airline ops

Paperless cockpit?

By Dave English

“Our two greatest problems are gravity and paperwork. We can lick gravity, but sometimes the paperwork is overwhelming.” Werner von Braun Are you a paperless cockpit? Is that even a thing? Chuck Cook, fleet technology manager at JetBlue Airways, told the press this week Jepp has “allowed us to … achieve fully paperless operations.” But hold on a minute. Here’s some pictures from the real world. Apparently fully paperless does not include the checklists, the non-normal checklists, the maintenance logbook, the flight plan, the release, the weather, the ATIS, the fit-to-fly forms, or several hundred other pages. Every time I takeoff, … Continue reading Paperless cockpit?

Frog, Toad and black swan checklists

By Dave English

Excellent article on checklist use – and when not to follow them. Quotes from Frog, Toad, and the black swan pilots of Qantas Flight 32. Written by a systems ergonomist/work psychologist with a real understanding of aviation issues. http://humanisticsystems.com/2015/10/01/toads-checklist/

Tired Cathay Pacific pilots

By Dave English

One of the hardest things to do as a pilot is to not go flying. To tell your boss, your passengers, or your brother-in-law that no, I’m not flying today. Because I’m tired. It’s macho to say “need a straw?” (So you can suck it up.) It pays more to fly more. And unless you are absolute worn-out, it’s a tricky second-guessing judgement call. So good luck to the Cathay Pacific pilots who are taking a stand on tiring schedules. Are you mentally tough enough to say no?

It’s Not About Split-Second Skills

By Dave English

You never know when it will happen. It could be your first solo. It could be after 42 years of flying. As Captain Gann titled a book: Fate is the Hunter. Best be ready. BA Captain Chris Henkey was. The press has praised his ‘split-second’ skills in aborting the takeoff on the runway. But I think the more praiseworthy airmanship is measured in long seconds not fractional millisomethings. All airline pilots practice rejecting takeoffs, and there is little decision making ‘process’ when an engine quits. Good stick and (lots of) rudder skills to decelerate straight ahead. But what was telling … Continue reading It’s Not About Split-Second Skills