What happens during flight?

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Dreampilot

Well-Known Member
Hey everyone,

I don't know if this has been posted but I couldn't find it anywhere. I was just curious as to what goes on during mid-flight when autopilot is engaged. Is it mostly just watching the screens and scenery. Could some provide what a typical flight consists from beginning to end. Thanks.
 
Dreampilot said:
Hey everyone,

I don't know if this has been posted but I couldn't find it anywhere. I was just curious as to what goes on during mid-flight when autopilot is engaged. Is it mostly just watching the screens and scenery. Could some provide what a typical flight consists from beginning to end. Thanks.
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Online Poker and IPod. :sarcasm:
 
Gotta have some sarcasm!

Seriously you are to monitor the instruments, 'read company/safetly related material', and talk about what you had for dinner last night.
 
Theres really nothing to do once you get established on a long leg in cruise. Some pilots have Ipod, while others listen to AM radio on the ADF reciever. Since I'm still relatively new, sometimes I bust out the ops manual and read up on things that I'm curious about. Thats the good thing about flying freight......I can just click the autopilot off (if it works to begin with) and fly the plane. Thats one of the reasons I chose the freight life.:)
 
There isn't much to do other than working the radios. Some people read or do their jepp revisions. Some people even sleep. I pretty much just sit there and watch the miles tick down.
 
DE727UPS said:
There isn't much to do other than working the radios. Some people read or do their jepp revisions. Some people even sleep. I pretty much just sit there and watch the miles tick down.
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I do, or say did, the same thing. I could only sleep if I was passed out tired and even then the slightest bump woke me up.
 
I know that when I fly certain airplanes, like the C182T G1000, up in the flight levels there isnt much to do even in the GA aircraft with the advances in avionics. Especially with the XM satellite radio onboard now. Plug in your route, set the AP, turn on the radio and kick back.
 
I read the paper, preferably USA Today. Also, if it is a long haul (over 2 hours) I bring a magazine or two.

In the future, a video ipod might be in the cards.
 
meritflyer said:
I know that when I fly certain airplanes, like the C182T G1000, up in the flight levels there isnt much to do even in the GA aircraft with the advances in avionics. Especially with the XM satellite radio onboard now. Plug in your route, set the AP, turn on the radio and kick back.
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I'm going to have to see about adding XM so I can listen to something. I keep forgetting my iPod. My trips aren't that long (Single engine XC). I don't use the autopilot much, but I do crosscheck position (even though I do have multiple GPS') and monitor the engine. I have been working on better economy as recommended by the manufacturer. That and watch for traffic (look out of the plane). Most of my flights are VFR.
 
I'm waiting for the day I can get on the internet. Then I might change my policy of flying as little as possible. I've got 96.5 hours since I was released to the line June 1st.
 
unimportant ramblings between 2 ppl about the weather, current issues, home life, dreams, ramblings, sports, future goals, dreams and aspirations, whoa! traffic callouts, doing a timesheet for 30 minutes longer than it actually takes, staring outside with cold silence, checking the atis 9 times. Thats what happens when you fly with someone you don't know or like :-)
 
meritflyer said:
Its nice if the radios are quiet. When people are chatting up a storm, it kicks the radio off. Atleast with the G1000.
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I think you can hit a button to prevent that. Or you could on the 5" mfd model's avionics. It would just interrupt the music when someone inside the airplane spoke.
 
KLB said:
Thats the good thing about flying freight......I can just click the autopilot off (if it works to begin with) and fly the plane. Thats one of the reasons I chose the freight life.:)
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This may rock your world but I've flown revenue flights (people) with the autopilot MEL'd on the RJ :D. I even t/o and land without the flight director most times. After all, t/o and landing are the most interesting times, IMO. The autopilot does all the grunt work for cruise :).
 
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