Once on the ground however you’ll find yourself treated to …or victimized by….Arabian efficiency. The plane sat on the tarmac like planes did in other parts of the world years ago and you then disembarked the aircraft and walked to the terminal. We were not permitted to disembark however as Oman having now become a modern nation was anxious to show off its modern amenities . Namely the modern cattle car trailer transformed into a truck towed means of passenger transportation .
The aircraft had shut down its engines and along with it its most appreciated air conditioning system. This was unfortunate as we all sat peering out the windows at a small crew attempting to jump start the trailer towing truck meant to pick us up. This only took about fifty un air conditioned and very stifling minutes before the truck sped towards us at a rate too fast to stop at its designated stopping point. The resulting need to then back up was surely the cause of the trailer jackknifing itself into the side of the aircraft and causing yet another thirty minute delay in our departure from the aircrafts now oven like temperatures.
The disembarkation took an inordinate amount of time but we eventually all found ourselves loaded cattle like onto the cattle trailer when the young lady next to me asked…..
“ Where do you think they are taking us ? “ and she looked unbelieving at my reply.
“ Probably right there .” I answered…. and it was so.
The driver cut the wheel as far as it would go and he only just had enough room to u turn us to the front of the terminal and showing great skill actually stopped in front of the door. He seemed quite proud of himself…..but he’ll likely never understand he’d have looked a lot better had we all been allowed to walk those twenty one seconds across the tarmac.
