Side stick vs conventional Yoke

For no reason.

(if you ever have asked them "can we increase above 210kts to get down quicker?" when there's no traffic, they always immediately say sure no problem)

Maybe 6 months ago I was at 12,000' and 320 knots in the downwind in DTW. I get parallel the numbers and what's approach say? "Hey can you uhh....make a short approach?"
 
The only times I'll do that is in visual conditions in the mountains in Colorado. I generally find it easier to configure the aircraft, dump energy, and maneuver into the pattern at an uncontrolled airport while flying the airplane myself than it is to do it all through the autopilot.

Oh speaking of, I'll do that in DTW too, where they like to keep you high and fast in the downwind.
Do you fly a RJ? Just curious. And i gotcha do you generally enjoy the flying that you do?
 
Why were you doing 320 on the downwind? Maybe this is why you're in law school. :D

Aww...you're cute, sweetie. Does this mean you're the guy that slows to 180 in the downwind before approach asks for it because "that's how we do it in the sim?"

:)
 
Aww...you're cute, sweetie. Does this mean you're the guy that slows to 180 in the downwind before approach asks for it because "that's how we do it in the sim?"

:)

Nah, 250 when expecting the descent below 10, because I'm not a hack!

...well, okay, I'm a hack.
 
Don't get me wrong, I don't like to go fast while climbing in the wrong direction, and I've got no reason to blow past an airport at warp 10 most of the time.

But at the same time, I'll usually do max forward speed until they tell me otherwise. Maybe I've been based in Newark for too long :)
 
Don't get me wrong, I don't like to go fast while climbing in the wrong direction, and I've got no reason to blow past an airport at warp 10 most of the time.

But at the same time, I'll usually do max forward speed until they tell me otherwise. Maybe I've been based in Newark for too long :)

Nah, I try to do the same. There's always situational awareness involved before slowing, and if it's into a busy airport (ATL, JFK, etc.), I'll do my best to keep the speed up. If it gets to the point that you really need to start slowing the jet and there's traffic behind you, it's best to ask.

If I'm hanging out at 10,000-12,000 at 300+ knots, I'll generally start slowing as I'm approaching a 3:1 path to the airport unless it's obvious people are being extended further.
 
On overnights do the crews usually get together for dinner or hang out in general?

Thread drift!!!! But I field this one....It depends. Some of the variables, are you on a long overnight (downtown) or a short overnight (near the airport) where there are limited options....How tired is the crew? What time do we have to get up in the morning? Do we WANT to hang out with each other outside of our 12 hour duty day?

But typically if you're in a good overnight with some things to do or restaurants nearby, and you have a little time yes....We'll go out for lunch/dinner and a stroll.

Sometimes I enjoy my alone time at work....It's a time where I can relax and do my thing. Other times it's nice to experience things with somebody.....Does it sound like more fun to rent a car and go to Niagra Falls alone or with some people?
 
Depends on the crew, the overnight and the schedule. There are lots of slam clickers who you never see once you get to the hotel. There are also people who will fly at redline in order to get to the hotel soon enough to get a beer (or 5) in under the 12 or 8 or whatever hour limit. Some hotels are in areas where there really isn't any place to go out. Some hotels are in good locations but it's -5 degrees out (BUF I'm looking at you). Sometimes you get in at 10 in the morning and don't leave until 6 in the morning so you've got 2 meals to figure out. Sometimes that's a bad thing. I had back to back Tri Cities overnights last year and both days we got to the hotel at 10am. That meant I had to figure out 2 lunches and 2 dinners. My options were Subway, Wendys, Krytsals and Cracker Barrel. On the flip side I'm doing a BTR overnight tomorrow night where I get in at 11:30 at night and leave at 10:30 the next morning. The hotel provides a (nice) breakfast, and I'll have eaten dinner long before I get there (hopefully) so there won't be any food required that night at the hotel.

As far as "hanging out" with the crew... Again, depends on the overnight and the crew. Some of our hotels have crew rooms which have a TV and some couches and sometimes some food (or free VERY cheap beer) in them. I've spent a little bit of time hanging out with other crewmembers (mostly from my own airline but occasionally from other companies) watching a game or a DVD somebody happened to have, but it's rare. I've made it a policy to never go into another crewmember's own room. There's just too many problems (real and imagined) that can stem from that. Occupationally I'll get an overnight that is long enough and in a nice enough location to get out and play tourist. These are very rare, but when they do happen I'll normally try to convince the rest of the crew to come out and see the sights. We rented a car in SAV last time I was there, I've gone to minor league ball games in Montgomery and Little Rock, and an Aerosmith Concert in CVG once. It's rare though.

I'd guess guys doing international flights with longer overnights in better locations probably get out more, but at the regional end of the spectrum you mostly are just trying to eat a good meal and catch up on sleep.
 
Yea i see what your saying. So for most of you is this where you pictured your aviation career going? Or did you have different ideas and this is just where you ended up? And i realizes this in not the last stop for most of you. Sorry to get off topic, just very interested...
 
seagull @jtrain and to anyone reading do yal have any airports or arrivals that you particularly enjoy that you might click off the auto pilot at say 10,000 ft and hand fly it the rest of the way in?

Just depends. I will usually turn it off just around when I'm cleared for the visual. I have turned it off downwind at ATL and MIA around 10k a few times. Those are the most recent that come to mind. I have done it going into Paris at off hours, but usually in Europe it is pretty rigid. I have also done it going into HNL.
 
For no reason.

(if you ever have asked them "can we increase above 210kts to get down quicker?" when there's no traffic, they always immediately say sure no problem)

"Increase"? I would be doing 250 until within 7-8 miles of touchdown if there was no traffic!
 
I would like to hear some of your opinions about flying the airbus with a side stick over say a 737 with a yoke. Do you think that it takes some of the fun out of the flying with the side stick? With no actual feel to the airplane? Or do you enjoy the extra space? (i have never actuall flown one i am just assuming) Also with all the automation do you actually enjoy the flying you do? (Mainly speaking about major airline carriers) Any insight would be great.

Thanks in advance
Andy5466
Having flown both, the 737 was probably the plane I've flown that I like the least. What an unbelievable piece of crap that airplane is from a pilot's perspective.

I LOVE the A320/319. The sidestick is great fun and works fantastic. It is truly a joy to handfly. Click off the autopilot, autothrust, and flight directors and have at it! There is plenty of feel to the airplane as you feel everything you're doing! As far as favorite planes I've flown, it's a tie between those and the 757 or 767ER.

Also on the Airbus, most of my approaches are flown with the autothrust off. I absolutely love the flying I do. :)
 
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