Chapter 505

The aircraft flew across the Pacific Ocean, making its first landfall over the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, crossing Mexico and into the Gulf of Mexico. At 53,000 feet, they could see New Orleans, nearly 200 miles to the north. They made landfall near Panama City, Florida, still heading 043°. No one had touched the yoke of the aircraft, even to make a minor correction. The ancient mariners used the stars to guide themselves, while sailing their majestic ships. Today, these majestic aircraft used satellite navigation, and a device in the nose of the aircraft took star sightings to make sure the aircraft was on course. All these magical instruments kept the Gulfstream 650 in a box, 9 feet square. If it wandered out that box, a warning light flashed.

Payne made sure Charles was in the Captain's chair for the final leg of the flight. She wanted to watch him interact with US Air Traffic Control personnel all the way to landing. When they were 350 miles southwest of Char