Q: Are aircraft engines at full thrust on takeoff?
Danny DaSilva
Toronto
More often than not, takeoff power is not at full thrust. Whenever possible, pilots use a lower power setting that saves wear on the engines, thus reducing maintenance costs and noise. But many conditions, such as runway length, weight, wind and temperature, must be optimal; otherwise, we use full power. Jet engines produce reduced thrust as the ambient air temperature increases. The “flex” temperature, which is inputted into the flight computers, is the highest air temperature at which the engines would produce the required thrust.
Q: Why do captains sit in the left seat in the flight deck?
Paul Anderson
Calgary
There seem to be many takes on this. One explanation stems from nautical tradition – the same reason why a captain wears four stripes. Most small aircraft are designed with the pilot in command occupying the left seat. Yet large airliners have dual instrumentation, with most switches accessible from both seats. When I trained as a captain, doing the same task with opposite hands took a little getting used to.
Q: How are the three-letter airport codes chosen?
Ben Rowley
Lethbridge, Alberta
Most airport codes are based on place names or airport names. When aviation was in its infancy, the U.S. National Weather Service used two letters to identify an airport. Now, IATA (the International Air Transport Association) creates the three-letter identifiers. DEN is obvious for Denver, Colorado. Chicago O’Hare International Airport is so named in tribute to Lt. Cmdr. Edward O’Hare, but it’s located on the site of a small commercial airfield originally known as Orchard Field. ORD is derived from this and was retained even though the airport’s name later changed. Next month, find out why Canada’s airports begin with “Y”.
18 comments:
The international airport of New Orleans, Louisiana was originally named Moisant Field in honor,of John B Moisant, early American Aviator, who died early early 1900's. though it has since been renamed Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
The airport retains its "MSY" identifier, derived from the airport's origins as "Moisant Stock Yards" the name given to the land where Moisant's fatal airplane crash occurred, and upon which the airport was later built.
"How are airport codes chosen"...Thanks Captain, you inspired me to check out my own "major home intr'l airport" New Orleans...Thanx Bunches!!!!
Getjets. Looks like you did a great job researching. Captain Doug
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/clearing-a-plane-of-snow-is-deicing-on-the-cake/article1893941/
Saw this article from Friday, and was very surprised (and disappointed) they didn't ask Captain Doug, the expert :)
Do you have any idea if de-icing employees have jobs during the summer?
Hi Nathaniel. I read your linked article. Not bad.
They sure do a great job jumping on the band wagon about being environmentally friendly.
I won't say anymore. :)
To my knowledge, the employees work in different sectors at the airport during the summer i.e cutting grass, etc.
Captain Doug
The one for my home airport is easy, if you know the area. KMDT is Harrisburg Int'l Airport, PA but it's located in Middletown, PA so hence the MDT...
Tim
Tim. Maybe you started something? (Actually Getjets instigated it). People from around the world can mention their nearest airport and explain the logic for the identifier.
As you know, here in Canada everything starts with a "Y" and the answer as to why will be in March's enRoute edition.
Having said that, I could not find why Toronto was named YYZ. Some people reasoned it was the radio operator'a call sign for the town of Malton where the old airport was.
You guys in the States got all the easy ones, but I guess you (Weather services) invented the system.
Thanks for the comments, Tim!
Captain Doug
P.S MDT is also the weather abbreviation for moderate. :)
XRY (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain)
Jerez, also spelled Xerez was pronounced by the English as "Sherry" and thus the name of the famous Spanish tipple produced in Jerez.
I guess the YYT code at St. Johm's International Airport is back in 1941 when the airfield was opened it was known as the Torbay airport because of the nearby community of Torbay. also this airport started as a military Airforce base and one of the main functions of this base was to hunt uboats in the North Altanic Ocean.
Loving the airport mini history lessons learned....otherwise never would have known....thanks to all that shared theirs, as well!!!misstwa
Hello ANON from Spain!
Thanks for the XRY explanation!
That's neat information about the drink "sherry."
We must celebrate!!!! :)
Captain Doug
Hi Chris. I did realize it was named after the community of "Torbay" but I didn't realize it started as a military airport. Interesting. I will be arriving in Torbay late tonight. :)
I wonder if the patrons on George Street will be looking for U-boats?
Speaking of which, I remember taking my wife to a park in Halifax overlooking the water. I told her we were going "submarine watching."
She actually thought there were submarines. How did I get on this topic? :)
Captain Doug
Getjets. Yes, interesting titbits of information. See what you're learning from this blog! :)
Captain Doug on day #2.
I got the info from the airport web site on its history. Anyways have a safe flight in. I look at the possible time you will be coming in and if it is the 3:20am flight by the time you go to bed Then I,ll be up by 4:30am to get ready to be at work at 6:00. Take care Chris.
Chris. I'm bringing in the continuing flight from Fort MacMurray. :)
I hope your flight in was good and that the beer math is in your favour. Have a safe flight home take care Chris.
Hi Chris, we were about 40 minutes late arriving at 1:20 a.m. You should have seen the push we had last night.
Over 200 knots!!!! The only place I've seen winds like that was over the Pacific.
I'm watching out the window as a low pressure system moves in. Looks like you guys are going to get hit.
Time to get out of Dodge!
Captain Doug in YYT
200 km head winds that must be one hell of a bumpy ride. This reminds me of a flight I once had going from Calgary to Ottawa where we flew through a thunderstorm with a cloud cover of 50,000 ft. The guy sitting next to me said after the flight I never gone through turbance as so bad and seeing a passenger so calm as me. In my reply I told him this something that I am use to exspecally the cross wind landings at my home airport. Take care, Chris.
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