Saturday, November 04, 2006

Maintenance write-up

My excellent Dell laptop is in for maintenance with a minor write-up. FL 390 is holding at 20,000 feet, left turns, 10 mile legs with plenty of fuel. Stand-by please...

17 comments:

Noella said...

Standing by...from the other side of planet Earth! Thanks for letting us know.

What amazing times we live in; what a privilege to share through the blog a fascinating part of another's life!

Anonymous said...

Don't take this as arrogance - buy a Mac.

Noella said...

He hee - I've been using Macs at work and home for 16 trouble-free years! (Having said that, I hope I am not tempting fate!)

dph said...

I don't buy into the one brand or other debate. I just bought a macbook pro, after about 3 hours, the motherboard crapped out, currently in being replaced. The Macbook replaces an IBM A31P that also had a motherboard issue (random freezes, crashes etc somewhat known problem.) Both Mac's and IBM's are reputable, as is Dell, but failure rates in laptops are shockingly high across the board.

Go with what makes you feel good (hence the Mac and FreeBSD on my IBM).

Dave: I look forward to when you get clerance to leave the hold...

D

Anonymous said...

Dave your first officer did write down the EFC time right??? If not give me (your dispatcher) a call...will get with ATC to expedite your clearance.....Min fuel on the blog...hehe...

Craig MCO

dave said...

I failed to follow well established SOPs concerning handling laptops during daily airline ops, i.e., aircraft swaps, stowing gear in cockp..., I mean flight deck, etc., and consequently, my laptop fell out of it's zippered carrier (which was unzipped/velcro strap not secure)onto the jetway floor. It sustained impact damage which is being repaired. So, for a few days I am reduced to checking comments and email on crew computers or my co-pilot's laptop.

Concerning Macs... I like Apple products and will probably own an Apple laptop in the future. However, I have to give thumbs up to my Dell 8600 powerhouse which rips through graphics like a superbike through time and distance. It has been equal to the rigors of airline service for 3 years and if the numbskull owner would follow established SOPs, it might go another year or so.

Stu Savory said...

Having just read that you are holding at 20,000 feet rather than FL 200, I'd just like to say "Watch out for that nasty mountain!"

dave said...

My idea for FL390 has always been for the general public, not aviation professionals. That is why I use feet and m.p.h. instead of FLs and knots, etc.

Anonymous said...

Dont fly under chute..
Dont fly over bingo..,

Neder

Anonymous said...

Please do take care and don't let the exothermic batteries do an ignition number on the plentiful fuel state.

And as a previous commenter said, ask for a climb in the hold to FL310 to avoid the nasty cumulo-granite clouds ...

AJ said...

GET BACK SOON DAVE. GREAT STUFF. JUST A HUNDRE MILE AN HOUR PILOT BUT LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT YOU BIG GUNS.

NovemberChild said...

Cant you just MEL it?

DailyAviator said...

Hey Dave! You get that thing fixed yet???

Daveb said...

Almost a week now. What gives ? I need my dosage of FL390. I bet if every reader chipped in one nickel it would buy you forty new computers.

All the Hardways said...

Hi Dave, you've been cleared to land already. I guess we're just going to have to call in the mid-air refueling tankers for you!

Noella said...

Now I know coffee isn't the only thing I'm addicted to! I can't stop checking... checking... checking... just in case! Let me know where to send my nickel..

TK said...

Dave, I just wanted to tell you thanks for the blog. I'm not a pilot, but lifes not over yet...I love planes, and the whole miracle that is flight. I found your site by complete accident. I was surfing for an address of an electrical contractor, and for some reason came upon this blog. I've read backwards from present through '06 so far, and it's incredibly interesting reading. Keep it up! Thanks.

TK