On the subject of the 1900, it was by far my favorite plane to deadhead on (in coach of course). The seat fits my back perfectly and I sleep like a baby on that thing. I loved flying the ATR but hated riding on it.
Zap has a very unique experience having flown at both levels of the profession. I see it in my job now. It you were an SOP guy at the previous company you weren't "the cool kid". Now, if you don't follow SOP at the current gig, you are the "cool kid" that got fired. I think a lot of people could take Zap's comments to heart. Take the emotion out and have a good long look around.
Even though I could spout off the waypoints on R220 or G212 from memory, the chart is out all the time, every time. That goes for the guys I fly with as well. We are also constantly making a conscious effort to verbalize and keep very close track of our en route alternates. We simply HAVE to know where we are going if we are on fire and it has to be an instant decision. Therefore, the decision is being made constantly even if nothing is happening. Keep this in mind, NO airliner has made it longer than 19 minutes with a cargo fire burning. You have 19 minutes or less to get on the ground and evacuated, even with fire suppression.
Now for the fun stuff. Passengers are not the only ones that make you wonder sometimes. I constantly get asked if I am a flight engineer on the -400 by major airline pilots. I tell them of course not, I mean do I look uncivilised like...say...Polar742?! I even have my pipe and they ask these things. I didn't even have any pit stains or oil on my smoking jacket! The nerve of these people.
The best one was a very young major FO that looked like he stole daddy's uniform out of the closet. He asked me who I flew for and then decided to educate me on how to get to a major airline and how one day I would have the knowledge to pilot the 737 like him. He turned awfully red when the Captain actually knew who we were and asked about the job. The now red faced FO just slipped on down the jetway.
Passengers always have comments. They don't know any better and they paid for the ticket. I've had people on the upper deck demand to be moved to the bigger part of the plane :banghead:
