Aviation lifestyle blog. Airlines. Training. Travel.
Managing a departure with a performance limited takeoff can be one of the more challenging tasks that face the Captain of an aircraft today. It all sounds simple enough in theory. Based on the Airport/Runway, Ambient Weather Conditions and Aircraft, a computer will spit out down to the kilogram how much weight you’re allowed to lift off the runway. From this number a passenger/cargo and fuel load is determined – and off you go. But all is not as it seems.
It’s Tax time again and as since I’m one of those lazy people who does all the work at the end, instead of keeping up with it as it goes along – the first thing I need to do is update my Allowance calculator spreadsheet. I’m posting a copy of the sheet here for you guys [...]
As Boeing’s first Fly-By-Wire aircraft (although not necessarily fly-by-wire by the Airbus definition) the 777 introduced a flight control augmentation system that the first fly by wire Airbus aircraft did not – Thrust Assymetry Compensation, or TAC. The basic problem is clear. During an engine failure on a twin wing-mounted engine aircraft there is an [...]
When I arrived at V Australia in 2008 I discovered that what was missing was the institutional knowledge that an established airline develops over time, but never writes down … so I did. Eventually it became the SOP Guide : Practices & Techniques document. This blog series documents the continual growth of this training resource. [...]
11.May.2008 : Wasting Time : On a day I’m supposed to be packing, instead I’m waiting in the wrong lines and driving round and round for a park that I didn’t need. Doh.
One of my first tasks when I arrived at V Australia in early June 2008 was to watch simulator transition training being conducted at our new simulator in Silverwater, Sydney. The students were straight off the street pilots who had come from regional airlines – in most cases it was their first jet, their first [...]
Over the years I’ve taken lots of photos from the Flight Deck. Nothing before (or since) prepared me for the Contrails coming from Delta48 (a B767) on this day over the Atlantic.
07.May.2008 : Right Back Into It I arrived back from the Singapore Melbourne trip this morning at 5:30 am. It was a good trip, especially taking Meg and kids down via a stopover in Singapore for a night – we used to do that when going home on leave before the direct service started, it [...]
05.May.2008 : During a standard 18 hours Emirates-special layover in Melbourne, I try and get things done. Ha.
30.Apr.2008 : Last Paycheck Today I started asking questions about when my last Pay would actually be Paid. This seems like a simple question, does it not? One that those leaving the company, particularly around the time of Profit Share payout would be expected to ask? Since this will include Profit Share and Provident Fund, [...]
25.Apr.2008 : Car and Visa trouble : My car breaks down, which means I can say I-told-you-so to Meg; and my first potential visa screw up comes to light.
Recently I was asked to write an article for an internal company training newsletter about flying slow. Having finished it I thought I’d replicate it here for others. Note the following article is aimed specifically at the Boeing 777 series aircraft, although the concept is common across all transport category jet aircraft flying slow at [...]
24.Apr.2008 : Last Roster My last roster with Ek was issued today. I managed to swing 8 days off in the middle of the month (second top bid) and also a BKK with a HKG shuttle on the 29th – which is when I’m supposed to be on RG days. I e-mailed HR to check [...]
21.Apr.2010 : Car Sold After stuffing around for ten days, my car is sold. Originally a old co-worker from the office had expressed an interest in the car. First was a look at the car (I dropped in to his place to show him the car) then it was a test drive (he came round [...]
Some time back we set up a number of Twitter accounts that would automate the hourly posting of … [Read More...]
From all of the contributors at flight.org, we would like to wish you all the best of the holiday … [Read More...]
One of my fellow pilots was diagnosed and treated for Prostate Cancer about two years ago. … [Read More...]
It's Tax time again and as since I'm one of those lazy people who does all the work at the end, … [Read More...]
In March of this year, a Southwest pilot inadvertently broadcast a homophobic tirade of foul mouthed … [Read More...]
The industrial unrest within the Qantas group is no secret. The long-haul pilot body, engineers, … [Read More...]
Recent Comments