- I'm a female pilot. - You're a trainee?
Previously on Miss Pilot
Pilot trainees also have ground duty before flight training.
Then why don't they give us training to become a pilot?
- I can't seem to find the motivation to do this. - Where in the world will you find a pilot
that's smiling while flying an airplane?
I'm becoming impatient to be honest.
But by looking at the condition you're in, it would be difficult for you to board.
I beg you. Please let him board.
- Go and look for the second best option. - Ground duty is nothing more than
a preparation for becoming a pilot. It will fit you better
- than becoming a pilot if you can become so determined by it. - Do I have a lack of self-awareness
- in being a pilot trainee? - There is no need to become impatient.
You can't fly by being impatient.
I don't think that the second best option is the best option, is it?
Don't say something that irresponsible as a P-Kun.
I might be a P-Kun, but at the moment, I'm a ground staff.
When I become a pilot I want to have them on board with a smile.
Let's help them make it.
- Have a good trip. - Have a good trip.
2011 January 6 (Thursday)
It seems that the duct pressure dropped during the previous flight.
Pilot Trainees, On The Ground Training Maintenance Section
All right. Let's exchange the valve. How much time is there until the next flight?
- 2 hours. - Let's finish this in 1 hour.
I'll take care of this thing. Please do the engine inspection.
- All right. - Oh, um...
- Is there something that I can help with? - Huh? You're in the way. Move.
I'm sorry.
All right. Stop! Please put it down now.
- Is the lock in place? - Yes, it is.
- All right. Putting it down. - Good.
- The lock is all right. - All right.
- Are there any traces of a leak? - There are no traces of a leak.
- Check the alignment of the duct. - Please hand me the mirror.
- All right. Here you go. - All right.
- On time, just like they said. - That was amazing.
Um... That was amazing. You really did it in 1 hour.
We could have finished much sooner.
- Were there some complications? - No, not really.
There was nothing that would hinder its next flight
but we wanted to check different parts.
That's because we want it to fly in the best possible condition each time.
Did that sound a bit too corny to you?
I hope that you guys can use the experience
when you gather here once you become pilots.
Don't be hasty and try and learn on your own pace.
- Yes! - Um... Ouch...
The maintenance you did on the B4 was amazing. I'll try my best
- to be able to perform such maintenance as soon as... - Hold on there...
- We can't let you guys do any maintenance. - Huh?
Of course not. You guys don't have a maintenance degree.
All right, let's go.
- Let's work well together. - All right.
You guys will be doing parts management jobs mostly.
- Hurry up! - Yes!
Oh, I have brought the trainees.
- Oh, thank you. - Please do what is asked of you.
I have something that I want you guys to do right away.
This might be quite a tough job after all.
Checking if there are any flaws... Do you really think that there are any brand new parts?
We are doing this because there are. Keep moving your hands.
There are still so many left. There is no way that we can finish this.
I'm sorry.
So after attending passengers we're managing parts now.
Oh, man... The cockpit seems so far away.
You knew that this was going to happen, right?
Yeah, I know but I thought that they would at least let us do a little bit of maintenance.
Kotori, you were desperately trying to appeal yourself.
Were you trying to score points by showing that you're motivated?
That's not... it.
Hey everybody, do you guys know
how many parts an airplane is made out of?
- Parts? - It's 3...
- About 3 million parts for a 767, I think. - Oh, that's correct...
A 777 also has about 3 million parts.
- I didn't know that. - Why do you ask all of a sudden?
Managing parts is probably the same as
managing an airplane if you think of it in that way.
I'm sorry but I can't think of it in that way.
I really envy that side of you Tezuka.
Gochisosama. I'll go ahead of you guys.
- Why is she acting so agitated. - But they say that we'll be allowed
to support with the maintenance and cleaning.
It's not something that I'm grateful for.
I don't want to sound like Tezuka
but think of this as a step forward and let's do our best.
- We'll start with flight training after this is finished anyway. - Let's do our best.
All right. We have to get back, it's almost time.
- Tezuka. - Huh?
The way you think...
- Huh? - It kind of makes me feel relieved.
Let's do our best.
- Hey. Can you hold this. - Oh, all right.
I... I'll do it. I'll do it.
- Hold it tighter. - All right.
Hey someone. Hey you, bring me the 3, 8.
All right. Um...
The 3/8! Hurry up!
- All right! - Don't run!
Hey? You have it in your hands.
- You should have said that you had it much sooner. - I'm sorry.
Hey. He went for nothing because you didn't
- say that you had it! - Yes...
- Go! - Yes!
Don't run!
I have a feeling that they're more disunited this year than previous years.
Are they going to be all right?
They probably would have never expected that
they need to work as a team. Not even in their dreams.
- They're a handful. - Hey, Kunikida.
Are you trying to push all the responsibility to me?
They have a lot of loose screws in them so please tighten them firmly.
Here.
- Don't expect me to be tough on them. - Oh, that's right.
About this Tezuka Haru that's on the last page...
Oh man, what do you think you're doing.
- I'm sorry. - Oh man...
- I'm sorry. - That's her.
- She is someone to look out for. - Yes.
I have one more person that I have my eye on.
I really want them to behave properly.
Could you please also say that to them?
Listen, do you really understand the true significance of this job?
Huh? Me?
I believe I do. By understanding the maintenance operations
it will lead to a better awareness towards safety...
A textbook answer. 50 points.
In Japan, exams are marked with a 100 point system.
Then what is the rest of the answer?
You're trying too hard to get to the answer in a straight line.
Those are bad habits of brilliant girls.
What was that?
- Thank you for your work. - Thank you for your work.
Dropouts?
- This is exactly the period where some will show up. - Even though they haven't controlled an airplane yet?
The fatigue from doing a job that they're not used to, dull work
and the frustration of not being able to fly will all start to pile up.
I was the same around this period.
Why don't you give those guys some advice?
It's not something that can be taught.
I know that you're worried about them...
- Please go check the inlet. - All right.
It's really amazing. When the airplane arrives in the dock,
everybody starts to gather around it. Like a pit stop at the Formula 1.
- It was so cool~ - I also saw it. It was really cool.
Huh, Suzu?
- Hey Taiji! - Why are you here?
- Having tea with my douki. - Suzu-chan is someone that's well-informed.
Douki refers to those that joined a company in the same year.
Were you guys such good friends?
- We are, right? - Yes. That's because we have
spent time together as ground staff after all.
I actually came here to check if you were
- not getting too excited with the other girls. - Of course that's not the case.
There's no way that I would get involved with love now.
In any case, I don't like a indecisive guy anyway.
- What did you say? - Are you indecisive?
- Not at all. - By the way Kanoko-san,
- do you have a boyfriend? - I'm looking for one at the moment.
Do you know of someone nice?
Hey Taiji, are you also all right with older women?
Well, older... But that much older is a bit...
- I can hear you. - Oh um... It's not what you...
I'll break your arms.
I'll bend your joints in the opposite way.
I'm really sorry.
What are you guys doing... Studying?
- Yeah. - For what?
Studying to become a pilot? Not for maintenance?
- That's because we're pilot trainees. - I get the feeling that
- I'll forget the reason that I'm here if I don't do this. - Oh right...
There are talks going around that there will be some dropouts soon.
What did you just say?
Where did you hear such a thing?
That's a secret. Work together and do your best so that you won't dropout.
- I'll go home now. - All right.
- See me off Taiji. - All right.
She went home after saying something that I didn't want to hear.
So... Work together...
She is right that we're lacking in that area.
Leave that, you should just think about your own things.
But would you not feel bad if someone was missing
when you're a pilot?
You might become someone big.
I was actually really worried.
Because you like strong-minded women
- like Oda-san, right? - That would never happen.
But... she is a nice rival to have.
Is that so? I'm sorry.
You know that we haven't been able to meet outside of the workplace lately, right?
So I got a bit insecure.
At the moment I'm focused on my job, after all.
I know that. But I'm happy that I came today.
I feel relieved that Haru-chan is the opposite of the type of girls that you like.
I'm going to trust you.
See you then.
Hey.
I'll bring you until the station.
It means that the parts in an airplane support each other, right?
Yes. You're right.
We also have to support each other.
Let's do our best Oda-san.
Yes. I'll do my best. I'll do my best
so could you please get out of here? I'm studying here right now.
Are you not more fired up than usual?
Do you like the work as maintenance staff?
I'll do any job properly.
I'll do a proper job and prove them wrong.
- Who? - Who...
Oh, someone like your boyfriend? Is it? - That's not what it is.
How did this end up in that direction? Please get out of here. You're really just in the way.
I got it.
All right, then I'll also do some preparation work...
- Yes, you should do that. - Tomorrow morning.
- You should do it now. - Good night for today.
- Don't over do it too much. - You should do more.
Good night.
Can someone who has nothing to do bring me a wrench?
- Is an air ratchet all right? - Yes.
Here you go.
- And also a torque wrench. - Here you go.
- So you studied the procedure. - Yes.
Is there someone that has a 3/4?
Is it amongst these?
Thank you.
It's almost time.
All right, let's go then!
Do you guys also want to come?
This is a sad moment but let's send this airplane off together
with all the memories that we had with it.
Thank you very much. Now we'll have
a photo session together with the 747 that will
- retire from service... - A retirement ceremony...
- What do you think? - Well... It's kind of...
So another airplane retires. It's a sad thing.
Yeah. I especially have a lot of memories with this one.
Oh really~
Don't they say that you adore the ones the most that has most trouble, right?
This one is a prime example of that.
Yoshioka-san. It's time for the photo session.
- All right. I'll go then. - It's this way.
Does this always happen with every airplane that retires?
Well, the B4 is special.
You heard about it, haven't you?
It has been decided that all B4 airplanes will be removed from service in a few years.
ANA will retire all Boeing 747-400D from its fleet by March 2014. ANA has no other Boeing 747 variants in its fleet.
So they're being retired from service one by one.
It's an airplane that's old and fuel inefficient
but on the other hand it has a lot of fans.
Um... What will happen to the airplanes that has retired from service?
Most of them will be sold abroad
but this one will go to... the aircraft boneyard.
The boneyard?
A graveyard for airplanes.
Do you have any memories with this one senpai?
For me this was the first airplane
where I attended passengers on.
I'm also starting to feel sad after hearing that.
Should we take a picture together with it?
- I'm sorry. Who are you again? - You must be joking.
You told me off so many times.
I don't remember.
I'm Yamada. Yamada Kazu...
- Rinko-san? - Shh! Be quiet.
I'll go now.
Are you going back Muroboshi-kun?
Yeah... This might be a ceremony
but I don't have any memories with it.
Oh man, you guys are really a gathering of individualists.
Um... I...
want everyone of us to become a pilot.
- Huh? - Without anyone of us dropping out.
So you heard about it.
Instead of worrying about other people, you should worry about yourself.
I'll be all right. Because I'll definitely become a pilot.
You're kidding me... Where does that confidence come from?
Please ignore it.
- Kotori-kun? - Hey.
Is that so...
So we won't be able to be at the controls of a 747 anymore.
Yeah. I knew that this was the case,
but when I saw one right in front of my eyes...
Did you like it so much?
Yes.
- But I envy you a bit. - Why is that?
It's cool that you can say which type of airplane you like.
I haven't even thought about
the type of airplanes before I joined here.
I'm sorry to make you listen to me complaining.
- Don't mention it. - What about you Tezuka-san?
Is everything going well without any worries?
Well... what do you think we need to do
to make this team united as one?
What? You're worried about such big things.
But isn't that a question of the awareness of each person?
There is no point in you worrying about it.
- Do you think so? - Yes.
What's with you? Are you lovesick?
That's not it, you idiot.
You don't have be so angry.
Can you give me the exact same standard-screw
- as before for the back? - A standard-screw for the back...
- Is this one all right? - Yeah.
- Hey! - Yes?
I said "The exact same as before".
This one has a different surface treatment!
I'm sorry.
We just keep getting told off.
I would have preferred Rinko-san to be the one to tell me off.
Rinko-san...
Hey.
Hey, you idiot. You haven't reflected on the things you did, have you?
We're going to replace the thrust reverser before 5 o'clock tomorrow morning.
- The thrust reverser? - Just watch us.
It's work that requires precision so you guys don't have to help.
All right.
Oh... The duration doesn't work out.
- Let's remove the shaft for now. - All right.
I already felt that the way they instruct us was precise
but the work that they do is also so precise.
Of course it is. They have the lives of the passengers in their hands.
This might be normal for a maintenance engineer.
But we are P-Kuns after all.
Apparently it's quite uncommon for pilots around the world
to learn about the maintenance work. And also
Japan is probably the only country where they do inspections that are this rigorous.
I wouldn't say that it's a bad thing.
- All right, that's good. Next we'll do the lower part. - All right.
- Isn't it getting loose? - It's all right.
Okay then.
Oh, man~ I can't handle this anymore. I'm tired. I had enough.
- Why don't you ask if you can take a break? - Listen
we're not here to become maintenance mechanics.
- We're here to become pilots. - Yamada, you should fix that habit of yours
where you start complaining so easily. You won't get popular with the girls that way.
Mind your own business.
By the way Oda-san, don't you have anything to say about this?
I made a decision to fully participate in the curriculum.
That's an amazing thing.
I'll measure the time.
The ground is clear. Please extend.
It's 5 seconds. That's within the regulations.
All right, it's over.
Not good enough. Let's start again
- from the beginning. - All right.
- You must be kidding me. - Are they going to start all over again?
Huh? Didn't they just say that it was within the regulations...
- Please remove the socket. - All right.
The majority of the work is done. Thank you for today. You guys may go home.
- Thank you very much for your work. - Thank you very much for your work.
All right, thank you guys too.
I'm sure that he forgot about us.
Today's miso-soup tastes so good.
- Really? - One more please.
It's taking such a long time for those guys to come back, don't you think?
- What are you talking about? - I know that you're worried about them.
I thought that you would not be fit to be an instructor
but I think you might be fit for it after all.
Hey.
You guys look like you just woke up for this beautiful morning.
Yes.
- What's the matter? - It's nothing, everything is going fine.
But don't you think that you don't have to be that particular?
Isn't it important that you're able to know when you're on or off the job?
Being that particular is what's good about him. It makes him look like a craftsman.
- Do you think so? - Yoshioka-san looked
so amazing back there.
Not good enough. Let's start again from the beginning.
Like he is uncompromising.
This is not good. I'm staring to get irritated.
- What is this feeling? - If only he would have
- let us go home sooner. - That right there.
They're in their own world of self-satisfaction.
Like things about the angle or the type of pins...
What's the point...
What do you think you're saying?
What do you think all of you guys are saying?
- Kotori-kun? - Don't get involved with him. I'm tired.
That airplane will be flying with hundreds of passengers on board
in a few hours. Why are you not worried about them?
How can you talk like this has nothing to do with you!
It makes no difference if we're worried or not.
Didn't you hear them? It was within the regulations.
How can you be so sure that it's safe with that!
- Hey, stop it! - Cut it out already!
What's this low level bickering?
Do you guys really think that you can become a pilot with that attitude?
I can't believe you guys. Don't let me waste my energy on useless things.
You guys are so annoying.
Airplane Accident Records
This happened over 10 years ago.
An airplane crash occurred because
someone forgot to take off a small piece of masking tape
that was used to clean the airplane.
Just because of that?
Just because of that.
The numbers on the instruments were way off because it was stuck on the static port.
Because of that accident all airline companies took different measures
like using masking tape with colors that stand out or expanding their checklist.
Apart from this case there are also cases where a crash occurred
because they used a bolt that was different but looked the same as a replacement.
Do you guys understand what I'm trying to say?
The biggest enemy of safety is
carelessness.
To be careless enough that you're satisfied with moderate results.
Listen carefully and don't you ever forget this.
What you guys are doing now aren't just random chores.
It's one out of the important procedures to be able to fly.
Oh man... Don't make me do things like an instructor.
All right dismissed!
Oda.
- You did kyudo, right? - Yes.
Kyudo is Japanese archery.
Isn't it so in kyudo that your arrows won't fly
if you become too tense?
Well, yes...
Lately you're too tense.
Relax a bit and look around you.
What do you mean with "around me"?
Today, we apparently have night work again.
- That makes me feel down. - I wonder how long this is going to go on.
We'll be able to go to the flight training in America, right?
Don't say something so stupid.
Do you think it's possible that we can't go...
Hey, your hands aren't moving.
Thank you for your work. You guys can go home for today.
- What? - But what about the midnight maintenance...
Yeah, you guys don't have to be there.
You could say that today's work is a bit dull.
It's something that we can handle by ourselves. So it's all right.
Then thank you for your work.
- Thank you for your work. - Thank you for your work.
He said "we can handle it by ourselves".
Last time it was the same.
Oh a 747.
Isn't this the one where the retirement ceremony was held for...
It's going to depart tomorrow morning.
But it's going to the aircraft boneyard, right?
Yes. This will really be its last flight.
So we wanted to perform proper maintenance on it.
That's what's going on. So thank you for your work today.
- We'll go home now. - Thank you for your work.
Um... Please allow me to stay here. I'll be alright with just watching.
- I don't mind that. - I'll also stay behind.
Hey Tezuka. Resting is also part of the job.
Why don't you go back and prepare for tomorrow?
But don't you want to see Yoshioka-san working? The work that he is so particular about?
I don't mind you being so eager... Do as you want.
Please excuse me.
- Should we go then? - All right.
Doing maintenance on it because it's going to get disposed of is a bit... don't you think?
- I know that it's going on a flight but... - Apparently they're performing maintenance on it as usual
- and they're also going to clean it. - Clean it? What's the point in doing that?
Let's replace the TAC valve and
- the connecting duct. - All right.
And please check if the sensors are properly attached.
All right, let's all take a break.
In my time we did our training
with a small airplane.
So the first time I did maintenance on that airplane, I was completely dumbstruck.
- Because of its size? - Yes.
Did you know that she has 18 tires?
I got dizzy the moment I saw the amount of seats inside.
That was the beginning of my love with her.
- Here you go, thanks for waiting. - Thank you so much.
It's alright. At home, I'm the one doing this all the time.
Now I can figure out what is wrong with her
by just small sounds and smells. Right?
That's amazing...
She especially caused me a lot of trouble.
I did so much maintenance on her that I didn't have any time to sleep.
She was a hand full.
It sounds like you're talking about your own child.
Wouldn't you like to properly take care of
your own daughter before she goes on the big stage?
But you have to be moderate in what you do otherwise your body won't be able to take it.
It's not enough to do moderate maintenance.
There is a saying "A one in a million chance", right?
For us it doesn't matter if it's a one in a million or a one in a hundred million chance.
We have to eliminate every possibility of an accident.
Things will lead to an accident if you underestimate things.
Did I sound arrogant?
Did I do it again?
- Do you need sugar and milk? - Not for me.
- Excuse me Nishioka-san. - Yes.
- I'll go then. - All right.
- What's the matter? - There is, again,
- a little vibration while steering. - That again.
Are you going to be difficult until the end?
Isn't it nice. It looks like the airplane is his partner.
Yes.
All right. We have finished most of the work.
- You guys can go home now. - But I would like to stay until the end...
Oda-san told you guys that resting is part of the job, right?
Would you guys come here
to see her off tomorrow?
We will clean the airplane and do a small ceremony.
- We'll absolutely be here! - We'll be here!
All right. See you then.
Oh~ That's right.
You guys are so late.
- Did you guys stay until the end? - Until a good point to leave off.
Tezuka, you're such good person.
But Kotori is just a 747 nerd.
Um... I'm sorry!
I'm sorry that I turned on you guys like that!
What's this all of a sudden?
The thing is that I...
actually wanted to become a maintenance mechanic.
My grandfather was an airplane maintenance mechanic and he always told me
what an amazing airplane a 747 is back when I was a child.
So I told myself that I wanted to do maintenance on a 747 one day.
But I didn't pass the maintenance mechanic entrance exam.
I'm here now because I somehow managed to pass the pilot entrance exam
but I think that I couldn't accept the position that I was in.
But today I finally had a determination.
I'll become a pilot
that will understand the feelings of a maintenance mechanic more than anybody else.
It's not bad that I try to aim for that... right?
All right.
But aren't we all like that?
Maintenance mechanics and pilots
need to be connected in some way.
Yoshioka-san said the following.
Oh~ That's right.
I said those things in a bit of a corny way
but "It's not enough to do moderate maintenance"
means that I'm afraid to loosen the screw for my attitude.
The screw for your attitude?
Things like "It's all right because it won't impact anything"
or "It is not my concern".
If you let your guard down like that.
You'll definitely make a mistake that's irreversible one day.
That's what scares me.
After talking to you guys, I got reminded once again
that I have to tighten the screw for my attitude every morning.
Huh? Do I sound corny again?
I'm so bad.
If you keep making excuses like "It doesn't concern me"
the screw will get loose. The screw for your attitude.
You know that when we become pilots we'll
take over the airplanes that our senpai have sincerely performed maintenance on, right?
It's not something that doesn't concern us.
I want to become a pilot that can be grateful.
I want to become someone that can feel that I'm being supported
by the maintenance mechanics, other staff members,
my companions, the airplane and every single part that the airplane is made out of.
I want to become a pilot that can feel that.
That's what I realized today.
Tomorrow they're going to see that airplane off. I'm going to go there.
- It's our day off after a long time. - You have to take care of yourself.
Good night.
Shinagawa WEST
No, no, no...
- Thank you for waiting. - It's all right.
Don't leave us behind.
Well, if they say that it will be the last flight... right?
Not going would be...
Right?
Moroboshi-kun?
Scoring points.
Let's go.
Tezuka-san?
All right.
Oda-san?
You guys are late.
I also wanted to see what Yoshioka-san is so particular about.
Let's go.
Please let us help with the cleaning.
- Please. - Please.
Thank you everybody.
This is amazing. So there were this many passengers on board.
That's right.
I wonder how many times it flew.
I wonder how many passengers it transported until now.
-Let's go already. - All right.
Thank you for your service.
You really did your best.
We have finished with the work inside the cabin.
- All right thank you for your work. - We have also finished with the fuselage.
All right.
All right! Then let's get started.
This is our retirement ceremony.
"Be good, let's meet again."
Go ahead.
"Engage in ascetic practices with dauntless spirit. - Oda"
"I will become a captain, the fastest out of everyone - Moroboshi"
"I will become the number 1 pilot in the world and become popular with the girls! - Yamada"
"Fly High! - Kishii Taiji"
"Thank you for giving me a dream. - Kotori"
"I will definitely become a pilot!! Thank you for your service. - Tezuka"
I also have to meet my partner soon.
- Huh? - You will probably grow fond of it
- when you're at the control of it for years. - Yeah, probably.
I'll be crying my eyes out when the time would come to say goodbye.
There's already someone here that's crying.
- Why are you crying? - Don't cry before Yoshioka-san.
I'm sorry!
Hey! Oda-san, it's been a while since I saw you smile.
- Isn't it? - So what?
You look cute when you smile. But not as cute as me.
Shut up already.
Could it be that we're united as one now?
I wonder. Don't you think that we'll be tested on that from now on?
You might be right.
2012 January 10 (Tuesday)
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you for all your hard work in this long period. I feel like we were not able to
take care of you guys that much because we were so busy. I'm sorry for that.
Not at all. We were taught many things here.
Together, we'll all become proper pilots.
Please support us when that time comes.
Likewise, let's work well together.
So there are 6 of them...
I would like all of them to remain...
Instructor.
It has been decided.
The schedule for the training in America has been finalized.
Next episode preview
How did it feel to be in the cockpit for the first time?
Being in the cockpit felt so good.
I don't think I'm fit to do this.
You won't understand how I feel Oda-san.
Then you should just quit.
Please let me quit.
Give it up already and go back to the izakaya of your parents.
I'm going to fly an airplane in America!
America Part
Instruments, check.
I expect you to become a pilot no matter what. Be ready for what's to come.
We will all pass!
All right start running. Stop.
In the end everybody will just suffer.
- It's not your fault. - That's not true!
Go on and fly.
Those that passed are...