A runway change can be highly destructive to mental model the crew establish during preflight of the aircraft departure. Dozens of decisions, selections and entries are often required to be evaluated and implemented – often while the engines are running and aircraft are waiting behind you.
The presence of additional flight crew on the flight deck over and above the standard two crew complement can be a challenge for some Primary Crew to manage. The role of a Relief Crew member on a flight deck can also be a challenging one. Decades of research and documentation clearly define the roles of Cisco and Pancho on the flight deck. No one defines what Diablo is supposed to do …
Recently Marty asked me about a new smartphone. Despite trying to fob him off with an iPhone – he went for a Nexus S, the same as I have. The next question was inevitable – what apps was I using. The rest is … a series of blogs.
A Radio National Background Briefing story “Fatigue Factor briefly looks at Aviation. After almost 40 years in aviation my father made the observation a while ago that the the only real pay rise in aviation is when you get to work less hard for the money you’re already getting. However insightful that comment may have been – there is no working less hard for anything in aviation, anymore.
![B777 EICAS [] FUEL SCAVENGE SYS](https://www.infinidim.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FuelSys.jpg "FuelSys")
When you’ve been on an aircraft for almost 15 years, especially a modern Boeing, you think it’s ability to surprise you is behind you. Mostly – that’s true. And then …
My daughter showed me Wordle tonight. She’s using it (or more accurately her teacher is using it on her!) as a tool to assist in learning synonyms for words. I couldn’t resist playing with it.
Today I am at Day One of the Airline & Aerospace MRO & Operations IT Conference, looking primarily at EFB and EFB enabled systems. As I sort through the assault of information that comes at you at these events, I’ll be musing here on Flight.Org on what I’m learning. Whether seeking the heftily priced Class Three […]
My airline is currently looking at various options for an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB). Originally meant to come with our spanking new 777-300ER’s, they didn’t – for a variety of timing, manufacturing and political reasons. Thus we have an exceedingly handy clip/chart holder and a neat little cupboard where a hundred thousand dollar EFB should […]
I’m interviewing for a position with Management in my airline. What would you be doing to prepare?
You would think that living a life where your work pattern is rigidly rostered 28 days ahead would allow for a high degree or regularity in your life wouldn’t you. Then there’s the life this actually leads to …
I’ve just finished reading Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell. It’s been a long time since I’ve done a book report (to a very patient but acerbic High School teacher) but that fact, combined with my need to go back through this excellent read and summarise for my own benefit, has pushed the task onto me.
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 […]
At parties, one of the first questions I’m asked, once we’ve done the profession swapping process, is “How do you get used to the Jet Lag?” They’re looking for the secret to my success, the key to adapting to a lifestyle of time zone change, and they’re faintly disapointed in me when I don’t have […]
I’ve been operating under the miss-understanding that if the visibility observed at the airport matches the minimum required to commence the approach – you’ll have a reasonable chance of completing the approach to a landing. As it turns out – for JAR OPS compliant NPA’s – this is not the case.
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. Something I thought was clear cut – is apparently not.
