From the Flight Deck

Here's a few pics CAT III Approach (an avid blog fan) sent yesterday enroute from work in Alberta to his home on the East coast. He is one of many that does this trek.

A wing is a fuel tank, has spoilers, ground spoilers, flaps, slats, ailerons and changes it's shape according to the task at hand. It doesn't like to be contaminated, has engines mounted to it, bends a little, and has wires, heating tubes, cables with a herculean skeletal make up wrapped in aluminum and composites. It keeps us afloat in the wild blue yonder.

       .....Fly Wing Fly.....!

A "clean wing" on a east to west heading...Lake Ontario is to the South. An Airbus wing. Not sure if it is an A319, A320 or A321...doesn't matter... they are the exact same wing. I bet Toronto ATC has them slowed to 170 knots until the FAF (Final Approach Fix) :)

The aircraft turns (banks) via the spoilers (as seen) and/or the ailerons located on the outer portion of the wing. There are five separate spoilers. Some of them act in unison on both wings to act reduce speed or descend. They are then called "speed brakes" a.k.a the "boards." You may hear a wallowing sound when near an airport...that's the speed brakes.
I live near the "SETLO" fix where you have to be at 3000 feet or higher at a speed of 200 knots. You'll hear the pilots deploying the speed-brakes overhead.

Depiction of the A320 flight controls.

Jump seat in the folded position

This is where all my friends sit...notice it's empty. LOL

A picture of the jump seat as requested by an avid fan. Only pilots and flight attendants are allowed. I can't even have the "boss" in the flight deck....she is deemed a "risk." I knew there was something "fishy" about her....LOL (Kidding!!!!!) :)

Jardines Del Rey (Gardens of the King)

Got to add another notch to my airport list yesterday. (I was there about four years ago to an all inclusive, but that doesn't count).

We fly to about six or seven Cuban destinations and Cayo Coco is part of an archipelago on the north side. The airport is equipped with an ILS and it worked! Most of these Cuban airports have/had military affiliations so it explains the ILS, however, the runway was a tad rough. In fact, our briefing notes suggested using flap 3 for take off instead of our usual flap 1. Captain D thought we were going to bounce into the air. Actually I've departed on rougher runways. :)

The F/O did a great job manoeuvring visually around the dimly lit island. (He has 15 year old triplets with a one year old child- what a combo!) First time I met him and today we will be off to Sarasota, Florida and back, then to Halifax.

Must have been "earth day" yesterday making for some "full moon" events. Firstly, while waiting for our airplane in the lounge a passenger approached me and chatted me up. She worked for an insurance company, CSI. She jokingly said it stood for "Chicks Selling Insurance." :) I applaud her for approaching the aircrew. Since "that day" almost ten years ago, passengers are hesitant to chat with the pilots. We don't bite! She requested a picture with me. (First time for that request). Then once in the flight deck, another lady poked her head in and asked if she could be my co-pilot (First time for that request). Then a lady approached me in Canadian customs at 1:00 a.m this morning and told me. "that was a deadly landing." (First time I heard a landing described like that. Maybe it's equivalent to "awfully nice" or a "wicked smile?") Again...must have been "earth hour."  :)

Many passengers on these charter flights tend to be "seldom flyers." They tend to imbibe a few drinks (after all they are on vacation) with this flight being the norm (a couple were asked to abstain - I'll stop there). Plus, you will notice many clap when we land. (Not...when they return however...lol)

On my welcome aboard P.A last night I said...."welcome on flight 1815 bound for Toronto...and back to reality...." I heard a captain make this announcement on our Cancun flight and thought it was cute. :)

Off to Florida, but not before I poke my head into a bowling alley where my son's hockey banquet is. I'm certain I'll be getting some weird stares and I hope I don't embarrass my son too much. :)

The life of an airline pilot....

View from our seat at the Bell Centre last night

Hi ho...Hi ho...it's off to work we go

As Kermit the frog said.... It's not easy being "Green" (Our competition)

Chasing our contrail

I took this pic while flying from Newfoundland to Toronto during the wee hours this morning (March 22, 2011). The sun is rising in the east (we are heading west) and the black line is our contrail's shadow. Think about it...the contrail is behind us but the shadow is ahead intersecting a thin veil of cirrus to a perihelia (sun dog). The much mentioned moon during the last few days sits at the top left of the picture.

Taking a look at the "love tap."

Maintenance truck

Contemplating shutting down the blog..

Today we made it back home via Montreal...again. We were punted yesterday on the direct flight to Toronto by a senior captain and his party of five. Seats opened a couple of hours later for the Montreal flight. Two "really nice" seats and two "not so nice" seats. I was actually going to give my daughter or son the "J" seat. Then it donned on me, I just bought them a weeks vacation at an all exclusive resort..so you know where they went. :)

Because we missed the last flight to Toronto, it was off to a hotel. But because we stopped  in Montreal, the flight this morning attracted an airport improvement fee of $28 times five. %[email protected]#&*

Things went pretty well on the trip besides Diesel Daughter walking on a nail and then when we were packing her brand new Blackberry cell phone (which just replaced another) went missing. Hmmmmmm? Never did find it.

But Captain Doug also pulled a "bone head" move by sitting in the water with his digital camera in his pocket. Yup, fried the puppy. Luckily I was able to recuperate the pics.

Every year, I keep saying I will never travel the busiest time (March break) on passes.
Glad to be home, now it's time to go to work early tomorrow on a four day mission to get some rest.

Due to personal matters I was on the verge of keeping the blog in a holding pattern. A couple of people, including the "boss," said it's not necessary, but just ease off on things.

So I will try to wane my addiction....

Okay, okay I busted my hold.....

Traffic "twelve o'clock" One hears that a lot.....

Captain Doug is heading south. During the last two days I worked on a video called
"I'm leaving on a Jet Plane." I went to upload it and it disappeared! It was a beauty but maybe it was meant to be. I did a lot of gloating over the "boss."  :)

It was that kind of day. Our washer went kaput so I had to buy, pick up and install a washer before our trek. "Diesel daughter" had about five loads scattered amongst her bedroom and god forbid if we had to go to a laundromat. :)

The internet is readily available where I'll be and like any "addict" I'll be checking in now and again.

My batteries are low so it's time to rejuvenate. lol

Captain Doug has left on a jet plane......


UPDATE:


Toronto to Cancun. Two seats came available. Two groups of three revenue passengers could not go. One mother with two young children from YOW were in tears because they could not go.
(For some reason they reminded me of someone)  :) I felt really bad for them. We were at the top of the pecking order but "no joy." It turns out another pilot with his daughter and friend got on. He took the jump seat. We needed four seats.

Toronto to Cozumel. We decided to give this flight a try an hour later. Three seats opened up. But the captain was leery of taking me in the jump because I was not registered. I won't say much more.

There were only two flights a week  so invariably we would have to take a ferry back to Cancun to get home.

Toronto to Montreal.

We took a fully loaded B767 to Montreal in anticipation of catching a 6:30 flight to Cancun. Right now it's a A321 with 20 open seats. Stay tuned!

I get to check out the brand new Mariott attached to the airport. I got an airline discount. A whopping $20 off the room!

These passes are wearing thin. My batteries will be depleted before I can charge them.  :)

Nothing is free and that includes "free" airline passes.

Just booked a resort. Yes, we were heading there without a hotel confirmation. Looks like it's
Playa Del Carmen.

Interview


Saturday...prior to "A loooooong Day" I flew an Orlando turn. An interview was arranged as soon as I stepped out of Canadian customs with "Mike." He wanted to write an article on deicing for one of the "larger Chinese newspaper outside of China."

He wanted pictures as well so I took him up to flight planning for the interview and back drop. Some of the pics showed Captain Doug is encountering "wear and tear" especially after a 4:00 a.m wake up and with "things" going on. A vacation is in order! :)

Mike asked some great researched questions. Actually he is pursuing the Cathay pacific pilot cadet program.

Brampton Flight Centre Wings Banquet


That night my "Westjet buddy" (wife) and I sat at the head table at the annual Wings's Banquet. There we listened to a motivational speaker who flies a B737 for Canadian North and is the only Canadian to summit Mount Everest without the aid of oxygen. Funny, I did the speech three years ago but mine paled to this guy's Powerpoint Presentation loaded with great video shots. Having said that, his presentation encountered sound problems and like any pilot tried to trouble shoot. He had a great sense of humour about it and wanted to call "maintenance" several times. Finally he decided to give everyone a break. That's when my Westjet buddy wanted to bolt. I didn't even get to see the awards. Next time I'm flying solo. :)

I emailed Captain Laval St. Germain today and gave him a "thumbs up."
Here's his website....Captain Laval  It sure makes you realize you've done little compared to these "extreme" people. I do realize most out there have their own mountains to climb and for many it's equivalent to an Everest trek. It made me realize I better get going with mine.

.... Ladies be forewarned, this guy has several shots with his shirt off and YES he is ripped! Funny how motivated people like their pictures taken. :)


My Talk
I've been asked to give a talk to the graduates at the University of Western Ontario CAM (Commercial Aviation Management) program. I sure hope I can convince these guys they did the right thing. Although I am somewhat dismayed about the track record regarding hiring with my company. Only 25 percent are making the cut. How devastating to a vocation a person has aspired to all their lives. To take a degree, fly up north in deplorable conditions to build those needed hours only to get a PFO (Please F off ....) saying "thanks but no thanks."

Speaking of motivation...

Here's a pic a "frequent commenter" sent to liven my spirits. She sensed Captain Doug had a long winter....

Toronto-Nassau-Toronto

I should have guessed what kind of day it would be after seeing six cars in the ditch because of an overnight freezing rain/snow attack. I get to flight planning and see my F/O already mired in the MELs (Minimum Equipment List) due to an inoperative bleed air. Translation...we are restricted to 31,000 feet. Immediately I check the weather to see if thunderbumpers would be an issue. I see the Eastern seaboard will be littered with them topping at 35,000 to 38,000 feet. It's early Sunday morning with no coffee and I'm grumpy. I call dispatch and insinuate they fix the airplane or get me a new one. The dispatcher knew where I was coming from. She easily handled Captain Grumpy. They found us a new airplane, but it's coming from Halifax. No biggie, we get a new flight plan and make our way to the gate. They posted a 30 minute delay.





I won't tell you what flight directors do when not selected for take off or whether the F/O got a little high on approach or where my brand new Blackberry Torch cell phone ended up under the rudder pedals after landing.

The water issue raised it's ugly head again, but we decided we are heading back to Toronto. A few of the F/As were thinking a Nassau layover, but Captain Doug had new hires to teach the next day.

On the return flight we dodged thunderstorms topped at 36,000 confirming Captain Doug's decision on getting another airplane. One plane encountered severe turbulence at FL 290 where we just got ripples at 39, 000.

Can you say undulation? My "senses" were tingling when we were climbing through this cloud formation out of Nassau at around 30,000 feet. Just got a few bumps.

After 11 hours into our day a sense of calm sets in. We are heading north and the western sky sees night close in.

The life of a "Canadian" airline pilot....

Turn up the volume for both these clips!!!!

Virtual Air Canada

I had a facebook request yesterday and I asked what airline he flew for after seeing "David" in a pilot uniform. Boy did he open a door!

Welcome to virtual Air Canada!!!

Their website is top notch. Virtual Air Canada

I don't know what to think about the Jazz airplanes but I guess we are one big happy family. (Tim H....looks like your airline has some stiff competition north of the border) LOL



Take a look at their site, who knows some of you may want to join.

This week started off in the virtual sims. Then my interview came along about virtual training. And now "David" introduced me to virtual Air Canada. Plus Captain Doug encountered virtual/real turbulence within his blog.

But tomorrow brings me back to reality with a 5:30 a.m check in. (Anyone going to Florida?) Then I have an interview with a "follower" for a deice article and then it's off to the Wings Parade for the Brampton Flight Centre. Sunday sees me off to Nassau and back and Monday I teach a new hire class. Then Captain Doug has two weeks vacation so I'll be putting my blog into a holding pattern some time next week.

Just received this from Kelly Noseworthy at the Weather Network.

They took lots of footage and it was whittled down to this....Hope someone out there appreciates it. :)

Click on the photo and then click on it again once it takes you to the page.