A "S" and a "W

I was already a young idiot when I joined the Air Transport Industry ! I was obsessed with the image of the Lockheed 749 “Flèche des Almadies” which I could see from the window of my office, in a remote part of Orly Airport, not far away from the huge Air France aircraft maintenance hangar. Not far away, there was also an old “Fairchild” packet, in TWA livery. In these days, TWA , the famous St Louis based US carrier, operated in Europe. TWA used that "Packet" to ferry spare engines as required for engine replacement. I knew that I belonged to the airline world and I had to find a way to get my own way in. I applied to Air France for a flight attendant job….but the positions were few and I did not meet the required standards. I then turned to Air Inter, the French domestic carrier, but I realized that my thirst for adventure and long distance would never be quenched ! So early august 1973, I typed a nice resume including my private flight hours experience, information on my formal studies in logistics at the European Institute for Economy and Cooperation (A luxury private school paid for by my generous folks), and roamed Orly airport looking for an opportunity . I recall dropping my resume with 17 carriers, but I had not much to offer. France was still in the “full employment” mode, even if it was near the end of the “ 30 glorieuses” ( 30 years of economic growth which followed WW.II . Full employment, hope for the kids, foreign investments…) I Must have been inspired on that day as I decided to take a walk in the cargo area and visited the carriers based in the dedicated zone, halfway between the South terminal and the Air France hangars. Over one of the doors of the building, there was a yellow and black neon sign and the name Seaboard World Airlines. I simply stepped in and a supervisor walked over to me. -Can I help you ? -Yes, I am looking for a job in the airline -Do you speak English ? We are an American company you know… I switched to my hesitant English : -I can speak English.. -What kind of experience to you have with the airline world? -None ! The only thing I have is my passion for aviation and airplanes -Let me have your resume. We may be looking for someone to replace an employee just assigned to the sales department in our headquarter in JFK airport. We will let you know....

(A SWA B 707, previous the Jet Trader DC 8 era..)

I caught bus N°215 to return to Paris, dreaming about the possibilities offered by this totally unknown (to me…!) airline, and continued on with my life…. August that year was especially mild, and at night, I would keep my windows open just to listen to the engines run up which I could hear coming from Orly airport, about 8 miles away. The South breeze would clearly carry the sounds of props engine when Air Inter Vickers Viscount fleet was being maintained outside of standard flying hours….

(Hat wings with the previous name " Seaboard and Western", an airline founded by the Norden brothers)

In 1973, the French postal services (P.T.T) included a domestic telegram system serving Paris through a network of underground tubes . Powered by compressed air, mail containing “capsules” would circulate from one post office to the other and a postman would then deliver the envelope to final destination. During the last week of August 1973, a postman rang the bell at my apartment of 97 Rue de la Tombe-Issoire in Paris (14th arrondissement) and handed over to me a blue roll of paper. it was from Seaboard World Airline’s headquarter in Paris and simply said: “PLEASE SHOW UP AT ORLY OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR INTERVIEW WITH STATION MANAGER” It was signed by Louis-Christian De Talancé ! (*) I finalized my appointment and before the week was over, I was sitting in the office of Georges SISQUE, the station manager of SWA in Orly. Monsieur SISQUE was a “pied-noir” (**) with a big moustache and a definite love for cigars. Grey hair, in his mid 50’s, I understood that in his past either in Algeria or was it Morroco, he had worked for the French Customs and had changed job when he returned to France after the independence of former French territories. -What can you do for us ? We are looking for a traffic agent… -I can learn ! -When are you available ? -As soon as I give my notice….let’s say a month from now ? -We need to be sure…! -You have my word…! -In that case, you are hired. Plan to start your training on October 1st I felt elated ! I was flying ! The future opened up to me …. I was in the airline…..I would see and touch airplanes….I would smell again the grease, the warm oil, the fuel...I would see again the engines, I would hear the start-up, I would see the take-offs... I had no idea that that it would last 43 years !!!

(Gold and Silver hat wings associated with the S and the W : Seaboard World....I was finally on my way)

(*) There is a long tradition of aristocracy in the aviation and air transport industry in France. The longer the name, the higher the person or the family may have been in the aristocracy under the monarchy. Louis-Christian de Talancé belonged to a reputable family. His nephew Pierre de Vaublanc worked in the sales department of Seaboard World Airlines. (**) A French national having been forced to return to territorial France after being born or having lived in former French territories of North Africa.