From the Flight Deck

Like any endeavour, you have to start somewhere. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Yah, I know you heard that a million times. But you have to know what you want or at least have a vague idea. My backyard is my "vague idea." "Number one" had the game plan.




But you have to invest in sweat equity and keep focused. Yes, perseverance wins but it sure can be tough going. This is your commercial license and you are going heavily in debt. No one is there to help nor give you guidance. Hesitation sets in.

Another step. Literally! They weighed over 300 pounds (140 kg). This is your multi engine IFR rating. Things are moving along but you are asking,"is this worth it?" Why didn't I hire someone? Why did I chose this career?



Then there are curve balls. Career changes. Set backs. All those stones (about 500 square feet) some weighing 50 pounds were pulled up because "number one" thought things weren't quite right. Yes, your career is not going to be easy. Nor will it happen fast. Sure a few lucky ones seem to do it right the first time, but not the majority. That includes me!


Dear Capt. Morris,

I've been a long time reader of your enroute articles. Not sure when they started, but I swear coming across them almost ten years ago if my memory serves me right. I read them while commuting to Toronto from Saskatoon for a job i had out of university. Ironically, it was always reading those articles that I new I was probably in the wrong field. Recently, I bought your book while I was on vacation in Palm Springs. I was searching a book store down there and saw your name and had no idea you had a book, and remembering your articles, I had to buy it. It's very good.

So, trying to make this short, I've always had a passion for aviation. Right from probably three or four years old - because my dad would take me to the airport every weekend and we'd hang out there for hours doing all sorts of stuff. Those were good days. Somehow, I figured getting an education would be a good first step, and I got a degree which led to a job... which led to many years going by. In the meantime i got my private license but don't have too many hours. It's so expensive to fly recreationally. 


I'm 33, and have a great corporate job but my heart still belongs in aviation.
To be honest, i don't really care too much about the money, I just think I'd be so much happier even being on a small turbo-prop someday, versus being in my position today. I figure making it to an airline might be a struggle as most new hires are in their mid thirties. I'd be 43 if I got my act together today. 

My question is, do you have some ideas as to building initial experience for a person in my shoes/age. I'm pretty lucky. I have no debt and money saved up. I was thinking of buying a 172, flying on the weekends/evenings to build some decent PIC time, while knocking on doors of the the small operators here at YYC like Sunwest and North Cariboo. I'd keep my office job for now to pay for this. I figure even in a year i can get some decent time under my belt. I'm not sure if flying privately equates to instructing time or working the ramp etc. Or, maybe going to an aviation college is the best route but i have two degrees now, work experience and want to solely build time. Anyhow, i don't want to waste your time. I've written too much but wanted your opinion as you're someone I highly respect, not only for your experience, but enthusiasm and passion - which is what really makes me open my eyes and realize I should be following my passion too. Like the saying goes, never a better time than the present.

Thank you for your time and keep up all the good work.


My response:


Sir (name kept anon), you have been bitten by the "bug" and the only way to cure it is to live your dream!!!!

Note the large comma shaped cloud indicative of an intense system. The  curvature of the "comma" is located over the Great Lakes where a surface low pressure system sits. An elongated trough and front lies southwestward all the way to Mexico.

Latest surface analysis with some radar returns. Note the stuff in the Gulf of Mexico. Guess where Captain D is heading? Getjets can you move some of that stuff out of the way over your neck of the woods? lol

Well Captain D took off that dorky hat that made me look like a "golf tee" and put on his weather hat.

For over four hours I pounded the new hire class with meteorology.

I showed them weather reports are not in the same format around the world. What does 9999 mean for Heathrow's METAR? (Answer: unlimited visibility)

I showed them the device that measures RVRs is no longer a transmissometer but a forward scattered RVR sensor.

I asked them where are all aviation forecasts are written in Canada? No one knew, no one ever knows and to be honest no one cares. :))) It doesn't matter really. But in case you are wondering it's Edmonton, Alberta and Montreal, Quebec. Kansas city looks after most of the American cities.

We talked about the tropopause. Only two of the ten candidates ever penetrated the "trop."
One flew the B737 for Sunwing and the other...a business jet.

Then we chatted about jet streams. Minimum speed for it to be labelled a jet stream is 60 knots.

Turbulence. What is the difference between chop and turbulence? There are six different types of turbulence and one is man made - wake turbulence. What is the separation for a medium (A320) behind a medium (another A320)? There is none. One in the class knew this. I didn't until a few days ago.

Then it was significant weather charts, icing, volcanic ash, space weather, and weather websites.

A great bunch and I think they learned something.

Off on a four day mission tomorrow. I avoided four day pairings. How did that get there?

Oh well, Winnipeg here I come!

I'll say it for you, "Yes, Captain Doug has a big head!"

Meteorologically speaking it was perfect. Actually, a light northwest wind advected jet fumes to the runway. Ordinarily, pilots like the smell of jet exhaust but when you are panting like a overworked thirsty dog with it's tongue hanging out, it added to the challenge. It's my excuse...anyway...

Logistically speaking (on my end) it worked out well. Giving my talk in front a crowd of over 2000 went without a hitch and selecting the winners for two tickets anywhere Air Canada flies and an hour's simulator session..flawless. I was thrown to the wolves as far as the P.R guy for Air Canada. As you know we went throw a tumultuous week with labour unrest so management was not to be seen. But the show must go on!

My talk was short. I knew people were more interested in running.

Here's some of what I said....


Good morning everyone...this is YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING!!! (yes, I still get laughs from that opening line)


To all of my fellow runners and walkers! It’s not every day a person gets to run or walk down a runway. So I’ve laced up my running shoes to join you out there today.


For me, a pilot with 18,000 hours, it will be the first time I step foot on a runway. Think about it, if I’m walking on a runway, I’m not having a good day....

We had an Airbus 319 parked at the start/finish line. It's painted with the Kids Horizons decals.

This was my first race...ever. I ran 5 km in 22:59. Not bad for a guy who did not train in the last two weeks because he was following orders in the backyard from "number one" plus I dislike running. I placed 66th out of 1086 runners.

The winning team. Yes, we won the "centipede" group and our times  beat the "other" team grouping as well. We donned blue Kid's Horizons shirts for some P.R shots. The fella on the extreme left came 13th overall. Our slowest runner, recently promoted to left seat of the B777 had to walk for a bit. But he said a very rotund lady (I'm not using his own words here) passed him. That was enough for him to start running again and beat her to the finish line. Men! Pilots!

This Georgian aviation management student in Barrie (an hour away) drove to meet me and to get my book signed. First time I signed a book in the intake of a jet engine. :)))




There were lots of other departments present for the families. This is "Birdman" who drives around the airport with a trained falcon to scare off birds. One day, his falcon took a disliking to my Airbus during taxi. The bird soon realized I was not a threat. True story.

This first video was sent from an aviation enthusiast who works for an aviation software company. I never flew floats but the Beaver sure did romanticized the endeavour. It's something on my "to do" list.




Chris from the Weather Network sent me this second link on what Airbus is thinking for the future. Some neat stuff!




And speaking of the future, I'll be giving a talk to 35 young students tomorrow morning.
It's the same grade I decided being a pilot would be a cool thing to do. Maybe I'll convince one or two the same thing? Having said that, more will ask questions in becoming a flight attendant. Go figure.... :)))

After having my interview with "Chris" from the Weather Network in the morning, I flew to Mexico City that afternoon. Sure enough we had to dodge some "cbs" in Northern Louisiana.

Interview 

(The title is "Flying in Thunderstorms." As you know we don't fly "in" thunderstorms but "near" them) :)))

Note: Please overlook the competition's winglet. Apparently, that's all the footage they could find. :))))



Here you see two "blurry" Airbus screens. I have to get a new digital. Rumour has it Captain D may see one for father's day. :)

The right screen depicts the area of thunderstorms. We were at 38,000 feet and the picture below depicts us flying between two topping much higher than us. We had a tailwind as depicted in the top left corner of the ND (NAV display). The green dashed line was our flight plan and the solid line was out present track. (...and yes the topic of Air France 447 comes up on a regular basis when we fly near thunderbumpers).

The F/O did an excellent job weaving around them. Yes, he took us to Mexico city. I have yet to land there although I've been there four times in the last month. That's part of the package when you fly with me...first leg, I buy coffee and do the first walk around. Many F/Os are taken aback because of it. I would buy the first beer, but these MMMX trips have dismal "beer math." Pity....

From Leon in Calgary....







Hi Captain Doug

A question popped up in my head the other day and I was wondering if you could address it in either your blog or in enRoute.

If winglets (as found on newer jets such as ERJs and next gen B737) produce less drag aerodynamically and more fuel efficient, then why are they not found on the newest big jets such as A380 and B777?

Thanks



Leon. Excellent question. If you look at the B777's wing you'll see it has a unique twist near the wing tip. I believe it's called a raked wing.

No this post is not about the standard retort a pilot gives when asked whether they sky dive and the answer being..... "why jump out of a perfectly good airplane?" lol

This is about pilots "parachuting in" above you in the pecking order.

Last week I alluded to an equipment bid with some positive movement, promotions and potential hiring. As I mentioned, I have a "standing bid" to position me on the bottom wrung on the Toronto base B767 captain's ladder.

Well I didn't get any closer to the "B767 Captain ladder." The bottom B767 captain is now 829 so seniority number 1171 (moi) is still 342 numbers away. Why didn't it move with open slots? Because senior B777, A330 and B767 first officers (with about 20 to 25 years or so seniority) plus senior A320 captains "parachuted in" ahead of me. But even when I do make it on the list, I will always run the risk of pilots parachuting in for years to come. Translation: being on reserve (on call), no summer vacation, no weekends or holidays off...no life. Hence, it goes back to the adage..."stay senior on junior equipment."

One good thing out of all of this...I went from 55% to 49% on the A320 list meaning Captain D may have Christmas off. It's a good thing because we booked two weeks in Mexico during that time.

There is more to being an airline pilot than just flying an airplane...being a part time lawyer to figure all this stuff out is one of them.... :)

Enjoying my layover in Montreal soon to launch for Mexico City....

Doug Morris is an Air Canada pilot and captain on the Airbus A320. Got an aviation question? Send it to 

Dirty Captain "D"

You probably thought this is going to be another self-rightious, sanctimonious, "holier than thou" post about my projects. Here we go again....what does this have to do with flying????

To be honest, I thought I'd shed some light as to what an airline pilot does to save a few bucks...his own landscaping. Funny my neighbour last year told me, "Doug, we hire people for this." But he is a lawyer. :)

Yesterday I loaded seven cubic yards of heavy clay soil and water ladened sod into this dumpster. Today I wheelbarrowed seven cubic yards of screening and gravel to the backyard. And I ordered more to accommodate the stone deck I'm building the size of a helipad for "number one." In one month I will be turning 50 and the entire time I'm thinking, "I'm getting too old for this." I thought my toughest decision in this stage of life is what golf course do I join? LOL

Yesterday, when my son took this pic I started querying his friends on a little bit of math.
I asked, "if my wheelbarrow holds 3 cubic feet and this dumpster holds 7 cubic yards, how many trips did I make?"

Their response, how many feet are in a yard? Okay, we in Canada and most of the world are metric but the conversion has been slow. For example I was charged by the size of the dumpster (cubic yards) but the weight goes by tonnes (metric tonnes). I do realize the best way to learn something is to immerse in it, like learning a language, but what are kids learning in school? I know a couple of teachers...so they are going to blast me. :)

I told my son's friend, there is three feet in a yard. His retort...."I'm Canadian, I don't have to know that."

I chuckled for two reasons. One, the guy set Captain D straight. Second, I guess we Canadians can't be pilots since we don't know feet.

Pilots swing both ways (metric and Imperial). We talk Celsius (actually I convert it to Fahrenheit when flying in/out of the States), feet for altitude, feet and statute miles (5280 feet) for visibility (North America) and truth be told we pilots work in other units such as nautical mile (6080 feet) for distance, knots (nautical mile/hour) for speed and we use a unitless entity called MACH for cruising speed. Pilots are all over the map as far as units so why don't kids know how many feet are in a yard?

Funny, my next set of enRoute questions include, "what is a flight level." I better include what a foot is in my explanation. :)

F.Y.I the answer is 63 loads...but I snuck a little more in... :)