Recent Posts
iCloud for Outlook/Windows – Does Apple Think I’m STUPID?
Recently I began Living The Dream. Yes that's right - I have an iPad without giving any money to Apple. Not counting the Apps, anyway. Recently my company became perhaps the last airline in the country to equip it's pilots with iPads, and so the choice not to choose Apple was removed from me. As a consequence I have tried to do my best and jump … [Read More...]
FMC Scratchpad Messages
There has been some discussion recently around FMC scratchpad messages, their role in flight deck alerting, and an appropriate crew response. Most particularly around the habit that some crew develop - usually during transition simulator training when many spurious messages are generated and often cleared without real understanding of their … [Read More...]
An Ode to Joy
My Nanna Joy (my Father's Mother) passed away on the 11th February, 2013 at the age of 89. She was a grand lady with whom I spent a great deal of time with during formative years. I was asked to speak at her service - here is what I said. … [Read More...]
The Boeing 787 – Evolutionary and Revolutionary
The Boeing 787 is certainly a revolutionary step from anything Boeing has done recently - and from anything else Boeing seems to have planned in the future it would seem, judging by the 737-Max. From what I can glean on the web, the 737 Max while incorporating some revolutionary technologies in the engines and airframe - is essentially a 737NG … [Read More...]
Tax Time : Crew Allowances (v2.7)
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 to download because each year more and more crew ask for a copy and I can't … [Read More...]
Android Apps
Here is a collector post where I'll review and update the software I use and recommend on my Android phone. I'm now on my third android phone, through at least 4 major operating system upgrades and a host of minor ones. I use my phone for work and pleasure, to tell me where I'm supposed to be, listen to music, watch movies from my home server, … [Read More...]
Missed Approach Acceleration
I've recently been contacted by a friend from a previous airline who now works for another Middle Eastern carrier, flying 777's. Interestingly enough - he's chasing down information on Missed Approach Acceleration - an issue I also encountered when I arrived here at V in 2008. Essentially at that time the initial training for the 777 Type Rating … [Read More...]
Decision Making Models
We are reviewing Decision Making Models at the moment. On the 777, we've used FORDEC, which is very close to the European model, except we've replaced "Check" with "Communicate", which may or may not have been a good thing. Other fleets in our airline are using GRADE or NMATE. There are several reasons why Decision Making Models are in use. The … [Read More...]
EBA Overtime Calculator (v1.8)
I've watched the EBA with some envy for the last 12 months. Between Overtime, Callout, Domestic Allowances, Leave and Days Off, the position of Manager hasn't quite kept pace with the EBA that came into force last year. I've also been watching the need for a spreadsheet to calculate the Overtime, Callout and Accommodation Cancellation monies, but … [Read More...]
GPS Failure and Subsequent Navigation
One of the limitations I've encountered with today's all singing all dancing aircraft simulators is the total inability to simulate casual mapshift. As you know, the position of the aircraft (for display on the Map and as used by a number of systems) - is determined by the FMC (Flight Management Computer). Of course the FMC actually has no … [Read More...]
ENG OIL PRESS – A Simulator Scenario
This failure seems simple enough – one of the engines is low on oil pressure; the checklist reduces thrust and shuts down the affected engine. Then there’s the reality of dealing with an engine NNM under various conditions of high altitude and high thrust settings. This failure has something of a history in 777 simulator training. As … [Read More...]
Jetlag
At parties, one of the first questions I’m asked, once we’ve done the profession swapping business-card handshake, is “How do you get used to the Jet Lag?” I wrote this blog a while ago, but was reminded of it when I came across this document recently. It's fascinating treatise on today's airline pilot's lifestyle. 42% of pilots in major … [Read More...]
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