Thank You Kai Tak for Being a Gateway for My Hopes and Dreams - Essay Example

Suzana Zdravkovska 06 July 2008 Thank You Kai Tak for Being a “Gateway” for My Hopes and Dreams “…I would rather die and float gracefully in space than be buried on Earth”, Perveen Crawford, Hong Kong’s first female pilot declared when interviewed about her decision and hope to join the Virgin Galactic Fleet to be blast off to an altitude of 100.000 meters (the internationally recognized boundary for space) before floating back down to Earth, thus becoming the first Honk Kong’s astronaut to carry the Bauhinia flag beyond the final frontier in 2008. (“News Guangdong”, “Hong Kong’s First Female Pilot Set for Space Journey” – “People and Life”, http://www.newsgd.com/culture/peopleandlife/200602200013.htm ). Both my grandfather and my father must have been thinking the same when they got their jobs in aviation. I wouldn’t be honest if I said I had never thought of it myself. It seems aviation runs in the family. Anyway, how did it all start? In 1922, two businessmen, Sir Ho Kai and Mr. Au Tak formed a company (Kai Tak Investment Company) to reclaim land in Kowloon, on the north side of Kowloon Bay (surrounded by rugged mountains and hills about 610 m high) in Honk Kong for development of a residential housing scheme. As many businesses fail even today, it was no wonder that their business plan failed in those days, and the government found this land suitable for use as an airfield and acquired it. Harry Abbot opened The Abbott School of Aviation here in 1924, and soon this small piece of land, this grass field became an airport for the RAF and a few flying clubs. On Lunar New Year’s Day in 1925, the first recorded flight took place at Kai Tak. The airport, of course was named Kai Tak after the two businessmen mentioned above. The first concrete slipway was built in 1928 for the seaplanes that used Kowloon Bay, in 1930 the first aerodrome superintendent was appointed, in 1935 the first control tower and hangar were built and so, Kai Tak developed and grew more and more with each day. ( Kai Tak Airport 1925-1998, Civil Aviation Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative region, http://www.cad.gov.hk/english/kaitak.html ) My grandfather had only been a boy when the first planes took off and landed at Kai Tak “grass-field”. Fascinated by the “birds” and having heard all those legends about Chinese emperors flying in chariots or with the use of wings or two large reed hats (like the Emperor Shun), my grandfather wished he could fly. Years later, during WWII, in 1942, when Kai Tak fell into the hands of the Japanese, as a prisoner-of-war along with many other Allied prisoner-of-war labourers, he worked long hours every day on the construction of two concrete runways (13/31 and 07/25) at Kai Tak. Heavily damaged during the war, these runways had to go under repair several times and extended in the process, of course. In 1955, my grandfather got his first job as a mechanic for Cathay Pacific at Kai Tak Airport. Historic facts about this airline in Hong Kong “speak up” about the American-Hong Kong everlasting business partnership and friendship. Namely, a 34-year-old American businessman and pilot, Roy Farrell and an Australian pilot, Sydney de Kantzow, established Cathay Pacific in 1946. Both entrepreneurs decided to move their operations to Hong Kong but needed to officially register their company with the British colonial government. The Cathay Pacific Airways’ papers were registered on September 24, 1946, forming the Roy Farrell Import-Export Company at the same time, which for tax purposes would lease aircraft from Cathay Pacific. By the end of 1946, the airline had got its second DC-3 (of US origin, understandably) and carried passengers and cargo between Australia and Asia. Being both foreigners, Farrell and de Kantzow, had to recruit a British partner. Swire, being British became their partner and in July 1948, the new Cathay Pacific Airways was officially registered. Understandably, Swire’s influence with the British government had to be used because of the Bermuda agreement between the U.S. and the U.K. that regulated the routes airlines could service and the fares they could charge, thus marking the new era of government restrictions since 1946 (“Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, Company History”, http://fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Cathay-Pacific-Airways-Limited-Company-History.html ). However, speaking of historic facts it wouldn’t be fair to concentrate on Cathay Pacific only, just because my grandfather and my father worked for them. Years before Cathay Pacific was established, even before America got involved in WWII, Pan American Airways had begun passenger and airmail service with the first Martin M-130 (the “China Clipper”) on November 23, 1935, but landing in Honolulu. Five days later, it arrived in Manila and almost a year later in Hong Kong. The main reason for this had been the heavy influence by Pan American’s British competitor “Imperial Airways” with the British officials who controlled Hong Kong. On February 23, 1939, the Boeing 314 made its inaugural flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong (“TransOceanic Travel & the Pan American Clippers’, http://www.flyingclippers.com/transoceanic.html ). The third, very important airline formed after WWII in 1946 in China by General Claire L. Chennault and Whiting Willauer was Civil Air Transport (CAT), later renamed Air America in 1959. This airline played a significant role during both the Chinese Civil War and the American war in Vietnam, as CAT/Air America crews flew skilfully and courageously in rescuing refugees and supplying anti-communist forces in South Asia. “… More than 240 civilian CAT and Air America employees gave their lives in Asia from 1946 to 1975…”, (“The Cat/Air America Collection” – Mc Dermott Library, UT Dallas, Special Collections Department). And for all this time, Kai Tak Airport as the only airport in Hong Kong served both China’s and US’ cause. Enough of history for now! Let’s get back to my family. As my father was born in a “flying” environment, he became interested in planes at an early age. He wanted to become a pilot. Like his own father, my father started as a mechanic himself for Cathay Pacific. Cathay Pacific was going through a period of expansion in that period and needed trained personal. He was sent to Australia for training where he passed all the flight tests and having substantially improved his English, he was ready to sit on the second officer chair. Some three years before I was born, he flew the 707 in 1970. When I was almost seven, in 1980, my father was promoted to first officer and flew the bigger 747-200. You can guess how big my obsession was with planes. I used to spend hours on the roof of a building so close to the airport, trying to figure out the type of the aircraft with my eyes closed, just from the sound of the engine. My decision to become a pilot just like my dad was fortified the day when my dad put me at the jump seat in the cockpit and let me watch the landing at 13/31 runway at Kai Tak. The sight was both exciting and scary, you can figure out why yourselves, knowing all the facts about this runway, but it made me dream of nothing else but flying, to which my mother strongly opposed always, probably because of all the scary stories my father had told her. Nevertheless, realizing the growing need of commercial flight pilots as I grew up, and understanding the economic positive effects internationally, I finished my commercial flight training in the USA (without my mother’s knowledge of it) in 2002 and got my Flight Instructor Licence at the same time. Speaking of the international economic positive effects and especially of their impact on Honk Kong’s economy, I have to turn to historic facts again, but facts from our recent history. On September 4, 1997, US Consul, General Richard A. Boucher prepared his remarks to deliver a speech to the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. His remarks contained these words: “We’ve spent many years now analysing the prospects of political change in Hong Kong, always emphasizing that things should stay the same… But, keeping things the same is too low a standard for Hong Kong; Hong Kong is a dynamic city, which needs to develop… Similarly, Hong Kong’s contribution to US – China trade, the services it provides to exporters and investors are a dynamic contribution to US relations with China, and also to the economic growth in China. Hong Kong is still the gateway for half of China’s exports and for almost 60% of the investment in China…” (http://hongkong.us.consulate.gov/cg_rb 1997090401.html ). In his remarks prepared for delivery, on June 27, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia, US Secretary of Transportation, Norman Y. Mineta says:”…Transportation has also played a vital part in strengthening the connection among people through educational, cultural and scientific exchange. As a result in today’s world, the notion of foreigner has less and less meaning…” (Remarks Prepared for Delivery, US Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta, Hong Kong – US Business Council, Atlanta, Georgia, June 27, 2001, http://www.dot.gov/affairs/062701 sp.htm ). On November 1, 2002, “China Economic Review” wrote: “ The USA and Hong Kong aviation authorities have formed a pact designed to expand air operations, reported the Wall Street Journal. Covering cargo and passenger flights, the deal will expand US carriers’ access to Hong Kong and open up new American destinations for Hong Kong’s carriers. Each side will now be able to increase the number of weekly services from 8 to 64 cargo flights and from 28 to 56 passenger flights. The deal also allows code sharing between American Airlines and Cathay Pacific, enabling them to sell seats on each other’s flights…” (“Hong Kong and US sign aviation pact” – “China Economic Review”, http://www.chinaeconomicreview.com/dailybriefing/2002_11_01/html ). Ah, yes! Back to 2002 then, and me in USA chasing the dream I never gave up on. Afraid I might become a pilot too, my mother sent me to Florida to help my uncle in his business and work as a manager of his supermarket (the largest oriental market in Fl). Instead, remembering a few verses of Young’s poem “Flight”, “How can they know that joy to be alive/ Who have not flown?/ To loop and spin and roll and climb and dive,/ The very sky one’s own,/ The urge of power while engines race,/ The sting of speed,/ The rude winds buffet on one’s face./ to live indeed./ How can they know the grandeur of the sky,/ The earth below,/ The restless sea/… (Young, B.P. “Flight”, “Flight – A Celebration of 100 Years in Art and Literature in Collaboration with NASA”, 2003, “Welcome Books” New York, Singapore First Edition, ISBN 0-941807-83-5, p.133), I went through a flight training and here I am, with a strong wish to get a degree and get a job with Cathay Pacific, now at the new airport Chek Lap Kok. What happened to Kai Tak Airport that served as a catalyst for my smoldering wish to burst in flames? Kai Tak was closed on July 5, 1998, as not big enough to handle all those multiplying aircrafts and airlines, and I must admit it was ageing. I will miss it though, the noise, the fear of the maybe most dangerous runway 13/31 in the whole world, everything. Anyhow, all the equipment, all the airport supplies and vehicles along with the ICAO and IATA airport codes were transferred to Chek Lap Kok. Life in Kowloon is not the same anymore, but all the same, Hong Kong has a new airport now to be proud of. “Kai Tak has served our community for over 60 years from being a grass field to becoming the 3rd busiest international airport in the world. It has made a vital contribution to our economy and has also been a gateway for the hopes and dreams of millions of passengers. Its history has reflected the dynamic growth of our society and without the achievements of Kai Tak, Hong Kong today would be a very different place. It will always be special in our hearts, not only here in Hong Kong but also to many people around the world. Kai Tak has truly been one of the world’s great airports but tonight we must say good-bye to our old fiend. The last passenger has arrived, the last flight has departed, the runway is silent and it is now time to turn off the lights, which have safely guided thousands of arriving aircraft. Good-bye Kai Tak and thank you”. (Director of Civil Aviation, R. A. Siegel’s speech, on the light-out ceremony of Kai Tak Airport on July 5, 1998, http://sc.info.gov.hk/gb/www.cad.gov.hk/english/pressrelease_1998.html ) Yes, thank you Kai Tak for being the “gateway” for my hopes and dreams, which I hope will come true, very soon. Sources: 1. Kai Tak Airport 1925-1998, Civil Aviation Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative region, http://www.cad.gov.hk/english/kaitak.html 2. “News Guangdong”, “Hong Kong’s First Female Pilot Set for Space Journey” – “People and Life”, http://www.newsgd.com/culture/peopleandlife/200602200013.htm 3. “Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, Company History”, http://fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Cathay-Pacific-Airways-Limited-Company-History.html 4. “TransOceanic Travel & the Pan American Clippers’, http://www.flyingclippers.com/transoceanic.html 5. “The Cat/Air America Collection” – Mc Dermott Library, UT Dallas, Special Collections Department 6. Hong Kong – US Consulate, http://hongkong.us.consulate.gov/cg_rb 1997090401.html 7. Remarks Prepared for Delivery, US Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta, Hong Kong – US Business Council, Atlanta, Georgia, June 27, 2001, http://www.dot.gov/affairs/062701 sp.htm 8. “Hong Kong and US sign aviation pact” – “China Economic Review”, http://www.chinaeconomicreview.com/dailybriefing/2002_11_01/html 9. Young, B.P. “Flight”, “Flight – A Celebration of 100 Years in Art and Literature in Collaboration with NASA”, 2003, “Welcome Books” New York, Singapore First Edition, ISBN 0-941807-83-5, p.133 10. Director of Civil Aviation R. A. Siegel’s speech, on the light-out ceremony of Kai Tak Airport on July 5, 1998, http://sc.info.gov.hk/gb/www.cad.gov.hk/english/pressrelease_1998.html Read More