My last three day was pretty uneventful. I did manage a 10 minute turn. It helped that there were only 6 passengers in and 10 passengers out. I didn't feel rushed at all. In that 10 minutes I had time to run the parking checklist, passengers left the plane, I did my post flight, hit the lav, bought a cup of coffee, passengers boarded, I called to get clearance, programmed the FMS and away we went.
It was a fairly productive 3 day in that the high headwinds caused me to overblock the 3 day trip by 47 minutes.
Yesterday I commuted over to an ATP location to teach the RJ course. One of the students looked really familiar....I flew with him when I was a CFI.
He was set to start the ATP 90 day fast track, but needed a few more single engine hours to meet the 85 requirement. I flew with him to his hometown where his grandfather picked us up and took us to dinner. That was 4 years ago.
He decided to not start with ATP and spent 4 years in the real world. He CFI'd on the side and has just over 1000 hours total time and ready to head to an airline.
The other student was a much older man who got his private in the 70's then decided to work with the family business. He bought a Seneca and later a Cirrus to fly for fun. He sold the business a few months ago and is heading to an airline as well.
They both did well. It's an eye opening course. Even though the flows and checklist are very different than what I do at my airline, they are similar enough for me to quickly adapt.
I really enjoy teaching the course. Normally there are 4 students per day. This week I only had two and thus only get 1/2 my pay from ATP. Since I had the whole day scheduled to teach I went ahead and spent double the time with the students. I'd do it for free...that's how much I enjoy it.
I start a really crappy 3 day tomorrow. It's a 5-2-5 trip. Five legs on day one, two on day two and five legs on day 3. A total of 13 hours of flying. Simple math shows they legs average an hour a piece. Lots of up and downs. I traded into this trip so I could be off Monday since my daughters day care is closed and my wife no longer has Presidents Day as a paid holiday. The things you do for love! My original trip was MUCH nicer.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Short post
Great 3 day trip. Great crew and overnights. Lots of deicing and weather. Heading out tonight to teach the ATP RJ Course tomorrow.
Busy.
More later. For now....a few photos from my trip.
The 1st photo is a shot during deicing at the gate. The Glycol running down the windows...makes for a streaky mess.
The next two photos were taken descending through 15000 feet to the hub. Nice rainbow effect.
[nggallery id=55]
By the way....I love my job.
Busy.
More later. For now....a few photos from my trip.
The 1st photo is a shot during deicing at the gate. The Glycol running down the windows...makes for a streaky mess.
The next two photos were taken descending through 15000 feet to the hub. Nice rainbow effect.
[nggallery id=55]
By the way....I love my job.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Fat Secret
Leaving on a 3 day tomorrow. Packing a bit extra for the trip.
I had a REALLY good week long vacation in Hawaii. How good? I gained 10 pounds. Booo.
So this week I hit up FatSecret.com and started using the app and software to track my eating again. I've used the site/app for a while. It's a totally free service and I get no revenue from them so don't think I'm mentioning the site to make money.
There is an app for iOs and Android. Works for me.
After putting in all my data it says I can eat about 2600 calories a day and loose weight. To do that I've been eating fish, rice and fresh vegetables this week. I feel a lot better. I've also been avoiding processed foods.
This is easy while at home. On the road. Not so much. Fresh foods don't exist much in airports and when they are there....they are expensive. So I compromise...and plan.
I'm gone for 2 nights. This is the food I have packed away:
2 Oranges (breakfast)
4 Celemintines (snack in route)
2 Healthy Choice Steamer Meals (dinners)
3 Thomas Bagels in a freezer bag (breakfast)
2 Lara Bars (lunch/snack)
2 Cliff Bars (lunch/snack)
1 container of cinnamon almonds (my sweet vice)
All inside my suitcase with my clothes, Roku box...and all my other stuff.
More than enough food. I won't eat it all. I pack it so I have options....and reasons NOT to go out. It helps I know both hotels I will stay in (Wingate and a Holiday Inn Express) both have Microwaves and Fridges in the room. None of my food needs refrigeration....but still nice to have.
I'm all out of GoPicnic meals this week. I ordered 18 meals from their website with a 40% off coupon for taking a survey. The discount brings them down to $2.37 a piece...far cheaper than the $3.99 in store or $3.61 from Amazon. I might have to order another shipment.
And with that...my first post in a long time that doesn't directly mention flying.
I had a REALLY good week long vacation in Hawaii. How good? I gained 10 pounds. Booo.
So this week I hit up FatSecret.com and started using the app and software to track my eating again. I've used the site/app for a while. It's a totally free service and I get no revenue from them so don't think I'm mentioning the site to make money.
There is an app for iOs and Android. Works for me.
After putting in all my data it says I can eat about 2600 calories a day and loose weight. To do that I've been eating fish, rice and fresh vegetables this week. I feel a lot better. I've also been avoiding processed foods.
This is easy while at home. On the road. Not so much. Fresh foods don't exist much in airports and when they are there....they are expensive. So I compromise...and plan.
I'm gone for 2 nights. This is the food I have packed away:
2 Oranges (breakfast)
4 Celemintines (snack in route)
2 Healthy Choice Steamer Meals (dinners)
3 Thomas Bagels in a freezer bag (breakfast)
2 Lara Bars (lunch/snack)
2 Cliff Bars (lunch/snack)
1 container of cinnamon almonds (my sweet vice)
All inside my suitcase with my clothes, Roku box...and all my other stuff.
More than enough food. I won't eat it all. I pack it so I have options....and reasons NOT to go out. It helps I know both hotels I will stay in (Wingate and a Holiday Inn Express) both have Microwaves and Fridges in the room. None of my food needs refrigeration....but still nice to have.
I'm all out of GoPicnic meals this week. I ordered 18 meals from their website with a 40% off coupon for taking a survey. The discount brings them down to $2.37 a piece...far cheaper than the $3.99 in store or $3.61 from Amazon. I might have to order another shipment.
And with that...my first post in a long time that doesn't directly mention flying.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Good read about dealing with automation
Came across this blog post about a pilot who flew 737s and 757s but was new to the A321.
http://flightlevel390.blogspot.com/2012/02/ten-west-of-cofax.html?spref=fb
http://flightlevel390.blogspot.com/2012/02/ten-west-of-cofax.html?spref=fb
It started with a RA
Four day trip done. My first 4 day trip in a while. I don't care for them....but I do them when needed to get a few extra hours of pay.
My first turn was interesting. While on a localizer approach I was descending to MDA when I saw the runway about 400 above minimums. The autopilot was on....and then it wasn't.
"I didn't do that." were the first words out of my mouth. My right hand had been holding the yoke for the entire approach.
A quick scan of the instruments showed the localizer on the ground had turned off...which turned off lateral guidance on the autopilot. Thankfully this happened AFTER we had the runway in sight. If it happened before I would have been forced to go missed approach. It came back on....and then off again.
Landed normally. I then advised the tower that the localizer had turned off.
"Are you sure, the alarm hasn't gone off." replied the tower. Right then an alarm was going off in the background.
"Nevermind...gotta love this equipment." the tower controller continued.
While on final during the the return flight we were cleared to 3000 which is the base of the class B shelf. There is a glass G airport under the shelf.
"Traffic! Traffic!" barked the TCAS computer. I saw a yellow blip on the screen climbing toward us. I looked outside (clear VFR day) and saw a plane coming up at us. Not just any plane...but a Piper Seminole from AllATPs.
"Traffic! Traffic! Climb! Climb Now!" barked the TCAS. My Captain clicked off the autopilot and began an escape maneuver. I got on the radio with approach and advised we were responding to a RA.
The seminole climbed to about 2700 feet and about a 1/2 mile away laterally. The RA likely came due to the rapid climbing ascent it was doing.
We landed normally. I then filled out the airline required paperwork. Anytime there is a RA event I have to fill out a form. Done.
The rest of the trip was nice. Overnighted right on a beach on the first night. The second night was in a forgotten downtown area...which was kinda crappy as everything was closed....and my crew was hungry. We had to wait for the hotel resturant to open at 5:30PM to eat. Glad I pack snacks!
The last overnight was in Lexington, KY....the site of the most recent United States crash by an airliner. Spooked me out a bit as I lined up with runway 4 I could see the fields where the Comair flight came to rest.
The airport has had a lot of changes since the accident including the removal of runway 8/26.
My four day trip ended uneventfully. Flew 21 hours over 4 days. Off till Saturday when I start a 17 hour 3 day trip.
My first turn was interesting. While on a localizer approach I was descending to MDA when I saw the runway about 400 above minimums. The autopilot was on....and then it wasn't.
"I didn't do that." were the first words out of my mouth. My right hand had been holding the yoke for the entire approach.
A quick scan of the instruments showed the localizer on the ground had turned off...which turned off lateral guidance on the autopilot. Thankfully this happened AFTER we had the runway in sight. If it happened before I would have been forced to go missed approach. It came back on....and then off again.
Landed normally. I then advised the tower that the localizer had turned off.
"Are you sure, the alarm hasn't gone off." replied the tower. Right then an alarm was going off in the background.
"Nevermind...gotta love this equipment." the tower controller continued.
While on final during the the return flight we were cleared to 3000 which is the base of the class B shelf. There is a glass G airport under the shelf.
"Traffic! Traffic!" barked the TCAS computer. I saw a yellow blip on the screen climbing toward us. I looked outside (clear VFR day) and saw a plane coming up at us. Not just any plane...but a Piper Seminole from AllATPs.
"Traffic! Traffic! Climb! Climb Now!" barked the TCAS. My Captain clicked off the autopilot and began an escape maneuver. I got on the radio with approach and advised we were responding to a RA.
The seminole climbed to about 2700 feet and about a 1/2 mile away laterally. The RA likely came due to the rapid climbing ascent it was doing.
We landed normally. I then filled out the airline required paperwork. Anytime there is a RA event I have to fill out a form. Done.
The rest of the trip was nice. Overnighted right on a beach on the first night. The second night was in a forgotten downtown area...which was kinda crappy as everything was closed....and my crew was hungry. We had to wait for the hotel resturant to open at 5:30PM to eat. Glad I pack snacks!
The last overnight was in Lexington, KY....the site of the most recent United States crash by an airliner. Spooked me out a bit as I lined up with runway 4 I could see the fields where the Comair flight came to rest.
The airport has had a lot of changes since the accident including the removal of runway 8/26.
My four day trip ended uneventfully. Flew 21 hours over 4 days. Off till Saturday when I start a 17 hour 3 day trip.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Rule Number One....Always come home
There's a simple list of rules in my house;
Rule #1 Always Come Home
Rule #2 See rule #1
Picked up a day trip on overtime yesterday. Simple 4 hour 40 minute turn.
I debated picking it up....then I saw the weatherman said the weather would be horrible ALL DAY...that sealed the deal.
I was hoping horrible weather would mean the flight would cancel....I'd stay home with pay.
I drove to work under partly cloudy skies. So much for horrible weather.
Blocked out 4 minutes early Captain flew it up.
The weather was starting to turn for the worse. Lots of turbulence.
Two hours later he greased it on. Quick 20 minute turn. Blocked out 10 minutes early.
Normal first hour of flight. Then we got a reroute. Now going on the backside of the weather. Fuel looked good.
Twenty minutes later we got another reroute. Further out. Fuel looked decent.
Another twenty minutes later a third reroute. Way out. Computer showed landing with 5 minutes of fuel to spare. Problem.
Pulled the power way back. Captain began typing messages to the dispatcher. We happened to be directly over an airport we serve....easy diversion.
ATC was very busy assigning reroutes. Lots of chuckles reading them back....none of us had the fuel to do it. I'm glad I brought my suitcase. Some pilots on day trips just bring a kit bag.
Thankfully they worked out a way into the hub....via direct to a VOR and RADAR vectors. RADAR vectors......into a major hub.
The closer we got the busier the controllers. at 15,000 feet we were cleared to 5,000. I tried to shallow out my descent to avoid the weather. Unavoidable.
Out went the spoilers and flaps. Dive! Dive! Dive!
It was a rough 5 minutes. Told to keep a speed of 220 knots. Moderate turbulence and updrafts the entire descent. I haven't been pulled and pushed against my seat belts so much in a while. The autopilot was on, but I had one hand firmly on the yoke and one hand on the thrust levers. There were moments of turbulence where the trend vectors shot way up and then way down. Every now and then it was so rough I couldn't read a single gauge or number.
Remember....don't break Rule #1.
Further descent to 2500. Right at the bottom of the scud.
Picked up the airport 10 miles ahead. Cleared for the visual. Gusty crosswind 50 degrees to the right of centerline. Somehow greased it on. Done.
Went 40 minutes over block. Five hours twenty minutes total. Cha Ching!
As the passengers exited the plane several stopped to thank us for the safe flight a long with more than a few "good jobs".
Start my 4 day trip tomorrow worth 20 hours thirty minutes.
When I walked in the door my wife knew about the bad weather but she wasn't the least bit worried......the reason? Rule #1.
Rule #1 Always Come Home
Rule #2 See rule #1
Picked up a day trip on overtime yesterday. Simple 4 hour 40 minute turn.
I debated picking it up....then I saw the weatherman said the weather would be horrible ALL DAY...that sealed the deal.
I was hoping horrible weather would mean the flight would cancel....I'd stay home with pay.
I drove to work under partly cloudy skies. So much for horrible weather.
Blocked out 4 minutes early Captain flew it up.
The weather was starting to turn for the worse. Lots of turbulence.
Two hours later he greased it on. Quick 20 minute turn. Blocked out 10 minutes early.
Normal first hour of flight. Then we got a reroute. Now going on the backside of the weather. Fuel looked good.
Twenty minutes later we got another reroute. Further out. Fuel looked decent.
Another twenty minutes later a third reroute. Way out. Computer showed landing with 5 minutes of fuel to spare. Problem.
Pulled the power way back. Captain began typing messages to the dispatcher. We happened to be directly over an airport we serve....easy diversion.
ATC was very busy assigning reroutes. Lots of chuckles reading them back....none of us had the fuel to do it. I'm glad I brought my suitcase. Some pilots on day trips just bring a kit bag.
Thankfully they worked out a way into the hub....via direct to a VOR and RADAR vectors. RADAR vectors......into a major hub.
The closer we got the busier the controllers. at 15,000 feet we were cleared to 5,000. I tried to shallow out my descent to avoid the weather. Unavoidable.
Out went the spoilers and flaps. Dive! Dive! Dive!
It was a rough 5 minutes. Told to keep a speed of 220 knots. Moderate turbulence and updrafts the entire descent. I haven't been pulled and pushed against my seat belts so much in a while. The autopilot was on, but I had one hand firmly on the yoke and one hand on the thrust levers. There were moments of turbulence where the trend vectors shot way up and then way down. Every now and then it was so rough I couldn't read a single gauge or number.
Remember....don't break Rule #1.
Further descent to 2500. Right at the bottom of the scud.
Picked up the airport 10 miles ahead. Cleared for the visual. Gusty crosswind 50 degrees to the right of centerline. Somehow greased it on. Done.
Went 40 minutes over block. Five hours twenty minutes total. Cha Ching!
As the passengers exited the plane several stopped to thank us for the safe flight a long with more than a few "good jobs".
Start my 4 day trip tomorrow worth 20 hours thirty minutes.
When I walked in the door my wife knew about the bad weather but she wasn't the least bit worried......the reason? Rule #1.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Making Lemonade
So when I put in my preferences for February I was on the island of Maui...on vacation. I didn't really think about much beyond maximum days off and domestic only flying.
I got what I wanted...18 days off, domestic only...but almost all flying is in the cold states. Ick.
So over the last few days I've been working on my sequences.
My first sequence was a 3 day trip worth 16 hours. I started late Saturday morning and finished very late Monday night. Somewhere in there I sat around for over 3 hours between flights.
I searched and searched..and waited. I finally found a 21 hour 4 day trip with fewer legs and a much earlier finish. Icing on the cake (balanced out by the fact that I lost a day off !) was I could be on the beach by 4PM on day one! Traded!
My next issue was February 20th....Presidents day. Day care is closed that day.
My wife used to have that day off. Her company was bought out and the new company doesn't have Presidents day as a paid holiday.
I was scheduled to start an 18 hour 3 day trip early on the 18th (a Saturday) finishing late Monday night (the 20th). The trip was scheduled to fly to almost all cold/snowy airports.
If I didn't change it my wife would have to take a day off work and I would spend the weekend running de-ice checklist.
Once again I searched and searched and found a 3 day trip worth 17 hours in warm states...that starts on Thursday (the 16th) afternoon and finishes late Saturday night.
I get Sunday off...home Monday to hang out with my daughter....and very little de-icing.
I still have two of my original trips. The last one of the month is a 4 day. Eh. Hope to move that one so I can attend a family wedding.
For March I will pay MUCH more attention to my preferences for bidding.
I got what I wanted...18 days off, domestic only...but almost all flying is in the cold states. Ick.
So over the last few days I've been working on my sequences.
My first sequence was a 3 day trip worth 16 hours. I started late Saturday morning and finished very late Monday night. Somewhere in there I sat around for over 3 hours between flights.
I searched and searched..and waited. I finally found a 21 hour 4 day trip with fewer legs and a much earlier finish. Icing on the cake (balanced out by the fact that I lost a day off !) was I could be on the beach by 4PM on day one! Traded!
My next issue was February 20th....Presidents day. Day care is closed that day.
My wife used to have that day off. Her company was bought out and the new company doesn't have Presidents day as a paid holiday.
I was scheduled to start an 18 hour 3 day trip early on the 18th (a Saturday) finishing late Monday night (the 20th). The trip was scheduled to fly to almost all cold/snowy airports.
If I didn't change it my wife would have to take a day off work and I would spend the weekend running de-ice checklist.
Once again I searched and searched and found a 3 day trip worth 17 hours in warm states...that starts on Thursday (the 16th) afternoon and finishes late Saturday night.
I get Sunday off...home Monday to hang out with my daughter....and very little de-icing.
I still have two of my original trips. The last one of the month is a 4 day. Eh. Hope to move that one so I can attend a family wedding.
For March I will pay MUCH more attention to my preferences for bidding.
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