High Flight (with Transport Canada Supplement)

[Phil Croucher]

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth (1),

And danced (2) the skies on laughter silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed (3) and joined the tumbling mirth (4)

Of sun-split clouds (5) -- and done a hundred things (6)

You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung (7)

High in the sunlit silence (8). Hov'ring there (9)

I've chased the shouting wind (10) along and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air (11).

Up, up the long delirious (12), burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights (13) with easy grace,

Where never lark, or even eagle (14) flew;

And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space (15),

Put out my hand (16), and touched the face of God.

 

TRANSPORT CANADA NOTES:

 

1. Pilots must insure that all surly bonds have been slipped entirely before aircraft taxi or flight is attempted.

2. During periods of severe sky dancing, crew and passengers must keep seat belts fastened. Crew should wear shoulder belts as provided.

3. Sunward climbs must not exceed the maximum permitted aircraft ceiling.

4. Passenger aircraft are prohibited from joining the tumbling mirth.

5. Pilots flying through sun-split clouds under VFR conditions must comply with all applicable minimum clearances.

6. Do not perform these hundred things in front of Transport Canada inspectors.

7. Wheeling, soaring, and swinging will not be attempted except in aircraft rated for such activities and within utility class weight limits.

8. Be advised that sunlit silence will occur only when a major engine malfunction has occurred.

9. "Hov'ring there" will constitue a highly reliable signal that a flight emergency is imminent; helicopters excluded.

10. Forecasts of shouting winds are available from the local FSS. Encounters with unexpected shouting winds should be reported by pilots.

11. Pilots flinging eager craft through footless halls of air are reminded that they alone are responsible for maintaining separation from other eager craft.

12. Should any crew member or passenger experience delirium while in the burning blue, submit an irregularity report upon flight termination.

13. Windswept heights will be topped by a minimum of 1,000 feet to maintain VFR minimum separations.

14. Aircraft engine ingestion of, or impact with, larkes or eagles should be reported to the Transport Canada and the appropriate aircraft maintenace facility.

15. Aircraft operating in the high untresspassed sanctity of space must remain IFR regardless of meteorlogical conditions and visibility.

16. Pilots and passengers are reminded that opening doors or windows in order to touch the face of God may result in loss of cabin pressure.

[412driver]