I’ve seen the “merge plot” (ATC radar) of opposite direction UA 727 and a supersonic SR-71. The UA pilot was impressed, something like, “look at the SOB go”.
GF
[*]There’s very, as in no, demand for true STOL planes. Runways are everywhere, so anything bigger than a Twin Otter will have runways adequate long. I can say, without fear of contradiction, Bombardier will not build a new STOL plane without or without the DHC-8 as a basis. Viking owns the DHC-5 Bu...
Jump to postBDL-YUL is either full or empty on the B1900. Not terribly reliable either. Having had to make numerous trips,like my boss; we drove most of the time. Cheaper and less painful.
GF
[*] The Concorde amazes me. It was such a technological marvel for it's time. Watching those videos above just fill me with awe. It feels like aviation technology is moving along so slowly the last few decades, with just incremental improvements over time. Look at airliners in 1939, and then in 1969...
Jump to postTrue enough and they leave a stain the sky, in Ernie Gann’s phrase.
GF
The captains adapted because it was easier than actually trying to mentor airmanship, do some instructing and insisting on progress. Being a captain isn’t just occupying the left seat and bigger money.
GF
NO, just look out the windows or stop.
GF
It would have to be a LOT more expensive out of BDL to get me (BDL based) to go thru the JFK hassle. Or Boston, but especially NYC airports. I did limos to JFK a lot and it was a painful trip.
GF
I think it’s a coating of ice; plows won’t work once it’s stuck to the surface; can’t use salt due to the planes.
GF
Probably an “extra section” adding capacity after yesterday’s cancelled flight to FCO.
GF
Not terribly close. It’s in the middle of the restricted area and surrounded by mountains. The most would be a distant glimpse. TTR on the west side is visible, but not as classified anymore.
GF
On the Global Express with Fusion avionics, we could have ownship overplayed on a 15” screen, so detail was quite fine and at least as accurate as any GPS display. We’d use it to backup ground navigation in normal conditions including dark. Would I use it to find snow covered surfaces? NO, I wouldn’...
Jump to postWe had a plane hold at TEB for 5 hours, just depends on how much fuel is on-board. Freighters’ loads need to arrive, so on a night like this they may have packed on fuel.
GF
The Mexican AF? Really, they hardly have a fighter force, let alone a alert force. The nearest base in Monterrey flies Cessna 182s, hardly an interceptor—no radar for starters.
GF
A “build up” may be just a large or towering cumulus cloud, not hazardous, but can be turbulent. Or, it could a thunderstorm.
GF
As a trainer, very expensive when a variety of small bizjets would the same job cheaper. T-1
GF
World Fuel always worked for me! Interesting conversation with a WFS senior VP in A380 EK lounge on the way to DXB. WFS ran the fuel into Afghanistan for the USG. I joked, it’s a pity about those fuel convoy attacks. He said, we get paid for fuel prior to country entry if It’s not delivered it’s not...
Jump to postThe Concorde would divert to Bradley (KBDL) about once a year due to JFK weather-always a news event locally. Once a BA 744 diverted, but of a mess. No customs, no operative APU, so they ran an engine for an hour or so before heading back to JFK.
GF
First, huge structural problem, that and modifying a small fleet is likely very uneconomic. Then, there’s the Vmcg and Vmca problems of all that horsepower being controlled by a rudder never designed for the loads. Likely worse performance at huge cost. Next....
GF
What about diverting into military bases? How are the charges billed? If a civilian plane diverted to a military air field, they would likely be met by MP's with rifles pointed. The only way for a civilian plane to land at a base is to get the written approval of the base comander. There's paperwor...
Jump to postContract fuel, like World Fuel, is taken just about everywhere and can arranged in minutes. Any recognized airline or handling company like Jeppesen ITP or Universal can make it happen. I’ve been in Africa, South America and had the contract come in email in minutes.
GF
Or they have contract fuel with services like World Fuel Services, Colt, UVAir. We had contract service in corporates at all sorts of oddball places, like Brazzaville and Petro.
Jump to postI’d be surprised if that’s true. What excessive maintenance? Who’s tried with IAE or CFM engines?
Before I believed that it can’t be done with “modern” engines, I’d have see an engine manufacturer’s engineering showing the engine couldn’t take high daily cycles and why?
GF
Can’t say, but it isn’t thermal magic. I suspect it is that the 717 just works economically for HA, not the engine. The Shuttle planes of various types fly loads of daily flights, too. Even the domestic 747 in Japan.
GF
Zeke,
Curiously, I was struck by the time of 2 minutes, which is the same time in the C-5 when the retract brake system was inoperative. Funny, that.
GF
Loads and loads of these fix naming humor. Look at KPSM’s GPS Approach. ITAWT, ITAWA, PUDYE, TTATT, IDEED. In order, IAF, IF, FAF, MAP, Hold. I thought I saw a puddy cat, I deed. Another fix, YOKNZ, commemorates a defunct restaurant under the fix, Yoken’s Seafood.
GF
It doesn’t cool faster. In fact, between 20 minutes and 5 hours after shutdown, it has to be dry motored to even out temps and reduce rotor bowing. This is another a.net myth.
GF
Ice or slush on the surfaces are also a reason-the air flow removes it preventing iced brakes or gear locks.
GF
The bird still had to make an ATL connection, lots don’t make it thru ATL’s subway.
GF
SuseJ772,
Any pilot should be comfortable flying visually without anything more than a sectional and a compass. When I started, I asked an old airline pilot how to fly from CT to Florida. “Easy, go out the first ocean and turn right”, was the simple answer. True, too.
GF
VSMUT, There are a whole bunch of examples where the pilots weren’t up to stuff in handling an airplane in IMC conditions. Tons of examples, airline, private, military, all forms of flying. No doubt, they passed the formal evaluation, but failed the real world example. In my career, I’ve known seve...
Jump to postI’ve been told how “retard, retard” sounds, but what happens IF the throttles were left in the CLB detent? Not a ‘Bus driver here, RETARD is only a silent message.
GF
Well, until touchdown with the throttles in the detent and wondering, “why am I a retard?”
GF
The ridiculous thing here is allowing a commercial airline to hire contractors; the national aviation authorities have a lot to answer for here. Pilots must be employed, under the direction of and held responsible by the carrier. The idea of using outside contractors, charging them for training and ...
Jump to postHere’s my cut at this hardy perennial question. If someone is established in their career in middle age (45-54); you are entering your best earning years, regardless of the career. Children are in college, lots of equity in house and 401k. It’s time to start socking away those high earning years int...
Jump to postAlso, this Eastern mid-air caused by the handling pilot’s misjudgment of passing traffic’s visual position. I saw the Connie come out of clouds as a young scout at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Later, I flew with that pilot’s brother, also at EAL. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1965_Carmel_mid-air_...
Jump to postI was the F/E on a EA 727 once when we backed up about 300’ on the Inner at BOS (might have bern the Outer in front of the main terminal). ATC or the yoke actuators goofed and got us nose to nose with an outbound L1011. We deferred to his size and backed up. Cappy asked th3 F/O and I, asked the Grou...
Jump to postIn the Reserves, I had plenty of B727, B737, B747, B767, one MD-11 and a couple of DC-9 pilots fly the C-5 without difficulty. They’d probably only get 2 take-offs and landings in the big Lockheed a month, sometimes go for several months without flying it and return without a problem. Yes, some miss...
Jump to postThese are all arguments for business avistion. I’ve been at many companies that use their planes for just this kind of travel, even to the point of flying people to the hubs for international flights. One company wanted my employer to finish an interior of a common bizjet in vinyl and rubber floorin...
Jump to postI think TWA had all the switches going in the opposite direction of standard. ON towards the rear/down.
GF
Altitude can be useful topping weather including t’storms. At F470, while the weather can get higher, that level does put above 90% of it. Many times one can top the cirrus for a better visual picture on the weather. In the Global, on a short leg like 3-4 hours, F430-F470 is useable for the entire f...
Jump to postRegionals used to be Part 135; but, a series of accidents brought forth the idea of “one safety standard” and the standard was 121. Bring single pilot ops, turboprops, inexperienced crews under 135 and we’ll just be repeating the ‘70s and ‘80s. Electric planes are a long ways off; until the energy d...
Jump to postYes, 91.211 says one pilot must be on O2 at all times the aircraft altitude is above F410. The commercial regs reference cabin altitude above 10,000’. I was on the NBAA committee trying get align with the commercial rule or ICAO SARP or anything to get relief. It requires a NPRM change and, with the...
Jump to postOnce all the gates are occupied, and you have no information about when they might open up, 1. If an inbound flight has the fuel then return it to its origin. 2. If the flight didn't have enough fuel to return, then divert it, if possible, to the nearest hub. Do you really think any airline could f...
Jump to post[threeid][/threeid]The Lear 45/75 do pretty well at F470 and above. The Global’s highest optimum level (best ANMPP of fuel) is usually F470 with weights under about 63,000. F510 is achieveable at M.82 and have reasonable buffet boundaries, just not very efficient. F450 will get one above je5 streams...
Jump to postThe Gulfstreams and Globals are certified to F510, as are the Lears since the 31A. On the Globals, F490 and F510 are reachable at light weights (last hour or so of cruise), but rarely optimum levels.
GF
Distance Remaining boards on the left of both sides are pretty common and great aids. I always used them when installed.
GF