Yesterday I arranged a tour for the Brampton Flight Centre one year diploma students. (In one year they will come out with a multi-engine IFR, about 250 hours coupled with an aviation diploma). We used the Vestergaard Elephant Beta 15 as the backdrop. This guy was built to handle the mammoth A380. Captain Doug is wearing the conspicuous blue jacket...I know...I know...you are saying...no kidding.
A view from inside the "Ice House" (Yes, its called the Ice house) As you can tell we did not pick a good day weather wise to tour this world renowned 65 acre facility. The trucks are out there waiting for the weather to turn. Temperatures were up to plus 10 C. Should have waited a day. Today much of Northern Toronto is engulfed in heavy snow showers.
This cartoon was posted on an office door in the CDF (Central Deice Facility)
I thought it was cute. When leaving the facility one of the operators (they were all grouped into a room much like fireman waiting for a call) and asked me, "hey do you guys still call this place, the Central Delay Facility?" I answered back with a big smile, "we are paid by the minute so we love this place... cha-ching, cha-ching..."
This truck was specifically modified with a nozzle to spray under the wing and to deice engine intakes.
A couple of students got to take this deicer for a spin. Not really, but they did get pretty high with one of the employees. All 31 trucks at the CDF are steered by the operator in the "cab," thus only requiring one person. This can be very alarming to some pilots who sit in smaller aircraft such as the RJs. Particularly from the carriers south of the border who infrequently visit this place . One manager told us how a few pilots got very excited on the radio when they saw the deicer approaching them with no driver! Apparently, the passengers get a little apprehensive as well.
Maybe I'll make an announcement to that effect next time. Hey, it's only February and I'm certain I'll be there a few more times.
The class of 2011 with the 1.5 million dollar Beta 15 posing in the background.
We watched two great videos. One was done by the Discovery Channel on deicing the goliath A380 and the other on the complexity and intricacy of this facility.
This truck is capable of mixing the hot water and gycol concoction for type one. Plus it carries hundreds of liters of type IV.
Another story...
One day a pilot asked for both type I and Type IV. The CDF was at a loss as to why he needed type IV when no precipitation fell. The captain came back and said the ATIS mentioned moderate mixed icing was reported at 10,000 feet. Oops. Back to ground school for this guy. Type IV is designed to sheer off on take roll so by the time the pilot got to 10,000 feet no Type IV would be on the airplane. Doooh...
It was also mentioned on one particular day, they were launching off 33 Right which was a very short taxi from the CDF, but everyone required the bright green florescent TYPE IV fluid due to extensive snow showers. There was so much fluid sheering on the take roll that the "landers" reported braking to be poor. Because of it, the CDF sent out the GRVs (Glycol Recovery Vehicles) a.k.a "slick lickers" (think huge vacuum trucks) to suck it all up. Captain Doug was in that line up! It was the first time I noticed the extent of type IV anti-icing fluid on the runway.
Even though we didn't see any actual deicing yesterday I think the class got a very good tour.
23 comments:
I want to go on a CDF tour......I guess I'll have to settle for one in the jet :)
CAT III Approach
I don't know how I missed the cartoon on the first approach....Go Around!! lol
Funny stuff! and great post by the way.....now I have a thousand questions about the CDF trucks!! ugh.....I'll save it for later.
Enjoy father daughter time with D squared! :)
CAT III Approach
CAT III Approach. Not many get to see it. Even most pilots will never venture there...just complain about it. lol But if they took the time, they might not be so...be so....
Just like I think pilots should visit ATC. I don't know how many times I hear them rag on ATC.
But if they only knew.
I better stop while I'm ahead.... :)
CAT III approach. She is still not home. She went through American pre-clearance for Air Canada then had to exit through Canada customs. Then she had to gothrough American pre-clearnce for Westjet and now she is going through Canadian customs...and she never left Toronto.
Captain Doug
Hey Doug, great post!
I have a couple (unrelated) questions that have come to mind.
1) How does scheduling work for AC pilots? How is it distributed and how far in advance does it go?
2) Can you switch flights with other pilots? What is the process of doing this?
Thanks,
Bryan
P.S. Great news! I got acceptance into Aviation Management at Algonquin College for this fall! One step closer to living the dream I guess!
Bryan. We have a computer based system where we input parameters. For March... I requested Fridays off (son's hockey), avoided four day
pairings, avoided "red eyes," avoided deadheads, avoided YDF (don't like the long drive and long layover), avoided March 7th (I teach the new hires),
avoided days prior to and after my weeks vacation to make it longer, and so and so. It's all predicated on seniority amongst your position held.
I sit at 55% as a YYZ A320 captain so if I bid correctly, I should get most things on my Christmas list. :)
The bid closes on the 21st and we don't get the results until the 24th. So many pilots have to do
some quick juggling.
There is a system to switch flights, but it's a work out. I've never done it.
Congrats on Algonquin.
Yes, you are one step closer!
Keep it going.
Captain Doug
How is capt quackers ducky I hope. Nice article about the tour of the deicing facilities and the photo of the A380 deicer. I question I have for you how often does a A380 lands in Toronto? Take care, Chris.
Hi Chris. Right now Emirates brings the "goliath" in three times a week.
But if you have been following the news, they want to pump up their visits big time!
It's a little bit of a sore spot for many. :)
Impressive! This like these should be organized by the carrier I think, makes people (Pilots) understand things better and not only see the negative side...
Bas
Bas. A very valid and wise point! Knowledge is power, opens the mind and lessons negativity.
All good stuff.
Another thing which enlightens...exercise.
Gone to the gym!
Captain "so-so in shape" Doug
Great post, Capt. Duck...ummm...Doug! Amazing to see the CDF and its technology.
Tim
Thanks Tim. :)
Many call me Dave. I tell them, "close enough, it's a four letter word beginning with 'D'" :)
Now it looks like I will have to add "Duck" to the list.
Captain Duck I mean Doug :)
Doug, Heads up and some congratys to Brian M. He is on his way and best wishes.
Travel passes: I've read your story about taking the whole family via pass - ouch! Now they are spread out in different spots,often grounded and DAD can't do much. Ouch again as Dad's like to make things work for their kids and the spouse. Readers are hoping for empty seats...
Said again, whatever you post is a FUN read and I enjoy checking in every few days. The (almost) saily blog is a lot more fun than some of the FA's blogs: they are either overrun with ads, or spend 90% of their time bitching about the PAX. A blog that is focused on flying - and making the flying happen - as yo do, is a pleasant, homeplate. Thanks, Capt. Doug.
-Craig
Cook (Craig)
Travel passes: Yes, they can be a work out! They are airline privileges, but with flights flying to near capacity it sure takes planning. One must have plan B, C and D as a back up.
I'm hearing the F/A blogs can vent, but I believe their intentions were good when they started.
I know I would do the same as well. :)
For fun, I went on a few "other" aviation blogs yesterday. Heck, I even posted on a "heavy hitter" (FL 390) blog. For one thing I recognized many of "my" readers. (Looks like many dance around from blog to blog). I wanted to see how I rate with the others. Maybe "readers" out there can tell me some of the heavy hitter sites? That way I can adjust.
But from what I have observed, I think my blog is doing okay. :)
Again, thanks for dropping by.
Captain Doug
pretty picture of the city from above...and the moon :)
Anon. Yes, I can still remember that night. Must have had a lot on my mind. :)
Captain ^D^
AND......I enjoyed the essay from a dear friend of yours...."value of individual's service", from an earlier posting!!
A refresh....looks great!!!!^j^
Thanks getjets. I went on a coffee mentoring trip yesterday. We talked for two hours. He mentioned he bought a beautiful picture of a legacy airline. I thought of you...Miss TWA. :)
I'll post it soon.
Captain ^D^
Simply......."SUPERB"!!!!!!
Thank You,^j^
misstwa
I thought you might like it. ^D^
Captain Doug,
There are a few other excellent pilot blogs around but I believe most of them I've seen post on your blog as well (Dave at FL390, Ryan at Jetblue, Aviatrix, etc). One blog that I do highly recommend is by a B737 Captain from AA (http://jethead.wordpress.com). He tends to 'tell it like it is'. Another excellent blog is http://alancockrell.blogspot.com
I keep hoping for a blog from a 'teal and blue' pilot, but have been unable to find one thus far, not sure what their corporate policy is on blogs as they are using a lot of other forms of social media.
Brgds,
YYC Dispatcher
P.S. See you tomorrow!
Anon. (YYC Dispatcher). Someone else steered me to "jethead's" blog. For some reason I find it a tad difficult to read. Must be the background he uses.
Yes, he tells it like it is but I noticed one posting he was submerged in hot water from comments. I don't want to go there. Plus I noticed his visits are scarce.
Maybe I can do something about that? :)
I also perused over the other you recommended, but he hasn't posted in quite some time.
I did NOT realize Captain Dave from FL390 posted here. Thanks Dave! Wow. A heavy hitter! :) I made a debut post on his yesterday. Plus I sent him an email requesting to include each other's blog. "No joy" as of yet.
So that is Ryan! Thanks Ryan!
And of course Aviatrix is the greatest! Her blog sends more traffic my way than anyone else! Thanks Aviatrix!!! (One day we will meet up again for coffee) :)
And speaking of traffic, my blog will bust a new record today. I hope that's a good thing and not people wanting to knock me off my pedestal or shut me down. :(
Tomorrow will be busy. I meet with the Weather Network at the sim building in the morning and then fly to YVR and then over to see you in YYC.
Yes, see you tomorrow!
Captain Doug the blogger
Doug, Sorry about the address mixup, stuff happens. Glad that you visited some of the other blogs. Each has a unique character and most are fun. A bit difference is frequency of posting. Our interests change over time and the time required is recognized as substantial. Linking to each other is a grand idea, but not everyone like to do it. Ahem... Do you now know why you get called "Dave" at times? On passes, the lines often remind staff that it is a privlidge, not a right. I few as non-rev once, years ago (long before 9/11), LAX-DEN-PDX and return, thanks to a brother. I spent 12 hours in DEN on a bump ane the rest was literally FC. Zero regrets and many thanks. The 'service' would not be possible today. Boarded normally, but employee brother met me on the Jetway. A ramp rat met me in DEN and entertained me with a f ull tour after I got bumped. Hwn I finally made PDX, another met me on the Jetway and we exited to the ramp, rode a tug to baggage and slid down a couple of shutes. Much the same on the return. Today, that stuff would get us shot. Hope your family regroups soon.
-Craig
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