Re: Do cargoliners have locked cockpit doors? Or cockpit doors for that matter?

All of our freighters have doors here at FedEx. This is probably because all of our ships have entry way jump seats, except for the 767's which have the jump seats on the flight deck itself. Several years back we installed locking ballistic doors on the MD10's and 11's. It was an interesting projec...

Re: Very disturbing interaction between ATC & Pilot...

I don't know the background or experience of this ATC controller. In the past, most had some experience as a pilot especially GA types. However, in the past couple of decades, more personnel were hired with zero prior aviation experience. Clearly this person was not capable of appreciating the persp...

Re: Off position for landing gear handle

This is different than on the Douglas DC-8. On these planes, the landing gear remain up with hydraulic pressure and the uplocks being a backup. A hydraulic leak/loss is not as critical on the Douglas than it would be on the Boeing series.

Re: 727 fuel burn / tank management

Several issues here. First, in some other aircraft types, a center tank is an .auxiliary tank. Fuel is only loaded and used from it to extend the range of the main tanks. On the B727, except in some modified planes, there are no aux tanks. The larger center tank acts as an aux tank. But it is the ma...

Re: LAX Gate 39 - What happened to it?

I was there recently; a mess

Re: Lockheed Super Constellation Powerback?

Hello! Yes, the Connie, like any big piston airliner was equipped with variable pitch propellers. "Reverse pitch", actually called "beta range", was used during landing to support the braking effort. I am not sure if powerback, while technically possible, was allowed within the ...

Re: B727 cockpit

There actually was a study to convert the 727 to a two man cockpit. However, there were many issues and the complexity and cost of doing so would not be worth the benefit. If you want a more detailed discussion, contact me directly.

Re: LAX-SZX 7/1

Xiamen Airlines operating Sunday nights

Re: AA sues DL over the use of the term “Flagship”

I took the callsign "FLAGSHIP" for Dolphin Airways back in 1981. It later was again applied to Express Airlines I as the ATC callsign. Over all of these years, American Airlines never challenged the use of their old trademark. It would seem a weak argument to complain now. Of course, if th...

Re: 737 takeoff on a snowy day: Unusually LONG run-up?

The flight manual, for nearly every jet aircraft I've flown, has this requirement for these conditions.

Re: 19 seat airliner question

The Approved Flight Manual and certification stipulate the minimum crew (flight crew). The number of passenger seats determines if and how many flight attendants are required. 18 or fewer passenger seats does not require a flight attendant. It does not matter how large the plane is. We used to have ...

Re: 727s Texas to Puerto Rico and viceversa non-stop?

Probably could. There are more than one reclear points so range and divert opportunities exist. Three engines overwater was not uncommon. I operated many charter flights with both 727-100 and -200 aircraft over comparable routes with standard tankage.

Re: 10 years ago - Feb. 12, 2009 - Flight CO3407 crash

One thing that has always been pushed to the back of this investigation, and discussion, is the role the FAA had in stall training. For many years, FAA inspectors had insisted that simulator training in stalls be conducted with zero loss of altitude. To achieve that mandate, it became standard pract...

Re: FedEx and UPS 757s

Re: Sea Planes with retractable floats?

Many Grumman G-21 Gooses were modified with retractable floats. There were basically two different versions of these.

Re: Braniff Calder DC-8 and B-727

Both eventually were repainted in mainline BN schemes and remained in the fleet.

Re: Airbus A380 'fifth' contrail? Possible fuel dumping?

With RVSM, I often flew under other planes for quite some distance. Observed overboard water from drains quite often.

Re: Why do they park like this at IAH?

More likely they wanted to examine the thunderstorm, with their weather radar, to the SW which would be along their departure track.

Re: Navigation On Analog Jets I.e dc-8/dc10/l1011..etc

My operator started out with dual LTN-92 INS systems in the DC-10-10F and triple LTN-92 in the DC-10-30F fleets. Later, DC-10-10s were acquired from United and converted to all cargo. In these, only VOR/DME were retained from the prior operator. Later, the entire fleet were converted to MD-10 with t...

Re: Airbus A380 'fifth' contrail? Possible fuel dumping?

More likely water draining from sinks or galley.

Re: Mc Donald’s Douglas Magazine

Douglas Service magazine

Re: MIlk Runs

Back in the 1950's, my dad traveled to Dallas several times a year. Often, he would describe his return flight as a "milk run". As a small child, I had visions of him sitting on a dairy milk can in a freighter all the way to Los Angeles.

Re: FedEx DC-10 Retirements

ATC has no code for MD10 so for their purposes ONLY, it's still a DC-10

Re: 747-200 wing vs -300 wing

The747-200 wing was the same although fairings might be different. Long Range Cruise at high weight was M.85-.86

Re: 777 empennage question. What is it, please?

APU air intake scoop

Re: Daily limit use of an aircraft

Airplanes don't need rest. You need to keep them serviced and have a reason for them to fly.

Re: A Market for B-727 type Aircraft 4 Short Runways

I suppose you are thinking of the original B727-100 at the original weights. Even with greater thrust engines, as the type evolved to greater range and higher gross weights, the takeoff performance suffered. Current single aisle twins do just as well or better.

Re: 727 Electrical Question

Residual voltage is produced by a small permanent magnet generator, within the generator itself, that is used to excite the generator field. As stated before, zero voltage would indicate no rotation of the generator shaft either through successful generator drive disconnect or sheared shaft.

Re: VFR Navigation

As a new pilot, this is not a good time to get into a habit of being complacent. Modern navigation using GPS, moving maps, etc is wonderful but all of it remain tools and aids and not a substitute from using a brain and being a Pilot. Pilotage, once called "contact flying", is generally re...

Re: SNA closed to arrivals- Cessna 310 down

Appears that arrivals have resumed. Local news is playing ATC audio and a driver has posted video of the actual crash. Sounds like the pilot declared a MAYDAY after loss of power in right engine and was attempting right traffic to return to land.

Re: Additional yaw

Yaw damper and turn coordination. Look up those terms.

Re: Oakland Runway 10/28

Could have been temporary construction or disabled vehicle on runway. I had to do that runway a couple of times with a B727-200Adv

Re: What airlines fitted 727s with INS?

VLF/Omega is a nav system based upon ground based signals. Once the signals were received and synchronized to accurate time, accurate latitude and longitude could be derived for navigation. INS is an onboard system that once aligned and given an accurate starting point, could use motion and gravity ...

Re: DC 10-30 ROLL RATE

I can tell you that you would not be doing that in a real plane at that speed and configuration.

Re: N1 on long haul flights.

It most certainly depends upon engine model, speed, altitude and weight. Generally, at a given speed and altitude, the N1 will decrease as weight does (fuel burned off). However, a high speed cruise and step climbing can result in high cruise N1. Had a lot of time with the CF-6-50 (DC10-30) and crui...

Re: Cabin Pressurization At Ascent And Descent?

You can always figure 300 ft cabin altitude per minute descent rate. So at 8000 cabin altitude, pressurization will start no later than 27 minutes out give or take. So start feeding 35 prior to landing and you'll be fine. That timing works. As a further cue, at airlines the captain gives a PA prior...

Re: MD11 Landing, So Much Flaps?

No Boeing 707 or 720 model had "slats". They did, however, have various configurations of Leading Edge Flaps. The Boeing 727 and 737 have flaps and slats. The Boeing 747 models have two kinds of LE Flaps: Kreuger and Variable Camber.

Re: after thrust reduction during climb out on SID engine fails

Yes, you can select TOGA, or GA Thrust depending upon the terminology in the specific type. If the aircraft is climbing and clear of obstacles and terrain after the initial thrust reduction, you may not need to increase thrust to get to the acceleration altitude. However, if there is a danger of imp...

Re: International Aircraft Registrations Question

USA registrations only must start with N. There is no requirement for any letters following that. It can be 1 to 5 characters which may be all numbers or include one or two letters at the end. An application for registration may request letters to represent the owner, operator or some other reason. ...

Re: When will Boeing replace the 737 with a fresh new a/c design?

To some extent, the decision to move forward with a completely new type or evolve an existing one, is driven by the customers. Airlines have a large investment in some types which not only include the aircraft and engines, but spares, tooling, and training. This is part of the reason why airlines, s...

Re: Sriwijaya Air 777 order ?

This airline has a terrible history of destroying aircraft. Very poor safety record.

Re: UA Denies Boarding to Non-Rev Girl in Leggings, Social Media Revolts

When I started in the airline business, non-revenue or pass riding dress codes were quite strict. I recall seeing an Eastern Air Lines non-rev being turned away because her 8 year old son was not wearing a tie. In those days, non-revs were often seated in First Class and the assumption was that you ...

Re: Cargo operations in practice: What are the characteristics of a cargo aircraft's route and schedule?

Newbiepilot gave a pretty good explanation. Flying Tigers, Seaboard World, and others were all cargo airlines that carried shipments of large shippers and freight consolidators. Those routes were generally linear based upon where the cargoes need to go. Often, cargo did not need to go two ways. A st...

Re: Germanwings crash, 2 years ago

What has always troubled me is how quickly the local law enforcement people came to a determination that this was a suicide. They stated this from the very beginning of the field investigation. To me, as an experienced investigator, this taints the investigation process and drives the investigation ...

Re: Pilots: AA leaving behind standby passengers to improve on-time departure

United did it to me a few years ago. I was in first class from EWR with a connection in SFO. We arrived late and the connecting flight departed early. Knowing I would arrive in SFO late (but still able to make the connection), UAL rebooked me on the first flight for the next morning. No agent to inf...

Re: 727-100 Economics

I flew 727-31 for Gulf Air Transport. We operated from ORD, BOS, PHL and other places to Mexican resorts, Jamaica, and other Caribbean destinations non-stop (most of the time). Some flights were also operated between BOS and the Azores. None of these planes had extra tanks and had all economy config...

Re: 727-100 Economics

I flew single class charter 727-100 series and I recall 123 passengers+3 flight attendants+3 pilots. The aircraft was never designed to have long range and had good economics for short/medium segments in it's day. At that time, there were not any high bypass fan engines. While the type evolved and w...

Re: aborting takeoff AFTER V1

A high speed reject is a tricky and dangerous maneuver and that is one of the reasons it is a decision tasked to the Captain. While most policy agree that a high speed reject, and certainly one near or past V1, should only be done if the aircraft cannot fly. Those are great words but very hard to as...

Re: round hole opening on left side of the DC-10

It is an outflow port designed like an exhaust nozzle to produce a small amount of force offsetting the power loss of bleeding air from the compressor for pressurization.

Re: Why Is There Only One Rudder in an Aircraft?

Unlike a ship, the rudder does not "turn" the aircraft. Some personalities, who comment on aviation as "experts" on TV often convey the notion that a rudder turns an aircraft. The rudder is used to offset unwanted yaw motion due to such factors as asymmetric thrust and aileron de...