below, almost as though you could reach out and touch the frozen caps.
I wish the era of digital and phone cameras had started 20 years sooner. Although I took a few photos, it wasn't until I returned to Canada and developed the film that I discovered many of them were blurry and failed to capture the moment accurately. I'm disappointed.
The photos might not have been as sharp and clear as I had hoped, but this experience will remain unforgettable. Sadly, because of the heightened security measures post-9/11, I firmly believe that such an opportunity on a commercial flight is unlikely. Certainly not without the airline's prior approval and thorough examination ahead of time.
I spent around 30 minutes conversing with the crew and was pleasantly surprised by how down-to-earth the captain was (no pun intended). I even received a geography lesson. The Captain asked me, "Do you know the difference between Greenland and Iceland?" Greenland is mostly covered in ice, while Iceland is mainly green." I'm certain he possesses more than sufficient knowledge on this topic.
About the Author
The author of this blog, unless otherwise noted, has no affiliation with any property or business linked in this article. Unless otherwise noted, there is no free accommodation or payment from any businesses. The information contained in this blog is strictly the views of the author and not professional advice. The author of this BookDirect blog is a travel and tourism professional with over 30 years of experience in international hotel management, global travel, and short-term rental management and a tourism awards judge specialising in accommodation and attractions.
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