Boeing won’t tell you what you want to know (which is usually everything) about a NnM – just what you Need to know.
Assessing System Status/Performance
September 17, 2011 By 1 Comment
It’s not always the case that the aircraft’s onboard alerting systems do all the diagnosis work for you. Sometimes the crew are required to assess system status to determine the nature of a failure ..
Missed Approach Acceleration
August 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
It’s funny how these things crop up. In late 2008 I discussed (strenuously) the issue of Missed Approach Acceleration – now I find a friend from a Middle Easter carrier is encountering the same problem.
Hi Temperature Departure – Abu Dhabi
July 27, 2011 By 3 Comments
After my recent debacle with a High Ambient Temperature departure from Abu Dhabi – and another occurrence involving offload and a 4 hour delay – I was asked to prepare some specific advice for Captains operating out of Abu Dhabi.
Performance Limited Takeoff
July 22, 2011 By 10 Comments
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.
P&T Update : Setting Final Approach Speed … On Final
July 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
It seems simple – but when manoeuvring at a minimum flap speed, the time to set final approach speed is … when on final approach.
P&T Update : Top Of Climb Checks
July 14, 2011 By 1 Comment
Many Airlines (or more accurately the Trainers of the Training Department) specify a series of checks at Top Of Climb. Often there’s no basis in this from an Airline SOP’s or Manufacturers point of view – which doesn’t mean they’re not valuable for situational awareness …
Oceanic Arrival Transition and CPDLC Position Reporting
July 11, 2011 By 3 Comments
I’ve spent the better part of 15 years on the 777 preparing early for the approach and landing by setting up the FMC. Now it seems KZAK has other ideas …
P&T Update : GPS Failure and Subsequent Navigation
July 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
We’ve become so reliant on GPS that the loss of it will come as quite a shock to today’s airline crew. The simulator doesn’t help – with a total inability to adequately simulate IRS drift. The issues are complex …
P&T Update : Flaps Drive – Where are the Flaps?
June 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Phase 5 training included the FLAPS DRIVE failure. It’s amazing how much you can pick up over six months of watching different crew react to the same failure – in different ways …
