Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 27/99) - Bus driver Lone Sorensen's first day on the job was unbelievable. At least that's what she initially thought.

Sorensen was one of the several Cardinal Coach Lines' bus drivers called out to the Yellowknife airport Friday to transport Martinair Boeing 767 passengers to the Department of National Defence hanger.

After the jet's port engine failed, the aircraft -- flying from Amsterdam to Oakland -- had to make an emergency landing. Passengers spent about nine hours at the DND hanger awaiting a replacement jet from Vancouver.

"We were just finishing our bus training and were sitting down to look through some policies when our instructor Art (Zaporozan) told us we have to get to the airport," Sorensen said.

Sorensen was told a Danish jet had landed and the buses would be needed.

"This is too much of a coincidence," Sorensen told herself. Turns out Sorensen is Danish, but the jet, from the Netherlands, is a Dutch aircraft.

She thought the whole thing was a test to see how the new drivers would perform in a surprise situation.

When she found herself part of an eight-bus convoy, complete with a police escort, Sorensen said it looked less like a test and more like the real thing.

"So we arrive at the airport and go through the gate. I can see it isn't a Danish plane. (If it's a test) I thought they've got a lot of good actors," she said.

"It felt good to be there and respond."

Sorensen said the unexpected visitors were extremely friendly.

"I thought they'd be white with fear but they were all smiles," she said.

Sorensen said the bus drivers felt part of the team -- which included local RCMP, DND, fire department, airport staff and the mayor -- that was on hand to help.

One of the passengers asked Sorensen what state he was in.

"I said we're in the Northwest Territories, Canada. We didn't have a lot of time to talk but they were so open and friendly."

After transporting the 232 passengers and 11 crew to the DND hanger, some of the other drivers returned Friday evening to help out with bus tours of Yellowknife, she adds.

Sorensen will next pilot her school bus Monday when it's back to school for the city's students.

Her experience reminds us that anyone who transports people, whether it's a bus driver or a jet pilot, they're carrying the most important cargo of all.