One morning, a little girl called Lucy and her family arrived at Funfly airport. They were going on holiday very early. The sun was only just coming up and the airport was already very busy. Lucy didn’t look very happy and hugged Cookie, her soft teddy.
“Come on Lucy!” called Dad as he pushed the trolley piled high with their suitcases. So high that they looked like they may tumble off any time! Lucy rushed to keep up as Mum looked at the screen to see where they needed to go.
Lucy started to feel a little upset as there were so many people rushing around her.
“Good morning!” said a happy, friendly voice. Lucy looked up to see a man wearing a blue uniform, square glasses and a big smile.
“I’m Airport Andy!” he said. “Are you going on holiday?”
Lucy nodded, still looking sad.
“What’s the matter?” asked Andy. “Aren’t you excited about your holiday?”
Lucy nodded again.
“I’ve never been to the airport before,” she said shyly. “There are lots of people. And I am a bit scared of going on a plane.”
“I see,” said Airport Andy. “Well, if it’s OK with your Mum and Dad I’ll come with you through the airport and show you there is nothing to be worried about!” Andy looked at Mum and Dad who smiled and thought it was a great idea.
“First of all you need to check in so let’s go and see Tracy!” he said happily.
“What’s Check-In?” asked Lucy as they walked to a desk with a smiling lady sitting behind.
“Check-In is the first thing to do when you get to an airport. This is how you tell us you are here. We take your bags and put them on the plane. We also give you a boarding pass which you need to get on the plane!” said Andy.
They arrived at the desk and Tracy smiled as Dad gave her the tickets and passports for everyone. Dad put the suitcases on the black belt next to the desk which told Tracy how heavy they were.
“Why do you weigh the bags?” Lucy asked Tracy.
“We have to make sure the bags we put in our planes aren’t too heavy. Otherwise our planes might get very tired while taking you on holiday!”
“Why do we need passports?” asked Lucy.
“When someone is going on holiday their passport tells us who they are and when they have left the country. We check it again when someone comes back so that we know they are home,” Tracy said. “Anyone who wants to travel to a different country must have a passport!”
“And you check them all?” Lucy asked. Tracy smiled and nodded.
“Wow!” whispered Lucy.
Tracy gave Dad the passports and boarding cards.
“Have a great time!” she said with a big smile.
“Thanks!” replied Lucy. She was feeling a bit better already.
“Next, we need to see some more of my friends!” said Airport Andy. “Would you like to meet them?”
Everyone smiled and nodded.
“Come on then!”
Just after Check-In they came to Security where Dad put the smaller bag they were taking onto the plane and some other things into a tray. Dad even had to take off his belt and put that in too! The tray then went into a tunnel and Dad walked through what looked like a doorway without a door.
“Hi Security Steve,” said Andy, “this is Lucy!”
“Hi Lucy,” said Steve, “pleased to meet you! Where are you flying to today?” Steve was a big man with a big smile, wearing a similar uniform to Andy.
“We are flying to... err... Spain.” Lucy said
“Spain? Very nice!” Steve cried. “I went there last year!”
Lucy looked at the machines. “Why do the bags go into that tunnel?” she asked.
“Those are scanning machines. Using them we can have a look inside everyone’s bags without having to open them!”
“Why do you need to look in everyone’s bags?” Lucy asked, confused.
“There are some things that aren’t allowed on planes. So we scan the bags to make sure that the bags don’t have any of those things in them,” Steve said.
“What sort of things?”
“There are lots of items not allowed like fireworks, sharp things and things that catch fire easily. A plane is different to other ways of travelling as they are up high in the sky. So we take extra care to make sure everything is safe!”
“There are lots of bags!” cried Lucy. “And you look in them all?”
“That’s why we have the machines – they are much quicker at looking inside than me! And now it’s your turn to go through,” said Steve, showing Lucy the way through to Dad.
“Thanks Steve!” said Lucy and waved as she walked through to where Dad was putting his belt back on! He also had their bag back.
Mum, Dad, Lucy and Andy then walked into a big room with lots of seats in the middle. There were shops down both sides and at the far end was a huge window.
Through the window Lucy could see a white and red plane!
“This area is called The Lounge!” explained Andy. “This is where passengers wait until their plane is ready to leave.”
“Is that why there are shops?” asked Lucy. “So people don’t get bored?”
Andy laughed.
“Yes, that is part of it! People can buy things they might need for their holiday or can have something to eat before they go. But looking through that window is my favourite part of the airport,” Andy said, walking over to the window. “From here you can see the whole airfield!”
Lucy looked out of the window and could see lots of things happening out on the airfield. There was a plane landing and lots of different kinds of vehicles whizzing about.
As the plane that had just landed got close to the airport building it stopped and a white truck with a set of stairs on its back drove up to the plane and lined up the top stair with the door of the plane.
“That’s our mobile stair truck. She’s called Steps,” Andy said, pointing.
Then, as people began to walk down the stairs on Step’s back, a blue bus rolled up and opened its doors for the passengers.
“And that bus is called Cruz! All the vehicles in our airport have special jobs to do. And all of them are our friends!” Andy said proudly.
Lucy turned to look at the plane that she had first spotted through the window. She suddenly realised that he didn’t look very well. The plane wasn’t smiling like the other vehicles and Lucy could see that its face was pale green instead of white.
“What’s wrong with that plane?” she asked Andy.
“I’m not sure. That’s Jet - one of our planes. You’re right – he doesn’t look well.” Andy saw a man on Jet’s wing and said “Let’s find out!”
Andy pulled the walkie-talkie off his belt, pushed the button on the side and spoke into it.
“Come in, Ed. Come in. This is Andy!” he said.
“Reading you loud and clear, Andy!” Lucy heard Ed say back. She could see through the window that Ed was waving at them as he spoke into his walkie-talkie.
“What’s up with Jet?” Andy asked.
“He’s got a bug, a bit of a temperature and his oil is running thin. But don’t worry we have a new part ready to fit and some special plane medicine. He’ll be fixed double quick!” Ed reported.
“Oh, I do hope so,” said Andy, “he’s due to fly out to Italy soon. The passengers are already starting to arrive!”
“Don’t worry, boss,” Ed said cheerfully, “we’re on it!”
“Thanks Ed! Over and out.” Andy said and put the radio back on his belt. “As you can see, Lucy, we do everything we can to look after the planes and make sure they are in tip-top shape!”
Lucy was feeling much happier about flying on a plane.
They walked along a long wide corridor and soon they came to a sign that read “Gate 3”.
“This is your gate. This is where you get onto your plane! Now, do you have your passports and boarding passes?” Andy asked Lucy, Mum and Dad. Mum smiled and showed them to Andy. “Good! Your bags are being loaded right now so why don’t we go and find your seats on the plane?”
Lucy suddenly looked a bit unsure but nodded her head.
After they had shown the lady at the door the boarding cards and passports they went down some stairs and walked outside to see Cruz the bus!
“Hi Andy!” Cruz called in a low rumbling voice. “Who’s this with you?”
“Hi Cruz! This is Lucy. She is a little unsure about flying so I thought I’d show her through!”
“What a great idea!” Cruz said. “Don’t worry, Lucy. There are lots of people who get nervous about flying but they always come back smiling! Is this your first time on a plane?”
“Yes,” said Lucy.
“Well, it’s ok to be nervous.” Then Cruz smiled and winked. “Just make sure you get the window seat so you can see the views and clouds!”
They boarded the blue bus and sat in some seats while he rumbled slowly out towards a big white plane with a yellow stripe down the side. The sun glistened off the windows and wings.
“Thanks Cruz!” Lucy said as they arrived at the stairs to their plane.
“Bye Lucy! Have a fun holiday!” he called.
As Lucy and Andy started to climb the stairs to the plane door Andy called out to Steps.
“Hi Steps! How are you this morning?”
“I’m great!” Steps said. “I have already helped over four hundred people get on their planes to go on holiday!” She was very pleased with herself.
Lucy looked at Andy with a surprised look.
“That’s Steps’ special job! She helps the customers get on board so the plane can then take off!” Andy said.
“You must be very fast and strong!” Lucy said.
“Thanks!” said Steps, blushing deep pink. “All in a days’ work!”
As they boarded the plane Lucy could see rows and rows of seats all facing forwards. She realised that there would be a lot of people flying with them to Spain.
“Won’t the plane be too heavy to fly with people sitting in all these seats?” she asked Andy.
“I think the best person to ask is the pilot. Would you like to meet him?” Andy said with a smile.
“Ooh, yes please!” cried Lucy.
They went through a door at the very front of the plane.
“Lucy – this is Peter the Pilot! He flies the plane!” Andy said.
A friendly looking man wearing a white shirt, tie and cap turned around in his seat. There were lots of buttons, levers and dials on the dashboard all around him.
“Hi Lucy! I’m Peter!” he said smiling.
“Lucy was wondering if the plane would be able to take off when all the seats have people sitting in them,” Andy said to Peter.
“That’s a good question, Lucy! What do you think, Mack? Do you think we can get off the ground?”
“You bet!” said a deep voice all around. “I feel strong, fast and ready to fly!” Mack sounded excited and eager to get going!
“How do we get up into the sky?” asked Lucy.
“To take-off into the sky we will soon drive out to a very long, straight road called a runway. Then Mack will race us along the runway very fast until we are ready for him to pull up his nose and jet up into the sky!” Peter grinned. “He has big engines so it may be a little loud! But don’t worry, we have it all under control and will get you to Spain safe and sound! Now, you’d best go to your seat. It’s nearly time for us to leave!”
“Thanks Peter!” said Lucy as they left the cockpit. Peter smiled and saluted to her.
Andy took Lucy to her seat. Once Lucy had sat down and had her seat belt fastened, Andy looked down at her and smiled.
“Well, it’s time I got off the plane and left you to go on your holiday! Do you feel a bit better about flying now?” Andy asked.
“Yes I do! Thanks Andy. I can’t wait to come back to the airport!” Lucy said.
Andy laughed.
“That’s great! But do me one favour first?” he asked.
“What’s that?” asked Lucy.
“Have a fantastic holiday!” Andy cried and everyone on the plane laughed.
Andy stood with Steps and Cruz watching as Mack started to make his way to the runway. Andy could see Lucy looking out of the window and waved.
“Another happy customer!” Andy said happily.
Steps and Cruz smiled too. “That’s what we’re here for!”
Mack’s engines roared as he sped down the runway and took off into the sky.
“Up and away! Enjoy your holiday!”