Geek in the Cockpit

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Airlines: Some Costs They Can’t – And Shouldn’t – Cut

October 31st, 2009 by Geek Pilot
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Really great article on pilot pay. I’ve had it forced into my head that pilot pay is directly tied to a huge portion of operating cost. Turns out it’s all smoke and mirrors.

Today, like most every day, just over 44,000 of the world’s most experienced airline pilots employed by the 9 largest airlines in the United States will accept full responsibility for over 1.5 million lives sitting on the other side of their locked cockpit doors. Over the next 24 hours, these pilots will make over 13,500 take-offs literally around the world. Through every imaginable type of weather, they will be in command of over 36,000 hours of flight time. And, if today is like most days, you will never hear or read about even one of those flights.

Read the rest of the article

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After 29 hours….a happy ending.

October 29th, 2009 by Geek Pilot
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Right now I am cruising at 31,000 feet. Worry not I am not using my laptop while in the cockpit. I am back in the passenger compartment.

I’ve been on vacation for a little over a week. The benefit of (nearly) unlimited travel is quite possibly the best perk in the world. My wife and I have visited over 20 cities and 4 countries in the last two years I have been at my airline. This has all been directly tied to my travel benefits. Without them we would likely have only flown on two to four flights during that time frame. on average we have taken at least one trip a month since I started. That’s a lot of flying.

Our most recent trip started in Asia 27 hours ago. We left our hotel room and made our way to the airport. We’ve been moving ever since. Between the two of us we have had MAYBE 3 hours sleep.

The first flight was 14 hours long. Once we landed we went home, showered, washed clothes, then headed back to the airport for the current flight.

My latest niece was born three weeks ago. We are taking a quick trip to visit her. I am flying back on Saturday as I go back on reserve on Sunday. I have a little over 48 hours to get rid of the jet lag.

Once I get back I have quite a few manuals to update as well as study up for my recurrent ground school starting on the 4th.

Last year around this time I had my probationary check ride. This year my simulator event is only flight training. Next year it will be another check ride.

The ground school is setup to make sure my knowledge is current as well as introduce new procedures. After the three days of ground I have two weeks until my simulator training.

Today is my second anniversary at my airline. I almost forgot about it (tired doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel) until my wife literally just reminded me. I get another pay raise and that’s about it. I got a pin last year. I think my next pin is at 5 years.

This post is ending on my brother in laws couch next to my 4 year old niece and my 3 week old niece.

I love my job.

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Why I’m not flying

October 25th, 2009 by Geek Pilot
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Vacation! Loving the benefit of worldwide travel. Here are a few photos:

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Heated Discussion or deep sleep?

October 22nd, 2009 by Geek Pilot
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Seems that a Northwest crew overflew the airport by….150 miles. Investigation to follow:
http://ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2009/091022.html

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N…135Z/KSAN/KMSP


National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

October 22, 2009

************************************************** **********
NTSB INVESTIGATING FLIGHT THAT OVERFLEW INTENDED MINNEAPOLIS AIRPORT

************************************************** **********

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an
incident where an Airbus A320 overflew the Minneapolis-St Paul
International/Wold-Chamberlain Airport (MSP).

On Wednesday, October 21, 2009, at 5:56 pm mountain daylight time,
an Airbus A320, N03274, operating as Northwest Airlines (NWA) flight
188, became a NORDO (no radio communications) flight at 37,000 feet.
The flight was operating as a Part 121 flight from San Diego
International Airport, San Diego, California (SAN) to MSP with 147
passengers and unknown number of crew.

At 7:58 pm central daylight time (CDT), the aircraft flew over the
destination airport and continued northeast for approximately 150
miles. The MSP center controller reestablished communications with
the crew at 8:14 pm and reportedly stated that the crew had become
distracted and had overflown MSP, and requested to return to MSP.

According to the Federal Administration (FAA) the crew was
interviewed by the FBI and airport police. The crew stated they
were in a heated discussion over airline policy and they lost
situational awareness. The Safety Board is scheduling an interview
with the crew.

The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) have
been secured and are being sent to the NTSB laboratory in
Washington, DC.

David Lawrence, the Investigator-in-Charge, is leading the team of 3
in investigating the incident.

Parties to the investigation are the FAA and Northwest Airlines.

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