From the Flight Deck

Great pictures Capt. Doug! Halifax looks like a beautiful city. I'd love to get out there one day.

An off topic question here....

Does AC still have guys jumping to left seat on the ERJ after just a couple years of seniority? I read about that a few years ago and didn't know whether or not it was true or not.

Thanks!

Doug,

Love YHZ! Great story about the Elephant & Castle. Went to YHZ for the AC softball tournament. We combined it with a stag for one of our buddies and ended up at this pub one night along with his blow up doll and all the AC employees in the tournament. Half way through the the night he did a solo dance with her after which the manager came up and asked us to leave. After this the entire ball tournament left the pub. It went from full to completely empty in a matter of minutes. Don't think the manager expected that!

Hello Captain
Nice walk of Halifax.. A note on the watchtower:
The digit 4 is always "IV" if written in Latin. However watchmakers tend to write it as "IIII" as it gives a better visual balance on the dial.
Great blog, by the way
Cheers from Copenhagen

Anon. Halifax is a great city...when it's sunny and warm. It takes on a different guise during the cool damp weather. But then again, I guess every city does.

And the answer is yes to the Embraer question. Pilots are hired with ATPLs. Plus I am told we hire all potential captains.
So if your seniority entitles you to the position, you will get it. Having said that, there tends to be a baseline of 3000 hours for that
very reason. The under 3000 category was not working out too well when they went left seat.

Hope this helps.

MikeYYC. Thanks for sharing the "Elephant and Castle" story! LOL

And you guys brought the blow up doll? Um, I better stop there with the jokes. lol

Sounds like the manager lost hundreds of dollars because "boys were being boys."

DocSKB from Copenhagen.

I read the reason for this years ago and thanks for confirming it. It's all about looks. :)))

And speaking of which, enRoute (Air Canada's in-flight magazine) did some great write ups on Copenhagen in this month' issue.
The author called it, "the city of perfected happiness." You guys should be bottling that stuff up and selling it. The article is "Don't Worry be Danish."

One day (I say one day) when I get on the B767 one of my routes will be Copenhagen. I'll be sure to do a "walking tour" to check out you "happy" people. LOL

Thanks for checking in.

Captain D from Canada

Hey Captain Doug, Halifax...is so lovely!!!!!!....with an 'old town' feel, and clean...no trash

and with plenty of taverns....thats what they call them in the midwest...'taverns'....like at my "Old St. Charles town....in Missouri..
just love to be at one of those taverns...having a drinkie...and watching the planes....2 LOVES...1 SPOT....



Soooooooooooo what is spewing from your jet Captain.....????? If it's pee....thats fine....at least I know what I'm dealing with...

Whats worse....is that 'mystery fluid' on the outside of the 'Diet Coke' drink someone handed you through a window at the burger drive-thru...NASTYYYYYYYYY...GIVE ME A BALL OF NAPKINS......."STAT"

lets move on....shall we....
Aviation question,

How far did you have to run to get "airborne" to land in the moose jumpseat?????? well I guess if you seen one, you've seen them all......nice rack too.....smiling right????

And of ALL the people to be talking about anomalies on watch faces!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ahem...watch strap....there's your anomaly...LOLOLOLOLOL

check this out..

and here's your moment of ZEN:

BOEING COMPLETE'S 787 FLIGHT TEST WITH A "TOP-GUN" SPOOF TOWER PASS!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFrKzbgwgQs&feature=player_embedded

miss(remember to 'copy and paste')twa

Doug!

Last photo. I believe that's NIGHT MAGIC, top of Sackville St. [Or, so I heard, from...asking around]
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Great that you were in town! I suggest that you check out DAL and SMU campuses. Beautiful changes. Remember the open courtyard of the Killam Library? Pigeons found it very convenient. Not anymore. A glass roof in place now.
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Approach plate very interesting. Something the public never gets to see. Just a glimpse of the complexities that most of us never consider when we are passengers.
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In that connection, we've all seen movies where, in am emergency, a commercial airliner is landed by someone without proper training. [With instruction from ATC] How plausible is that? When you were an experienced pilot of only small aircraft, could you have successfully landed an AIRBUS 320, with guidance from an A320 pilot and ATC?

may not have made it clear but really Loved the pics Captain.....very nice tour!!!!!

you would definetley be a person of interest for a job of 'Tour guide'...but isn't that kinda what ya do as a pilot.....?????


you take us places...Beautiful places!!!!!

and the 'approach' picture....I love it.....thats a keeper for the collection!!!:)))))))

Great photos Captain Doug. Thanks for taking the time to do that. Way cool!

By the way, are you headed to or from YVR in the next few days? I'm on the A330 heading out, but my ride home Saturday night is a 321.

Craig R ..... which apparently stands for "red-eye"

Hey Doug,

I went to Halifax in July and i loved it there! I did that harbour hopper thing haha turns out i was in the only seat that actually splashes water in my face!On our first day we got there at 1130 local time and we jumped when they fired the daily cannon at 12! Did you notice lots of construction in Halifax? It seams like there lots of construction sights there but nothing is getting done :P also went to peggys cove and visited the Swiss air 111 memorial... Very sad :(

Awesome pictures Captain!

Was this tour for free? :P

In Amsterdam don't lend out your camera to let someone take a picture for you. I've seen someone running off with a new iPhone...he was only asked to take a picture...Oops! Well I guess you had a good look as to who you asked =).

Bas

Hi Doug!

Loved the pictures of Halifax! Makes me miss the place. Looks like it was a perfect day there for your layover!


Heather :)

Getjets. Yes, Halifax is a relatively clean city. But as of late they have more and more vagabonds.
I can't walk to get my morning coffee without two to three asking for money.

But the city that takes the cake in that department is downtown San Francisco, but I love that city.

That "pee" either emanates from the galley or lavatory sink. I'm amazed they incorporate such a thing. I guess it's like the railroads peeing on the tracks. But for a self contained aluminum tube it always surprises me.

Love the Boeing/Airbus spoof!

Thanks for the link!

Cool pics. I never thought much of Halifax (no offense, lol), but it seems like it would be a fun little trip.

And Doug, judging by the post 10 minutes ago, I take it you're not having to deal with this wonderful weather tonight? Awful for pilots, nothing but entertainment for av geeks like me sitting here listening to YYZ and YOW ATC.

Craig M.

Paul (Daniel) Asuncion

One day I'll walk up to the Dalhousie campus and check out the Killiam library.
Sort of reminds me of our brand new employee parking lot. They designed it similar to the Kiliam library with an open roof.
The only glitch was the threat of snow/ice falling. So they blocked off walkways because of it.

Funny you should ask about whether a non-pilot or inexperienced pilot could land an Airbus.
I have thirty or more pages written in a book called "Autoland." It's where both pilots are incapacitated on a flight to San Francisco but two
teenage Microsoft simmers who fly the Airbus on their computers is talked down to a successful "autoland" landing. It would make for a GREAT Hollywood movie. Heck, if they can make a movie about snakes in an airplane my book should be able to "fly" as well. LOL

Getjets. I agree, this blog is like a "tour guide" to aviation as well.

Doug the tour guide.

Craig R (redeye).

Thanks about the YHZ pics.

Actually I'm heading out to Victoria on the weekend. I'll race ya to the West coast. :)))

Doug when are you going to Victoria? I'll be flying around there in a Victoria flying club plane practicing for my flight test, maybe I'll hear you on the radio!

Brett.

Sounds like you got around in Halifax and did all those touristy things. :)

And you did Peggy's Cove and the Swiss Air memorial?
Somewhere I have pics when I visited the memorial.

I did one voluntary flight for the grieving relatives and friends from JFK to YHZ. I still have the nice gift Swissair sent.

Bas.

That's what I call my trips with my family..."Doug's tours." And when we arrive in our driveway after getting in from the airport I say, "Be sure you tip your driver on the way out." No response.

I think it's okay if you ask someone randomly to take a picture. The problem lies when they offer first.
Reminds me of the time when visiting the Taj Mahal. They all wanted to take your picture. But I was forewarned if they did so, there would be pick pocketers taking your wallet instead of taking your picture.

And yes, I had a good look at the two young ladies I asked. LOL

Although there was a slight hesitation when I asked them. They probably thought this "old man" was after more than just a picture. LOL

Heather. It truly was a perfect day. When the weather is like that you can't beat a Maritime summer day.

The only glitch, they are few and far between. You have to really appreciate them when they arrive.

I haven't heard from you in awhile.

Hope you are still thinking about something aviation related. :)))

Craig M.

No offense taken as far as Halifax. Heck, I didn't think it was worth commuting to work for.

Again, I happened to be there on a phenomenal day but they were plagued with dismal weather this summer.

As far as the weather, nope been sitting home on a series of days off. Although the power went out.

But before it did, ex boy scout captain D fetched his flashlight.

Getjets.

Seems like you have a "bee in your bonnet."

I hope it is not how "number one" reacts when she finds I didn't build her a fence.

I had fence post diggers coming to dig and set posts. They never showed. Looks like Captain D
will have to bring out the pick and shovel although with all the water from last night's thunderstorms it might not happen.

So I will be hearing some nasty stuff tonight after her arrival from KMSY.

Then again, maybe New Orleans' hospitality and Southern "laid back approach" may have worn on her.

Here's hoping. :)))

Thanks for the virtual tour of Halifax Doug! It's been a long time since I've visited there, and your pictures make me want to go back again. My wife has the east coast and PEI on our must-visit list. She's never been there and I'm sure YHZ will be one of our stops, hopefully sooner than later!

I'll have the pleasure of a few segments on AC's 320-series next month- if you're on any LAX-YUL-YYZ-LAX flights I may finally get to see you in uniform. Keeping my fingers crossed:)

Take care and thanks again for the post. Oh yeah, I also did some catch-up reading (been out of the loop for a bit), and have fun with the fence while you're at it! After the excellent work you did on the patio, I don't think the fence should be too much of a challenge:)

Christer

Brett.

I'll be heading your way Saturday. Sorry I can't give particulars but you are a pretty tech savvy guy. :)))

And yes, it would be me working the radios if my F/O accepts my offer for him to fly first.

Christer.

Your wife is right....Halifax and the East Coast is a must. Prince Edward Island is gorgeous in the summer. But not this summer, they too were plagued with so-so weather.

CYYG (Charlottetown) brings back memories of me getting checked out on the Dash 8. When the last flight arrived from Halifax we would take it up for training during the wee hours.
One night we were asked to fly down the beaches to spot an overturned boat. No joy. They found the drowned man the next day.
Boy, you know you are getting old when you start having memories. LOL

Just received my September sked. Unfortunately there are no LAXs. Looks like you'll have to wait a little longer. LOL

That's the problem. Number one liked the job I did on the patio, so now it's the fence, and then the shed, and then the....

There were several bee's in my bonnet to say the least....but I don't regret all my buzzing!!!!

hopefully your 'number one' will be rested and refreshed...although with the
"Heat wave" here...she may be thrilled to be back home....fence or no fence....
either way...you look to be well packed for your get away.....
safe as always Captain Doug

miss(buzzzzzzzzzz)twa

Getjets. Yup, I'm packed just in case. LOL

Hope you solve your bee problem. :)

Hey "Big Chief Airways".....with the sh__t eating grin on the front....LOL

Thank you for posting Captain Doug....see......you are going to heaven!!! I just hope I am on your flight at the time....LOL

misstwa

Getjets.

Let's hope that flight to you know where is for years and years to come. :)

In the mean time, happy blogging!

Captain ^D^

"AMEN TO THAT, BROTHER"
^J^

Captain Doug:
Many thanks for the "day-trip" to YHZ, one of our - my "number 1" and I - favorite places in Canada, or mostly anywhere. With a tip-of-the-hat to you, I now have an updated list of new places to vist the next time we haul down there from mid-country.
Cheers from here!

AUTOLAND...AUTOLAND. I'd pay to see that movie. [And I think many others would too]
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Sometimes, we think alike.[Don't let that scare you!]
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Because you wrote it, such a film would be heavy on realism, even though it's speculative.

Realism is compelling. E.g. Oliver Stone's PLATOON.

RTD8450

Glad to to hear you want to visit the East Coast again.

And of course you will fly AC getting there. :))))

Paul (Daniel)

I agree, we do think alike! I think we are both deep thinkers. Must have been the street where we grew up. LOL

Realism is compelling! But fantasy is a neat place to visit just as long as reality tugs you back. :)

How's that for thought provoking deep thinking? LOL

Thanks Dan

Capt. Doug,
Halifax looks like a wonderful city - Thanks for the tour. Is Theodore based in Halifax? My daughter, now 15, absolutely loved the Theodore the Tug Boat show. About 10 years ago Theodore cruised into Tampa and my wife and I took our daughter to see Theodore live and in person - she was thrilled.

Thanks for your trip down Pub and memory lane!!!

JB in Tampa. Yes, Theodore is based in Halifax. You can take tours and it looks like I captured him doing his thing in the Halifax Harbour.

Gee, I didn't realize the show was that popular. But then again, for a Canadian show to make it into the American market, it must have be good.

You should come and visit Theodore's birthplace. LOL