The great big "ask an airline pilot" thread!

smurfjed

own the aircraft to carry out these test flights

what test flights? We certainly simulated ETOP flights but we never did "test flights" for two reasons, they are bloody expensive and for them to be realistic you would have to drop down to 10'000 feet and divert in the middle of winter, and that exercise can be conducted in the sim.

Smurfjed

IngazZagni

smurfjed wrote: »

what test flights? We certainly simulated ETOP flights but we never did "test flights" for two reasons, they are bloody expensive and for them to be realistic you would have to drop down to 10'000 feet and divert in the middle of winter, and that exercise can be conducted in the sim.

Smurfjed

I thought it was a requirement for a new airline to operate a test flight demonstrating they tick all the boxes to operate safely in this environment. But you are right that could all be done in the sim. Perhaps test flights are only required for new aircraft types coming into service or new engine types.

Joshsjmcd

Hello.
What are the restrictions on eyesight?
I have a lazy eye or Amblyopia,could I pass a first class eye examination?
I have read so much about it,thing's like Soda Wavers and stuff like that.
I would much appreciate your feedback.

Many thanks,
Joshua

Flier

Hi Joshua,

You can find the medical requirements for a class 1 medical on the IAA website. They do, however, get very technical! As far as I understand it, you might have a bit of trouble with your amblyopia. It really depends on how well corrected it was as a kid. There are two potential difficulties that I see. One is your visual acuity, which probably has some impairment, although the standards for Class 1 are quite generous and straightforward. The second is weather you have managed to develop what's known as 'binocular single vision' ie both of your eyes are working together, and you have developed proper depth perception etc. That happens early in childhood, so if your lazy eye was successfully treated early, you may have it. That's a requirement for a Class 1 and there's very little leaway there. I know if you already have binocular vision and lose it later, you may be able to revalidate a class 1 with restrictions, but I can't see you getting an initial without it. But don't take my word for it (or anyone elses really). Why not contact the aeromedical section at the IAA. The head guy there at the moment (Dr Tom Gaffney) is very approachable. If you think you might make the requirements, it might be worth having an exam with an approved IAA opthalmologist, and then you'll know for sure if you'll qualify without spending the money on the rest of the medical.
Good Luck

LeftBase

Flier wrote: »

Hi Joshua,

You can find the medical requirements for a class 1 medical on the IAA website. They do, however, get very technical! As far as I understand it, you might have a bit of trouble with your amblyopia. It really depends on how well corrected it was as a kid. There are two potential difficulties that I see. One is your visual acuity, which probably has some impairment, although the standards for Class 1 are quite generous and straightforward. The second is weather you have managed to develop what's known as 'binocular single vision' ie both of your eyes are working together, and you have developed proper depth perception etc. That happens early in childhood, so if your lazy eye was successfully treated early, you may have it. That's a requirement for a Class 1 and there's very little leaway there. I know if you already have binocular vision and lose it later, you may be able to revalidate a class 1 with restrictions, but I can't see you getting an initial without it. But don't take my word for it (or anyone elses really). Why not contact the aeromedical section at the IAA. The head guy there at the moment (Dr Tom Gaffney) is very approachable. If you think you might make the requirements, it might be worth having an exam with an approved IAA opthalmologist, and then you'll know for sure if you'll qualify without spending the money on the rest of the medical.
Good Luck

I rang up with a question and they put me straight through to him! Top Fella!

Although when they said "We'll put you through to the Chief AME" I almost broke out in a cold sweat thinking it was herself. I could smell a costly specialist referral coming on....

Flier

LeftBase wrote: »

I rang up with a question and they put me straight through to him! Top Fella!

Although when they said "We'll put you through to the Chief AME" I almost broke out in a cold sweat thinking it was herself. I could smell a costly specialist referral coming on....

Ha ha - you had a lucky escape there!! Things have improved somewhat, thank God!!

smurfjed

The not so fun part is convincing your body to sleep at 8pm, and get your dogs to allow you Yet its funny that as the alarm goes off at 4am, the dogs just look at you and go back to sleep.

Anyway off sightseeing for the day, taking people to an ancient Nabatean city that once formed part of the asian spice routes They used to travel by camel, now they use Gulfstream's

smurfjed

smurfjed

PClancy, it appears that you consider this type of post off topic, I wont post anymore video links.

smurfjed

crazygeryy

smurfjed wrote: »

The day job

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEz9c7YUbz8&feature=youtu.be

smurfjed

the plane crashes into a mountain and bursts into flames?have i the right video?surely not.

Suasdaguna1

smurfjed wrote: »

The day job

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEz9c7YUbz8&feature=youtu.be

smurfjed

Ya willy waver

pclancy

Jealousy gets you nowhere!

Anyway back on topic please folks, remember this thread was supposed to be questions and answers for pilots only and not for general discussion or willy waving

Tenger

smurfjed wrote: »

PClancy, it appears that you consider this type of post off topic, I wont post anymore video links.

smurfjed

You could put it in the video thread..........

pclancy

Tenger wrote: »

You could put it in the video thread..........

You beat me to it

Pilots- lets keep photos and videos of your daily lives confined to the photo or video threads elsewhere within Aviation and Aircraft.

This purpose of this thread was questions and answers to and from commercial pilots so lets get back to that.

Cheers

:cool:

smurfjed

So does this mean that you also consider the "flight reports" that I have written as willy waving and you don't want them in the future?

smurfjed

Julius Seizure

smurfjed wrote: »

So does this mean that you also consider the "flight reports" that I have written as willy waving and you don't want them in the future?

smurfjed

Maybe you could start a thread of your reports, it would be nice to have them in one place. A day in the life, if you get what I mean.

Tenger

smurfjed wrote: »

So does this mean that you also consider the "flight reports" that I have written as willy waving and you don't want them in the future?

smurfjed

I like your 'day in the life' posts. Didn't see any willy waving from my pov.

Edit:I agree with Leftbase below, Smurfjed seems to have a pretty sweet gig. Quite a long way from the daily grind of a young F/O operating 900 hours per annum with 4-6 sector days in dodgy Northern European weather. But that is the variety that can be found in the career of a commercial pilot. Perhaps a similar report from a more typical airline scenario would be helpful for balance.

LeftBase

smurfjed wrote: »

So does this mean that you also consider the "flight reports" that I have written as willy waving and you don't want them in the future?

smurfjed

While the reports are good to read I think it should be pointed out that the majority of flying done by Smurfjed and the day to day life he describes does not reflect in most cases what newbies in the industry will experience.
He clearly has the job people aspire to, but guys thinking of going into the aul airline pilotry as a career should be aware that the job they are likely to get at the end is not all champagne sunstroke.

I'm not in any way having a go at smufjed's posting. Just pointing out a fact.

crazygeryy

smurfjed wrote: »

So does this mean that you also consider the "flight reports" that I have written as willy waving and you don't want them in the future?

smurfjed

just for the record i think your reports and your videos are really good.no matter where they are posted.

ps the plane crashing thing was my attempt at humour.:rolleyes:

pclancy

I thought my last post summed it up quite well:

pclancy wrote: »

You beat me to it

Pilots- lets keep photos and videos of your daily lives confined to the photo or video threads elsewhere within Aviation and Aircraft.

This purpose of this thread was questions and answers to and from commercial pilots so lets get back to that.

Cheers

:cool:

I don't consider what you do willy waving smurfjed, I'm happy to read it, my point was that this thread was originally meant for wanabees and enthusiasts to ask questions and for commercial pilots to reply with their knowledge. Now and then it drifts off into other stuff so I'm just trying to haul it back onto it assigned heading.

Suasdaguna1

faceman

Getting back on topic I've a random question!

Did you ever have a WTF moment in the cockpit with an unidentified object on the radar or out the window? Be it UFOs or some local air corp looking to intimidate you?

LeftBase

faceman wrote: »

Getting back on topic I've a random question!

Did you ever have a WTF moment in the cockpit with an unidentified object on the radar or out the window? Be it UFOs or some local air corp looking to intimidate you?

Not sure if it's what you mean, but we were put on an 8 mile final in an A320 2 miles behind a light twin who was cleared ahead of us once. Think he was doing 90kt max....not so much unidentified flying object as unidentified exploding fireball....

Flier

You'll sometimes have military aircraft doing practice intercepts on you - without telling you of course- so you get rapidly approaching TCAS signals sweeping up and in behind you. Can been interesting until you figure out what's happening!

I had an interesting WTF moment whilst transiting Tuson control zone in Arizona in a light SEP - two fast jets in formation swept up from underneath me really close. Followed a couple of second latter by ATC ' N.... just for information.....'. Yeah thanks for the warning! Brace for wake!

I've seen auroras, shooting stars, space shuttles and the ISS - no UFO's yet

Tenger

faceman wrote: »

Did you ever have a WTF moment in the cockpit with an unidentified object on the radar or out the window?........

A colleague (who I am very jealous of) has seen a Shuttle night launch after take-off from Orlando (he was in the right hand seat so great view) On another occasion as he was crossing the coast of Florida he spotted the B747 with an Orbiter on top on finals for landing at Cape Canaveral. Fecker.

Suasdaguna1

The biggest wtf moment I've ever had was on an eastbound across the Atlantic about two years ago and this bright light way up in the atmosphere just slowly cruised by us. It wasn't a shooting star. There was a lot of chit chat on pilot to pilot VHF frequency of 123.45 re this strange sight. A Nigel piped up....."fellas its the shuttle on its orbit doing a lap of the globe on its re entry."

It was an amazing sight and initially in the black of night on first contact.....WTF was i think in most cockpits at 40 west that night the singular expletive of most crews.

Kalimah

Apologies if this has been asked before but why are cabin lights dimmed for takeoff and window blinds up? I can kind of see that the window blinds down would impede rescuers in the case of an emergency on take off but the lights?

faceman

Kalimah wrote: »

Apologies if this has been asked before but why are cabin lights dimmed for takeoff and window blinds up? I can kind of see that the window blinds down would impede rescuers in the case of an emergency on take off but the lights?

I'm no pilot but I think its so in the event of an emergency during those parts of the flight and its dark outside, your eyes won't need to adjust once you try leave the plane into the night time. It makes for a speedier exit

LeftBase

faceman wrote: »

I'm no pilot but I think its so in the event of an emergency during those parts of the flight and its dark outside, your eyes won't need to adjust once you try leave the plane into the night time. It makes for a speedier exit

And people turn on their reading lights then which make absolutely no sense what so ever to me!

Defeats the whole process!

IngazZagni

LeftBase wrote: »

And people turn on their reading lights then which make absolutely no sense what so ever to me!

Defeats the whole process!

If the cabin lights are on and there is smoke it can be very hard to see where you are or where the exit is. ( think of having your headlights on in fog while driving). Turning them off makes the emergency floor lighting easier to see and follow to the nearest exit.

LeftBase

IngazZagni wrote: »

If the cabin lights are on and there is smoke it can be very hard to see where you are or where the exit is. ( think of having your headlights on in fog while driving). Turning them off makes the emergency floor lighting easier to see and follow to the nearest exit.

I know but what I'm saying is that surely when the cabin crew turn the lights off they should be able to temporarily turn off the reading lights in the overhead panels too. When ever the lights go off people pop on their reading lights so they can keep reading their book etc. That defeats the light adjustment process for passenger's eyes and is much the same as having the cabin lights on.