Chasing the sun

Time: Approx. 10:00pm
Position: 105nm east of Nashville
Altitude: FL320

Even though it's 10:00pm, the horizon remains illuminated as we chase the sun towards the west, enroute to Memphis. The air is flowing over our wings at nearly 550mph, but we're only making progress over the ground at 450mph. The wind is against us, almost 100 knots directly on our nose. The sky would remain the same shades of black, blue, and orange until we slowed and began our approach into Memphis, letting the sun outrun us. We're rewarded with calm winds and smooth air, bringing 84 passengers (including a FedEx MD11 pilot, and retired US Airways Captain with over 31,000 hours) to a smooth touchdown, almost an hour behind schedule.

The day didn't start quite as smoothly, with thunderstorms, ice, and windshear as we departed Detroit at 1:00pm. Five minutes early into the gate in Charlotte, but the skies were turning dark; the line of thunderstorms we had crossed on our descent were creeping towards the airport. Full boat, 86 passengers going to Nashville, a race against the storms. On the taxi out, ATC put a ground stop on all departures to the north, luckily we were heading west. But the weather was making things difficult for ATC, and it took us 45 minutes to get off the ground.

The 'Airways A330 not as lucky, it's departure towards Europe delayed due to the weather seen in the background. The billowing cumulonimbus clouds outclimbed us in the unstable air; forcing us to deviate left and right, weaving around cells painted on our radar.

Ten minutes late into Nashville- a quick turn, and we were off the gate ten minutes late with 86 more people, most trying to make connections back in the hub of Charlotte. Nearing the runway I started our left engine (single engine taxi = save gas!) and started running the before takeoff checklist. Midway through the checklist we're greeted with a *DING* and two flashing caution lights in the cockpit. The message: L AFT EMER DOOR. The airplane thinks our aft overwing exit door on the left side of the plane has been opened. The message goes away, but comes back again seconds later. I call the flight attendant, and have her visually check the door: appears normal. We know it's just the sensor, but we can't legally takeoff without taking any action. The Captain calls Maintenance Control, and I call Operations at the airport. Our plan: return to the gate and have the door visually inspected from the outside. At this point we are allowed to continue with the message still on, in accordance with maintenance procedures.

Back to the runway, now 50 minutes late. Another line of storms lie between us and Charlotte, with tops in the 35,000-40,000' range. We're cruising at 29,000 feet, dodging storms again. ATC keeps us high, then requests that we cross a 'fix' into Charlotte at 11,000' and 250 knots. My leg, thrust levers to idle, flight spoilers out, and down we go. *DING* with two more flashing caution lights... the messages: IB Spoiler, OB Spoileron. Two of our spoilers aren't coming up into the airstream as I commanded them too. The Captain consults the manual and gives me more bad news- it says I can't use the remaining spoilers either. Flight spoilers stowed, and a call to ATC telling them we won't be making the crossing restriction.

No problem, a couple of vectors later and we're on final approach to runway 18R. The nose isn't pointed at the runway, but 20 degrees to the right to compensate for the 46 knot crosswind that we have all the way down to 1,000', where it shears to a 20 knot crosswind at ground level. 45 minutes late to the gate, passengers scramble off to make their connections.

Captain calls maintenance, and we reset the flight spoiler system.. ops checked normal. Board 'em up, push us back, and off to Memphis we go..

Climbing through the broken layer, just out of Charlotte enroute to Charleston, SC the night before.

On the descent into Charleston, SC.