"John Gaquin" wrote
I'd be willing to bet that in the glory days of PanAm, many
countries made damn sure their best english speaker was on duty
when you guys were scheduled in. Hell, when I was in the
mid-east in the AF, hundreds of people from surrounding villages
used to come to the airport 3 days a week just to watch your 707
come and go.

Ah yes...the glory days at PanAm. I joined PanAm toward the end
of those great times. The PanAm ticket office in any city served
as a quasi-embassy for those requiring assistance while traveling.
It was a real privelage for an African ruler to have his daughter
serve as a PanAm "stewardess". A PanAm I.D. card would get you
anything that you needed anywhere in the world. Great Days!!
Flying at PanAm was a life style, not just stick and rudder flying.

Bob Moore
PanAm 1967-1991 (retired)