Plane Ride Anyone?
- Thread starter oldman
- Start date
Yesterday morning, I believe it was, I was watching a show on TV called "Terror In The Skies." Basically, it was aimed at crashes and causes. The moderator pretty much accused pilots as being the cause of most crashes. One of three things bring a plane down; weather, mechanical failure or pilot error. And, on top of that, no one thing causes the crash. It all starts with one of the three things being the beginning, but then, a series of events after that is what causes the crash.
Here is an example: A plane is flying at 37,000 ft. and at 450 kts. with no issues. When all of a sudden, a loud "BOOM" is heard in the cockpit. The first thing the pilots will look at is the engine pressure regulators (EPR). When they notice that one of the EPR's is not active, they will immediately know that they have lost an engine. If the pilots are smart and keep their cool, they will follow their checklist and do what they have practiced a 100 times for in the simulator and they should be able to recover. However, if they do the opposite, things will or could go south in a hurry and without going into a lot of rhetoric, the plane could go down. So, what caused the crash? The loss of an engine or pilot error? No matter what answer you chose, more than one action caused the crash? This is a very simple example of what I am trying to explain.
With all of the sensors and warning devices that are included in the avionics and are on-board every passenger jet today, a fatal crash is almost impossible, "IF" pilots follow procedures. Myself, I flew for almost 34 years and never had an accident or reportable incident. That's not to say that I never had a warning alarm go off, but had we responded to it appropriately and if everything returns to normal, it's a non reportable incident (to the NTSB), but is included in our log and the issue that caused the alarm to sound or actuate is inspected and possibly repaired if need be.
I have flown the smaller jets like the Boeing 737 to the larger jets like the Boeing 747. My favorite jet was the Boeing 757/767. Those are the only two jets that United will allow their pilots to fly while holding the same certification. That's because the cockpits and avionics are almost 100% the same as one another. I never flew international, primarily because I didn't want to be away from home for days at a time. One or two nights a week being away from home was enough. Just ask my wife, she will tell you. I also held the position as a Training Captain, which meant that I was able to train other pilots on certain size aircraft and also in the classroom, I would give lectures regrading issues that may occur during flight, such as how to respond if a pilot would notice smoke in the cabin or in the coach. My favorite subject to teach was how to tell the weather using instruments and cloud formations. For every system in the plane, there is a backup system and for every warning and sensor in the plane there is even a backup sensor for each sensor.
It has been reported that 20,000 new pilots will be needed in the next five years due to attrition, an increase in flights and and increase in the number of planes that will be added. So, if you have a Grandchild that is unsure as to what he should choose to do as a vocation, perhaps he or she would be interested in flying. Females are especially in demand. In fact, I have always found that teaching a female is easier than a male because they take time to listen more carefully to what is being taught, they take notes, ask questions and do their homework. It's a great job with a lot of responsibility and the pay for a Captain today is about $300.00 an hour on average.
Here is an example: A plane is flying at 37,000 ft. and at 450 kts. with no issues. When all of a sudden, a loud "BOOM" is heard in the cockpit. The first thing the pilots will look at is the engine pressure regulators (EPR). When they notice that one of the EPR's is not active, they will immediately know that they have lost an engine. If the pilots are smart and keep their cool, they will follow their checklist and do what they have practiced a 100 times for in the simulator and they should be able to recover. However, if they do the opposite, things will or could go south in a hurry and without going into a lot of rhetoric, the plane could go down. So, what caused the crash? The loss of an engine or pilot error? No matter what answer you chose, more than one action caused the crash? This is a very simple example of what I am trying to explain.
With all of the sensors and warning devices that are included in the avionics and are on-board every passenger jet today, a fatal crash is almost impossible, "IF" pilots follow procedures. Myself, I flew for almost 34 years and never had an accident or reportable incident. That's not to say that I never had a warning alarm go off, but had we responded to it appropriately and if everything returns to normal, it's a non reportable incident (to the NTSB), but is included in our log and the issue that caused the alarm to sound or actuate is inspected and possibly repaired if need be.
I have flown the smaller jets like the Boeing 737 to the larger jets like the Boeing 747. My favorite jet was the Boeing 757/767. Those are the only two jets that United will allow their pilots to fly while holding the same certification. That's because the cockpits and avionics are almost 100% the same as one another. I never flew international, primarily because I didn't want to be away from home for days at a time. One or two nights a week being away from home was enough. Just ask my wife, she will tell you. I also held the position as a Training Captain, which meant that I was able to train other pilots on certain size aircraft and also in the classroom, I would give lectures regrading issues that may occur during flight, such as how to respond if a pilot would notice smoke in the cabin or in the coach. My favorite subject to teach was how to tell the weather using instruments and cloud formations. For every system in the plane, there is a backup system and for every warning and sensor in the plane there is even a backup sensor for each sensor.
It has been reported that 20,000 new pilots will be needed in the next five years due to attrition, an increase in flights and and increase in the number of planes that will be added. So, if you have a Grandchild that is unsure as to what he should choose to do as a vocation, perhaps he or she would be interested in flying. Females are especially in demand. In fact, I have always found that teaching a female is easier than a male because they take time to listen more carefully to what is being taught, they take notes, ask questions and do their homework. It's a great job with a lot of responsibility and the pay for a Captain today is about $300.00 an hour on average.
Grampa Don
Yep, that's me
- Location
- Orange county, Calif.
I was about 15 and on an errand with an older friend of the family. We passed a small airport and he asked me if I wanted to go up in a plane. I said sure. So, we found a guy who would take us up in his Piper Tri-pacer, and we flew out over Long Beach and back. I loved it. I sat next to the pilot and he let me steer for a bit. I haven't flown commercial for many years, but it was fun when I did. It's a funny thing. Tall buildings give me the creeps, but flying doesn't bother me at all.
Don
Don
RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
My first flight was when I was 30 I think; maybe late 20's.. I went alone to join friends who were visiting relatives in San Fransisco. I left CT, don't remember changing planes but will never forget the softly lighted fairy-land I saw below from the window as we were descending over San Fransisco that night! It was SO beautiful! My friends told me I would love it and I did. I was nervous at first, but was ok pretty quick.
The take-off just thrilled me- at first everything on the ground was speeding by more quickly than I had ever seen before, I felt something "pulling" in my head...then a gentle push and things from the window got smaller and smaller. The plane turned sharply in the air, I think to the left, and I felt the tilt.
I have since, flown more than a few times to L.A. and back, Tulsa, and Can Cun Mexico, Then from Can Cun to Cozumel and that flight was scary because it was my first time on a very small aircraft.
On boarding our flight to Can Cun I mentioned to the flight attendant I would love to just walk near the door and peek into the cockpit. In while she came over and said, the Captain said for you to come up to the cockpit right now! Oh, wow! He and the co-pilot were so nice! He got up and put me into his seat, put my hand on a lever (throttle?), gave my camera to the flight attendant who took 2 photos! I wish I knew where they are now.
As I went back to my seat I could see my husband shaking his head and laughing.
Airlines had good coffee, too! I enjoy flying, but haven't in quite awhile and probably won't again.
The take-off just thrilled me- at first everything on the ground was speeding by more quickly than I had ever seen before, I felt something "pulling" in my head...then a gentle push and things from the window got smaller and smaller. The plane turned sharply in the air, I think to the left, and I felt the tilt.
I have since, flown more than a few times to L.A. and back, Tulsa, and Can Cun Mexico, Then from Can Cun to Cozumel and that flight was scary because it was my first time on a very small aircraft.
On boarding our flight to Can Cun I mentioned to the flight attendant I would love to just walk near the door and peek into the cockpit. In while she came over and said, the Captain said for you to come up to the cockpit right now! Oh, wow! He and the co-pilot were so nice! He got up and put me into his seat, put my hand on a lever (throttle?), gave my camera to the flight attendant who took 2 photos! I wish I knew where they are now.
As I went back to my seat I could see my husband shaking his head and laughing.
Airlines had good coffee, too! I enjoy flying, but haven't in quite awhile and probably won't again.
Falcon
DV8
- Location
- So. California
CORRECTION !! Falcon DID NOT "fly" the Ford Trimotor airplane; He had a ride in one when he was about 6 years old.
He DIDN'T FLY it !
moviequeen1
SF VIP
- Location
- Buffalo,NY
The first time I ever was on a plane was in '63,when I was 10,I remember like it happened yesterday. I was coming home for Chirstmas from my boarding school in Massachusetts. When the pilot told us overhead the Buffalo airport was closed because of the snow,we were being diverted to Niagara Falls,I freaked out,started crying thinking I never see my parents again.The stewardess was trying to reassure me everything would be ok.When we got to Niagara Falls,buses took us back to Bflo airport. When I saw my parents,I never let go of their hands. I told them'I'm not getting back on a plane',after Christmas break,they drove me back.
I enjoy flying,but I'm always leary of traveling around Thanksgiving,you never know what 'mother nature' has in store for those of us who live in WNY. Sue
I enjoy flying,but I'm always leary of traveling around Thanksgiving,you never know what 'mother nature' has in store for those of us who live in WNY. Sue
RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
I live not too far from where there was once a wonderful air museum called Bradley Air Museum near Bradley International Airport, in Windsor Locks, CT. (I remember when it was just called "Bradley Field")
Today the museum is called the New England Air Museum. The summer before a tornado destroyed most of it, we were fortunate to have visited. I remember huge troop carriers, many kinds of jets, props, and a little jet that you could climb on..
I don't recall if it actually displayed, or in a film we saw there, but I fell in love with the F-14 there, in fact I bought a model kit for my son
there.
I think it's been restored.
[h=6]Published: October 11, 1981[/h] WINDSOR LOCKS TWO years ago at the Bradley Air Museum, one of the largest collections of vintage aircraft in the country was turned into a mass of twisted wreckage in less than five minutes. ''There was a lot of weeping,'' recalled Robert F. Pope, a member of the museum's volunteer service crew, who viewed the havoc caused by a tornado that hit the area on Oct. 3, 1979.
http://www.nytimes.com/1981/10/11/nyregion/bradley-air-museum-reopens.html
http://www.neam.org/
Today the museum is called the New England Air Museum. The summer before a tornado destroyed most of it, we were fortunate to have visited. I remember huge troop carriers, many kinds of jets, props, and a little jet that you could climb on..
I don't recall if it actually displayed, or in a film we saw there, but I fell in love with the F-14 there, in fact I bought a model kit for my son
there.
I think it's been restored.
[h=6]Published: October 11, 1981[/h] WINDSOR LOCKS TWO years ago at the Bradley Air Museum, one of the largest collections of vintage aircraft in the country was turned into a mass of twisted wreckage in less than five minutes. ''There was a lot of weeping,'' recalled Robert F. Pope, a member of the museum's volunteer service crew, who viewed the havoc caused by a tornado that hit the area on Oct. 3, 1979.
http://www.nytimes.com/1981/10/11/nyregion/bradley-air-museum-reopens.html
http://www.neam.org/
My first flight was in 1957 when sister and myself climbed aboard a De Havilland Dragon Rapide at Squires Gate Airport Blackpool UK.
I was hooked immediately, although I don't think sister took her hands away from covering her eyes for the whole flight (then again, she was, and still is, a bit of a wuss)
When we landed after a fantastic flight around Blackpool tower, I pestered poor ol' Mam n Dad into letting me fly again, and the pilot noticed my return and let me sit in his seat for a few minutes after the second flight. I still vividly remember the awe and fascination with which I viewed what, to my young mind, were "millions" of dials and gauges on the 'dashboard' and made my mind up there and then to become a pilot myself when I 'grew up".
Little did I know that only 9 years later I was to become a member of "Her Majesty's Flying Club" also known as the Royal Air Force, which became my home for the following 22 years.
Now I just follow aeronautical developments with interest and avail myself of each and every opportunity to fly.
ps The Dragon Rapide was the first civilian aircraft I jumped from when the urge to become a parachutist took hold in '72
I was hooked immediately, although I don't think sister took her hands away from covering her eyes for the whole flight (then again, she was, and still is, a bit of a wuss)
When we landed after a fantastic flight around Blackpool tower, I pestered poor ol' Mam n Dad into letting me fly again, and the pilot noticed my return and let me sit in his seat for a few minutes after the second flight. I still vividly remember the awe and fascination with which I viewed what, to my young mind, were "millions" of dials and gauges on the 'dashboard' and made my mind up there and then to become a pilot myself when I 'grew up".
Little did I know that only 9 years later I was to become a member of "Her Majesty's Flying Club" also known as the Royal Air Force, which became my home for the following 22 years.
Now I just follow aeronautical developments with interest and avail myself of each and every opportunity to fly.
ps The Dragon Rapide was the first civilian aircraft I jumped from when the urge to become a parachutist took hold in '72
Great stories. Thanks for sharing.
Just remember, the most dangerous thing about flying is the drive to the airport. I just read a report in our trade magazine that said passengers now have a 1 in 3,000,000 chance of being in a plane crash. With all of the sensors built into the avionics, plus the fail safe systems, next to trains, flying has become the safest mode of transportation.
Just remember, the most dangerous thing about flying is the drive to the airport. I just read a report in our trade magazine that said passengers now have a 1 in 3,000,000 chance of being in a plane crash. With all of the sensors built into the avionics, plus the fail safe systems, next to trains, flying has become the safest mode of transportation.