So having recently come from a night freight operation where we were quite often operating towards the limits of the Maximum Flight Duty Period (MaxFDP) – After having stuffed up the calculations a couple of times, I decided to create a VA Max FDP Calculator Spreadsheet that would calculate for me the number I usually […]
Aviation
Checking Crew in the Aircraft [Updated Nov/21]
I’ve been sitting on this post for nearly two years. I originally developed the content for internal discussions within our Standards Department as the result of an occurrence on a check; then further developed it as I discussed the issues raised with my fellow Checkers; along with Checkers and Standards Managers from several other airlines. […]
FMC Holding Speeds/Altitudes
The release of the ATSB investigation into QF29, a Boeing 747-400 that experienced multiple stick shaker activations while taking up a holding pattern on arrival into Hong Kong in April 2017 has a number of lessons applicable to anyone operating a 777 (such as myself). I’m absolutely not going to descend into criticisms or a […]
I’m Sorry – Did You Want To Fly This Thing?
Ken : The following article is written by a current B737 First Officer, after a discussion we had on Flight Deck Crew Dynamics. Have you ever been in the situation as the Pilot Flying where your off-sider has interfered with the Mode Control Panel (MCP) or lowered the landing gear without you asking? If so, […]
Flightpath and Automation Management Workshop
Recently I attended Day One of an industry workshop sponsored by CASA and the University of NSW on “Human Factors and the Automated Flight Deck.” Day One consisted of a series of highly qualified and experienced speakers across a range of regulatory based automation management subjects, and Day Two we moved into a series of […]
Missed Approach Acceleration
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.
Managing the Mass (B777)
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. The point of Karlene’s article is that often the manfacturer’s profile doesn’t comply with the ATC environment we find ourselves in, and the performance characteristics of the aircraft we fly are such […]
Assessing System Status/Performance
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 ..
Paired Oceanic Transition Waypoints
Today we evaluated the use of paired oceanic transition waypoins approaching the West Coast of the US – No Problemo.
Oceanic Arrival Transition and CPDLC Position Reporting
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 …
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Boeing won’t tell you what you want to know (which is usually everything) about a NnM – just what you Need to know.
How Slow Can You Go …
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 […]
So, Who should Fly?
Currently I’m evaluating research on the roles of the Captain vs the First Officer in the detection and correction of procedural errors on the flight deck. Fortunately I’m not looking at our entire operation, just one small corner of it. First, some background. Delaying Final FMC Performance Data Entry Our SOP’s are pretty much based on Boeing’s […]
Clipboard Reference : 06Jul16
Most pilots at some point develop a set of crib notes on the aircraft and operation they fly. For some this is quick and dirty, it essentially gets them through line training and these home grown notes are often then abandoned. Current Version : 06.Jul.2012 and can be downloaded as a PDF here. For many […]
Deciding to Stop
Many years ago when I was a junior FO new to the 777, I did one of my first recurrent checks in the simulator with an Examiner who started asking questions about the takeoff inhibits system. After several such questions – of both the Captain and myself – it became increasingly apparent that not only […]