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.
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Recently, after commenting on the latest of Qantas’ engine troubles, I was asked to talk about what was an “interesting” in-flight moment for me. Despite this being one of the most common questions, I realised that I’ve never blogged about “interesting” flight moments – which of course immediately motivated me to do so.
Friend and fellow podcaster Karlene Pettit recently blogged on managing the A330 speed/configuration during approach. I thought it might be interesting to explore the topic on the 777.
On the way to the conference, the status of EFB in the modern flight deck is reviewed from inception over the last decade to the current move towards consumer devices such as the iPad.
Recently I conducted some research into the concept of the requirement for the Pilot Flying (PF) to guard the flight controls when the autopilot is engaged during critical phases of flight such as takeoff or landing. So many of the habits and procedures we use as professional aviators are instilled in us by previous instructors, [...]
I had a discussion with a pilot from another airline recently that leads me to believe that they have a potential flaw within their training system. If what I’m told is indeed correct, it suggests that the airline training department advocates a nonsensical and potential dangerous approach with regard to procedures associated with restarting an [...]
Karlene Petitt wrote an interesting article on visualisation last week, and how it can be used to accelerate progress and improve performance on the flight deck (in the learning environment). It’s an interesting topic – partly because it’s a technique I use myself, and one that I’ve encouraged my students to use – but also [...]
Jetstar has launched a cadet pilot training program in Australia and New Zealand to support the airline’s expanding Asian-Pacific operations. The program was jointly developed by the Oxford Aviation Academy based in Moorabbin and the CTC Aviation Group, based in Hamilton, New Zealand – both in consultation with Jetstar. The airline will – upon successful [...]
This post was written a number of years ago for a flight training website. It is replicated here with a few minor modifications (but fails to address more recent developments in the MCPL/cadet programs) as an introduction to what will come next – a post on Jetstar’s Cadet Program. Although it was written with an [...]
Aviation demands a peculiar form of professionalism, different from many other occupations. As pilots we’re tested regularly – at least four times a year, often more, or perhaps every time you go to work in some positions/airlines. There aren’t many other career choices where you can look forward to a life of jeopardy, continually tested [...]
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...]
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