From the Flight Deck: Hockey Night in (Air) Canada

Flight plan

My flight plan....

This blog is to inspire and motivate those pining for the skies. I will also virtually open the flight deck door and allow a peek behind the scenes.

If for any reason you have an issue found within, send an email and I will ratify it!

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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Hockey Night in (Air) Canada

Captain Doug holding the Doug Vann trophy.

The last two days consisted of playing hockey in the Doug Vann annual Air Canada hockey tournament hosted by our union ACPA (Air Canada Pilot Association). It was made up of eight teams using names from the NHL. We were the Canadians and won five games in a row.

Despite the copious amount of drinks many pilots had the night before, the tournament was quite serious. I'm amazed how many grown men (pilots) behave like babies. Many times a few pilots forgot all about CRM. CRM just isn't a flight deck concept.

It was the first Doug Vann tournament for me and we won! I did score two goals but I was in the right place and the right moment. I guess it's equivalent in getting hired, timing is everything.

We had two young pilots on our team and they stole the show. One pilot now only 27 was hired at age 22. He's a very lucky guy because the average new hire age at Air Canada is 35.

There were no B777 skippers out there. Very few A330/767 skippers either. I can't remember playing in such an intense environment.

Anyway, I got the t-shirt.

Now I have to teach weather early tomorrow morning at the BFC (Brampton Flight Centre)

A whole bunch of Air Canada pilots in funny uniforms (Montreal Canadians)

13 comments:

: Ian said...; Doug. My daughter just saw your photo and apparently wishes "dad" looked like you!

I will however send you a photo taken by my wife of me in order we know what to look for when we meet next month!!

Congratulations on winning the hockey - I have a 5-a-side soccer semi-final coming up - worldwide fleet versus Eurofleet - so I expect to lose knowing we're so bloody old!

Made excellent time over the pond last night - nice smooth crossing up at FL410.

Anyway - congrats again!

Cheers, Ian; January 21, 2010 11:02 AM
: Jack said...; Hi Doug,
Congratulations on your big win! Just curious if your team had a "Captain" and if so, how do you choose amongst captains for that role!
Jack; January 21, 2010 11:06 AM
: Susie said...; You do look every inch the real man there Doug!

Looking forward to seeing you in Ancaster next month when the Speedbirds are in town!

Take care, Susie

P.S. I am going to Calgary on AC tomorrow - I'll let you know how it goes.; January 21, 2010 11:15 AM
: From the Flight Deck said...; Susie. Thanks for the post. Yes, I hope to meet up with you and the Speedbirds next month.

Off to YYC tomorrow? I'm flying to YYC on flt 133 at 1800 tomorrow.

Doug; January 21, 2010 2:07 PM
: From the Flight Deck said...; Jack. We did have a captain, but he was chosen arbitrarily and not by seniority. He was the best and second youngest on the team and ironically he is a first officer.; January 21, 2010 2:11 PM
: From the Flight Deck said...; Ian, sounds like your daughter is a little harsh on her dad.

I would have thought the worldwide fleet would be younger because the senior guys would take the flights closer to home. Obviously, you guys don't have status pay.

I just finished teaching four hours of high level meteorology and yes it looked pretty benign over the Mid Atlantic.

Doug; January 21, 2010 2:20 PM
: Susie said...; Hello Doug

I wish I was on your flight - I'm off on the 8am - AC 117 and heading back on Sunday.

Ian said he'd email you over the weekend. Got his annual route check coming, so his kids told auntie he's a bit grumpy!

Take care and safe travels out west.

Susie; January 21, 2010 7:29 PM
: From the Flight Deck said...; Susie. That's a quick trip to YYC. Like most pilot families, they know to tip toe around the pilot when he has a pending route check or simulator training.

I hope Air Canada treats you well.

Doug; January 21, 2010 7:40 PM
: Memopilot said...; This post has been removed by the author.; January 22, 2010 1:35 AM
: Memopilot said...; Congratulations captain¡¡¡
Nice trophy. By the way, Why the name like that? any interesting history about it?

Take care¡; January 22, 2010 1:38 AM
: From the Flight Deck said...; Memopilot. Doug Vann was an Air Canada pilot many years ago and he had a great passion for hockey.
He passed away so the annual hockey tournament was held in his honour 31 years ago.; January 22, 2010 7:05 AM
: Ian said...; Doug.

We do get status - I think I am making excuses knowing full well we're not as slick as the bend it like Beckhams on the Airbuses of Eurofleet!

Seems like my sister is spilling the beans over me getting wound up about being under the microscope next week...true enough! I have SOPs, new additions to read, re-read and read again! Add to the equation an almost brand spanking new 2-stripe FO as RP, and I am looking forward to the check being over and done with!

Hope all well - safe flight to CYYC.

Cheers, Ian; January 22, 2010 8:32 AM
: From the Flight Deck said...; Ian, there's no doubt those Airbus guys are a different breed. Well, at least they think they are. :)

Just in from the gym, but I'm still feeling it from the hockey tournament. I feel like I've been to Tokyo and back.

Off to CYYC and then to CYVR (Vancouver) for a long layover to catch some of the Winter Olympic hype.

Doug; January 22, 2010 2:16 PM

Here are a few websites to buy my book:

1. Amazon.ca

2. Amazon.com

3. Aviation World

4. Barnes and Noble

5. Wings Magazine (Bookstore)

6. Amazon.co.uk

7. Amazon.co.jp (Japan)

Or if you want a signed copy, email to get my address to send a cheque. I charge $25 Canadian (taxes and delivery included) anywhere in North America. Outside of North America? Let's talk.

[email protected]

Have an aviation question? Email me!

Feedback

Received Friday the 13th.... :)

I have been following your From the Flight Deck blog ever since I discovered it. I absolutely love it! I find myself checking it every couple of days hoping for more to read! I also just finished reading your amazing book. I love the insights, humour, interesting stories, and the countless interesting facts about the aircraft. The book really opened my eyes with how many different departments are involved with a flight - from maintence to flight dispatch, it's unbelievable. You have truly opened the door of the flight deck for everyone!

Even more recent feedback:

Hi Doug,

I just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying your book. Even my wife is reading it!

My in-laws were sitting at a table next to you in a Williams Coffee shop (I think on Dundas Street in Mississauga) a few weeks ago, and someone was getting you to autograph your book. They noticed it was about flying, and since I am a pilot (private) they decided to find the book and bought me a copy.

................... (edited)

Anyway, I’m going through your blog now …well done!

Recent Feedback.....

From Australia

This email came all the way from Australia today (Jan.14th)

Doug
Just like to a small moment of your time to thank you for the great blog. I'm a student pilot completing my training here in Perth, Western Australia. A great inspiration to keep going. Thank you and take care.

Some nice feedback....

Some feedback... I must send this to Air Canada...:))))

Captain Doug,

Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed your book and enjoy your blog. Despite being an engineer who specialises in turbines (or perhaps because!) I've always been something of a nervous flyer and finding out more about the care and attention to detail that is paid to flying inday to day operations has helped a great deal.

Thanks very much for sharing your expertise and enthusiasm for your profession. I teach engineering at a University in the North of England and don't get to Canada very often but I will be flying to Vancouver from London for a conference in June - so of course I picked Air Canada because of your blog!!

I also highly appreciate the information on weather and airframe icing and de-icing - I'm going to try and use some of these ideas to make my lectures on gas mixtures less boring.

Anyway thanks once again for the blog and good luck with the summer flying.

...and more...

Actually I was organising the travel for five people and we are all going Air Canada from Heathrow to
Vancouver (though curiously all on slightly different dates...) - so your blog actually got Air Canada five tickets!

Airbus A319

As you know I write the caption for the first page of the ALTITUDE section in enRoute.

This is what made the cut...

Airbus A319. The Nose Wheel turns the aircraft on the ground and, unlike the main gear, has no brakes. The silver portion is called the oleo (AKA, shock absorber)

Credits and Disclaimer

I would like to thank Brian Losisto (Air Canada's photographer) for always allowing me to post his pictures. (The above thrust lever pic is his). Then there is Kelly Paterson from Calgary and plane spotter "Erik" from Germany. Of course, I have lots myself.

On that note, if you feel a photo(s) may be in appropriate or the content I post a bit dubious by all means send me an email. I will ratify it! That's all I ask!

[email protected]

Recent feedback from a relatively new follower

...The basic tone of your blog suggests a fellow that not only loves his job, but also takes it very seriously...

You have an important message to share, my friend. You have both the experience and the necessary gifts to do so. When WE watch the hit statistics on your blog, WE recognize that you have an awesome following. I know why. The typos do not matter, beyond you need to maintain the ‘professional hat.’ Since you are so public about your affiliation, it always reflects on AC as well...

For about the nth time, I do enjoy reading your blog posts. I understand most of the details, but nearly always learn something new. Some of the things that set your blog apart from so many others are your (usually) excellent writing. (One can tell when you are rushed or have not proof-read . You are willing to confront potential safety issues and offer reasonable solutions, yet while avoiding serious confrontation and mostly by being nice and polite in every encounter. (Hey, being ‘nice’ is a natural gift for some. In my profession, a lot of it is learned skill. No matter the origin, it is an effective tool in nearly every encounter. It works!)

Feedback

First off, I'm a fan! I've been following your blog for a couple months now and I think you have an amazing talent for writing. Your posts are always captivating and I learn something new almost every time!

My favourite is when you talk about weather patterns and when you give us an inside look on the inner workings of Air Canada operations.

Your posts are all so interesting that I decided to get your book earlier this summer. I went to two different Chapters and a Renault Bray stores here in Montreal but no luck( sold out?). I ended up ordering it on Amazon. Your book was, as expected, very well written and very informative. You managed to make it interesting for aviators and non-aviators alike. I am a pilot too,so reading your book and your blog, I can often relate to stories about sacrifice early in your career, the anguish of getting laid off, having to make career decisions in uncertain times etc etc ...

I also must mention how respectful of a person you seem to be. Your post about "things they don't teach you in flight school" last week was a good reflection of that. I dont remember ever reading something negative about any of your coworkers on your blog. You must be an absolute pleasure to fly with.

I was an FO on a Dash 8 for Air Labrador before they ceased operating last year. We might have flown the same planes? (FXON GLON GAAN are ex AirNova or Air Ontario I think). Before that I was first officer on TwinOtter based in Goose Bay. Good times ... My goal is to get hired with AC! I still have a few hours a build before being eligible thought I think, I'm only up to 2800hours. But if the timing is right in a year or two I really hope to get on!

Meanwhile I'll be reading your posts ;)

Keep up the good work !

Artsy Fartsy Section

Here is something for you Barbara Jean.....

Much water under the bridge has passed... so everything is different

But it doesn't mean anything has changed.....

Captain Doug April 9th, 2011

Choices! You can’t live with them and you

can’t live without them. :))))

Captain D

From Up Here

Everything looks perfect….the intent from the one above.

Yet many senses are deprived.

The sound of hustle and bustle and the din below...muted.

Smells don’t ascend to flight level… so the flowers emblazoning a backyard go unnoticed.

Our sense of touch….worthless.

The smell of spices, the underground doings of a city or a frigid February wind does not exist.

The sounds of toilets flushing, a ferocious dog's bark, the scent and heat of romance ...oblivious.

Yet, a town of insignificance on foot looks pristine from up here.

Things seem to stop.

Death is put on hold, the awakening baby’s cry is unheard and misdoings are just thoughts.

Political boundaries go unnoticed. Religion is just a concept and hatred is erased.

But that’s from up here...aloft from reality…

Captain D

There's no thrill in easy sailing
when the skies are clear and blue.
There's no joy in merely doing
things which anyone can do.

But there is some satisfaction
that is mighty sweet to take,
when you reach a destination
that you thought you'd never make.

...Spirella