There goes my eldest....
Simplicity
In January's enRoute I gave an overview on how flight numbers are chosen. (Actually, this question came from the mom of the four year who asked about static wicks in this month's issue...an inquisitive family). :)
This morning I think I had one of the easiest flight numbers..."AC 123" to Edmonton.
Sometimes a pilot can "read back" a detailed clearance and then stumble with the flight number. For example..."Cross WASIE at 7000 feet, maintain 210 knots, after WASIE heading 210 to intercept the localizer for runway 24 right, Air Canada ???....
Air Canada?? I believe ATC tries to keep the maximum of "facts" to about four. After that, most will forget or get the clearance confused. Some pilots will write the flight number in large numbers placed in a conspicuous place. On the Airbus, the flight number is depicted on the "flight plan" page but murphy's law will have it another page is portrayed when you are looking for the number. :)
And to make things even simpler today, my F/O was "Doug." How could I forget his name? But the in-charge flight attendant had to differentiate us by calling us Doug "one"and Doug "two" :)
Kuwait City
As many know, working for an airline comes with travel benefits. That also includes traveling on other airlines. This morning I dropped off my 19 year old daughter so she could take a United flight to KIAD (Washington) and then connect to a twelve hour flight to Kuwait city to visit a fellow engineering student. Passes are based on "stand by" status but she made the flight!!! Actually, she was also fortunate to be "upgraded."
Her Dad can relax, but in a few days she will make her way back which in the past tended to be a bit of a challenge for us. This time last year the family and I were stranded in Barbados for a day (a good place to be stranded) because of a local ATC strike.
Tomorrow I'm off to Calgary and back.
6 comments:
Hey Captain Doug,
I have been wondering for the longest time now, how do thoes "Flight Passes" work? How does your family fly for free with thoes and how many do you get?
Thanks,
The Winnipeger,
Adam
Adam. I would be glad to tell you, but not on my blog. :) Sorry. Captain Doug
Hey Captain Doug,
Would you be able to email me?
Thanks,
The Winnipeger,
Adam
Adam. Not a problem but I'm off to YYC and back.
I'm certain Daniel can fill you in as well. :)
Re the flight numbers, it's interesting to note that AC picked up the tradition on the YYZ-NRT (Tokyo Narita) daily run after integrating Canadian Airlines a number of years ago. daily. Used to be "CP01" (Callsign Empress One, since it was a legacy flight operated by CPAir with a DC-10) and today is AC001.
Whywhyzed. You pegged it. The Canadian airline business almost ended up inverted with one man's desire to gain those Asian routes.
It was AC's ticket out of the doldrums. The YVR base was expected to expand, but in reality it's been slowly imploding.
But things are picking up...SLOWLY...
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