Under the Clouds

No Cal (aviation short hand for Northern California approach control) just pointed out a general aviation twin engine in our one o'clock position and five miles; unable lower altitude until we clear that aircraft. Roger that, but we are close to the Sacramento airport at 16,000 feet and we need to get down, and soon. The co-pilot throws the anchor out (spoiler panels up)and we start slowing rapidly; he is preparing for a high dive into Sacramento airspace.

Below us is a solid undercast covering the beauty of the Sacramento area. The sun, about twenty degrees above the left wingtip, is shining bright and white on my side of the flightdeck, effectively washing out the video display of my whizbang, new age flight instruments. I raise the solar shields, remove my sunglasses, and then can barely see the video display. This is a big problem with cathode ray instruments... That is one of several reasons the manufacturers install old fashion steam gauges next to the Star Trek stuff.

Finally, ATC clears us to descend to 3,000 feet and to contact Sacramento final approach controller. The co-pilot disconnects the auto-pilot in favor of emergency flight controls (stick and rudder), pushes the stick forward, and then raises the spoiler panels to max extension. In a few seconds we are shaking off lift and altitude like a dog shaking off water. The jet regains all the speed which the co-pilot shed before the descent clearance, a little trick that will radically increase descent rates. Down into the clouds we go...

Under the clouds, morning sunlight is diffused through nature's soft focus filter. The fields are still wet from last night's rainfall. Meandering toward the airport is the Sacramento River, back in it's banks from the spring floods. Ahead, is the first runway of the day.

We are just getting started...