“How trivia may turn into disaster” (The Jakarta Post, May 14) reminds me of my stupid, careless flight show-off.

More than 50 years ago when I was to gain my minimum total flying hours before being allowed to take the solo-flight exam, I enticed the sisters of my girlfriend (now my wife) to join me in the pre-exam flights to gain more flying hours in the L-4J high-wing single-engine trainer aircraft.

Contemplating taking up aeronautical engineering studies at the FEATI University in Manila, I was really keen to take up flying courses to follow the steps of my colleague, the late AFM Nurtanio Pringgoadisuryo.

Rose, the elder sister, was the first to join me in my solo orientation flight, which was followed the following weekend by Meg (presently my better half).

Rose and Meg are of the timid type of personality. But not younger sister Shirley, who was not satisfied with just one trip above the city and she prodded me to fly more.

So, I directed the flight to Balara, a recreation center near the University of the Philippines at Balara. Shirley prodded me to fly lower to see the swimmers in the pool, which I foolishly did until I realized I was flying extremely low.

My reaction was to apply full throttle to gain altitude and the faithful L-4J obliged, slowly yet confidently. After climbing to a safer height, I turned the aircraft back to the airport.

While approaching the busy Manila airport for landing, I heard Shirley insisting that I fly some more, oblivious of the near accident above the Balara recreational park (I later learned that it was forbidden to fly low over the very area).

I learned my lesson and fortunately still live to advise the younger ones that it doesn’t pay to show off, especially in flying.

The air is safe but there is no room for a single mistake, as told by my senior, the late Air Chief Marshal Saleh Basarah.

The orange-painted “black box” from the Sukhoi Superjet 100 will tell the truth about what really was going on in the cockpit before the disaster occurred.

M. Adikoesoemo
Jakarta

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