A question for you line guys

Tommay85

Tommay85

Well-Known Member
Is crusing around at 37000 feet for long periods of time really that boring. I think over the ocean might be a little, but even then I dont think it looks that bad. I dont know how many times I've flown over the same area but I still find it interesting. Of course I'm not an airline pilot, so I wouldn't really be sure. The only reason I want to stop flying in the small stuff is my wallet starts to ignite on fire. longest I've been up is 6 hours, almost all the fuel, and the only thing I felt was a slight pain in my back from the cheap low end cherokee I fly.

I saw a "just planes" movie of transoceaninc flight from ohare to sydney. From what I could tell they looked somewhat busy most of the time. It was a 6 hour movie so some was cut out but not alot of the cruise was cut. No I didnt watch all six hours straight through, I fast forwarded most of it. Sorry for the rambling but I was just wondering about that.

Tom
 
It really depends on who you're flying with, the weather and attitude. Some days I'm bored to death and others flights 3 hours goes by like 20 minutes. It just depends I think.
 
6hrs O'hare - Syd --

That's a fair bit of cutting --

I got a couple mates flying longhaul as SO - the way I understand it - when you break the flight between all the flightcrew a 15hr flight turns into 6 or so hr shift at the flightdeck when you're in control - take turns and breaks accordingly.

Curious to see what the guys say here as well thou --
 
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Some days I'm bored to death and others flights 3 hours goes by like 20 minutes.

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Boreing is good!
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I don't want to be too excited in the cockpit of an airliner.
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"Is crusing around at 37000 feet for long periods of time really that boring."

Yes...mind numbingly boring.
 
Some people ask me if I think I would be bored just sitting there pushing buttons on the autopilot. I think I would much rather have the autopilot on at cruise than hand fly the plane for 15 hours. Yikes.

I think I'd be alright though. Cant be much worse than working in an office.

Tom
 
Well for one thing many times you aren't cruising around. Take flying trans-con in the summer. You will deal with TRWs over the Rockies. Very tricky because they top out very high, yet very low radar signature. Then a system somewhere by the Mississipi on east, maybe two. In the winter it will be mountain wave and trying to find a decent ride.

And if TRWs are impacting your destination, keeping an eye on it and keeping track of good alternates. I had a number of days like this. Then the clear ones are like gravy.

Dave
 
Thats pretty much what the guys in the video were doing. Except they were trying to find the fastest way across the ocean.

Tom
 
Longest time I've been in cruise is around 1 hr 20 minutes while at the controls. However I did sit up front (jumpseat) on a SFO-HNL flight a few weeks ago. Basically, to stay sane, you need interests... like magazines (non-flying ones), books, music, laptop. Something to make the time go by. I agree with Doug... depending on who you are flying with, even a 40 minute flight can drag on...
 
If I'm not flying with a good captain, I get extraordinarily restless enroute. Sometimes it's fun, other times I'm like a monkey trapped in a cage!
 
No doubt. Sat on a two hour ground stop in GSO and just sat there fantasizing about dropping the aft air stairs, walking across the ramp, jumping the fence and getting a cab to Arizona!
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When ground stops are in effect everyone gets bored. Lucky for us ramp guys we can go inside and break out the cards for a good game of spades or hearts.
 
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"Is crusing around at 37000 feet for long periods of time really that boring."

Yes...mind numbingly boring.

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LOL you think thats boring, try flying around in a 25 mile counter-clockwise circle for 7-12 hours, then land back at the departing base!
 
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If I'm not flying with a good captain, I get extraordinarily restless enroute. Sometimes it's fun, other times I'm like a monkey trapped in a cage!

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Doug
How do you define a good captain? What are some of the differences in captains that you've flown with? What kind of captain are you modeling yourself after?

Jim
 
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Doug
How do you define a good captain? What are some of the differences in captains that you've flown with? What kind of captain are you modeling yourself after?

Jim

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Ouch! I was afraid that someone was going to have me define what I deem to be a 'good' captain.

Usually, at this level of the business, most pilots have a acceptible baseline of performance, but lousy pilots have good days and good pilots have lousy days, but let's just look at some of the things apart from performance that I think make a good captain.

I guess one of the things is interest in something other than aviation. Whenever you're flying with a person who lives, breathes and sleeps aviation, personally, it makes for an extraordinarily boring flight. Almost like going out to a great steak dinner in and talking about beef all night. Nevermind the goodlooking waitress, the jazz music and the beautiful sunset, it's all about whether or not a delmonico would have been a better choice than the NY strip. Gah!

Another thing would be someone who sees flying as an "art" and not a "science". There are probably six different ways to descent an MD-88 using automation and all of the methods are correct if you're getting the desired performance consistent with any ATC instructions. There are a couple of guys that want things done specific ways so you spend an inordinate amount of time doing what you think someone wants to see rather than just getting the manuever accomplished.

Perhaps someone who doesn't get and STAY bent out of shape when things are going right. On an average day, you've got to think on your feet, do lots of problem solving and put the ego aside and get your hands dirty on occasion. A few guys will get upset and won't get over it, other people refocus and await the next challenge.

A good captain, in my opinion, hasn't forgotten that he was once an FO and helps you out when you're approaching your workload limit. Of course there are still a couple of guys that sit in their seat, pull out their airway manual and headsets and sit while you're getting the 'grey bag', doing the exterior preflight in the rain, then the interior preflight, setting everything up in the cockpit, getting a clearance and say "Hey, let's get that checklist started because I've got to hit the head before they bring the final paperwork down". I haven't flown with one of these types in years.

Ok, I'm starting to ramble!
 
'Good' captain: Approaches each flight knowing that we are going to have some fun while maintaining our professionalism and being as safe as possible. Relaxed. Knowing there are many safe ways to achieve the same result.

'Bad' captain: Treats each leg like a trip to the moon. Overly anxious about each part of the flight. Won't relax and have fun. Thinks there is only one way to do things, even if it is inefficient. 'Will fly the book into the ground.' Uptight.

This job is not rocket science. I've found on trips where the captain is relaxed and ensures we are doing things a) via SOP, b) safe, c) efficient, and d) as professionals, the trip goes really well. I even fly much better. If the captain is overly anxious and gets very worked up, won't relax, and won't allow himself/herself to enjoy the job, then the whole crew gets to be that way and we stop having fun.
 
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No doubt. Sat on a two hour ground stop in GSO and just sat there fantasizing about dropping the aft air stairs, walking across the ramp, jumping the fence and getting a cab to Arizona!

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Ahh, that reminds me of the days flying at GSO, I'd see the DL MD's sitting there be the FedEx 727's every now and then. Do you run only the APU on the ground stops away from the gate depending on the delay time? I was sitting in a DL B757 on tueday from CVG-ATL and they kept everyone seated on the aircraft on ground power waiting on the ground stop.
 
One thing you have to remember, is that despite his extensive Airline Experience, Mr. Taylor by his own admission has never in fact been an Airline Captain.

If I recall, Doug, you left Skyway immediately after finishing IOE?

I am looking forward to your perspective of airline captains after you have sat in the left seat for a year or so. My perspective certainly changed, a great deal!
 
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