#8
Post
by boing » Wed Oct 05, 2016 3:41 pm
I've got to add something here because it applies to the other thread about relying on automation. Later in the period I flew the 27 the electric aeroplanes were coming on-line. I was in a big company so you had pretty good options about how to plan your life and which aircraft you chose to fly. There was most absolutely a self-selection among the pilots, it was quite open, the doofii would openly say they wanted to fly the aircraft with computers while the hands-on types would say the chose the 27 because they wanted to fly not babysit. Most of the people I flew with and trained were excellent pilots. When things got tight with ATC and they needed a few favors to unlock the gridlock it was the 27s they turned to for help.
Two stories to show the different attitudes.
One day I walked into operations and there was a very noisy crowd around the noticeboard area with loud laughter and incredulous comments such as "No, I can't believe it !". A safety report had been posted about an Airbus incident where the aircraft became badly un-stabilised below 1000 feet. The captain reported that since the aircraft had become badly un-stabilised at 600 feet he engaged the autopilot to try to correct the situation. Good ammunition for a bunch of 72 guys.
Second story, the attitude on the 27 fleet was just so laid back. As a first officer I was exactly an hour late for check in on the first flight of a sequence, mistake on the time zone. I was flying with a lady flight engineer I had flown with for the previous trips in the month but the captain was called in on reserve so I did not know him. I arrived at operations a happy camper then immediately found out I was an hour late so into panic mode, grab flight bag and rush to the gate. All passengers boarded, gate area empty except agent waiting by an open door. Rush down the jetway, enter the cockpit at about one minute to pushback blurting apologies to the Captain. He says to save it for later, get on with the job. The flight engineer casually says to the captain "There you are, I told you he would be here on time".
.
the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.