Position: On the ramp; KMIA (Miami)
Time: 0730 local
It is day number three of a four day trip. Our overnights have been short and predictable, as in minimum legal rest with forty-five minute round trips spent on the hotel van ride. In airline lingo, this type of trip is known as high yield. That means the most flying possible in four days; get back to the nest and go home. The airline expects a certain number of flying hours per month from each pilot, so the sooner you get those hours completed, the more time at home. Generally, I do not bid high yield trips because they are tough. Having said that, I need some extra time off this month for family obligations. So, no whining allowed this month!
OK, I know I was whining about the crew meals earlier, but I have seen the error of my ways.
My co-pilot (one of the best at the airline) and I have agreed to take turns preparing Fi-Fi for flight while the other runs for edible food and coffee at each airport. This includes pre-flighting, loading the nav computers, obtaining the ATC clearance, checking the fuel load, and briefing the cabin crew, while the other has to decide between tacos, pizza, burgers, sub sandwiches, regular coffee or organic sumatra-argentinian low fat latte.
This type of trip can be very enjoyable if the flight deck is compatible. Landing contests and attempts to under burn the fuel forecast are my favorite games. All things being equal, if my bio-rhythms are at the top of the curve, I am hard to beat in a landing contest. I genuinely like this aircraft and try to perfect my Fi-Fi skills. The fuel burn scenario is simply a matter of understanding how the flight management computers operate. They take into account the winds aloft, outside air temperature and density, aircraft weight, and fuel economy when computing climb and cruise speed. There is no way a human pilot can beat their calculations, since that is their reason for existing in the first place.
A lot of co-pilots believe a slow climb at reduced thrust and airspeed saves fuel. It sounds reasonable, but does not work. Unfortunately, my co-pilot does not fall into this category. She knows her aircraft very well. As far as her landings go... Usually, they are smoother than mine. Very frustrating since I am 25+ years older and much more experienced.
She leads by 1200 pounds and three landings. There are four landings and 50,000 +/- pounds to go before the end of the trip.
I've got to get on the stick, literally. Bribing the judges (flight attendants) is another possibility.
13 comments:
G`day Dave, you must let us know how you went with the rest of your flights with the young lady, it must be fun having someone like that on duty with you, i think any job is better if you have the right work mates, no matter what it is.
I was also going to ask you, have you had a chance to get the FZ1 out for a spin? I used to ride bikes, until i had a nasty accident, resulting in a broker femur, i couldn`t walk again for 19 months, so i have converted to 4 wheels now, but i still love the bikes, and i miss them, all my mates still ride , so you never know, perhaps one day.......
here's a probably silly question on the subject of crew meals, do you each have to eat something different than each other (in case of food poisioning)? i've seen that a couple of times in movies ("airport" maybe?) and have always wondered if it were true.
hey dave
Ive been reading your entries for almost 3 years now and it as inspired me to do something of my own. I am currently a multi-ifr instructor on the verge of taking the step into the regional world. Check out what I have done so far.... www.captain-kyle.blogspot.com
Interesting post, especially regarding the contests. So, if the flight attendants change from flight to flight (or do they?), how do they judge the landings?
Do they use a point system? Curious.
Thanks again,
Good games. Have you ever played nosewheel roulette? You make some chalk marks on the nosewheel, and bet on which sector will be in contact with the ground, brakes set at the arrival gate.
Not a contest of skill though. I like yours better.
One of the best co-pilots of your airline is a female!
Who would have thought of such a thing 20 years ago, or even, who would think of such a thing nowadays, at certain airlines?
Nose wheel roulette works even better if you bribe the guy with the orange sticks.
HI Dave;
How do you judge the landings? Obviously you can tell between a greaser and a slammer but when they're too close to call?
A friend of mine, an A340 driver, tells me you can get a read out in the cockpit on every landing which will allow you to judge yourself (or others) numerically.. Does FiFi have this capability?
Based on current prices (9 May 2008, with crude oil around $125 per barrel):
Saving 1,200 pounds of jet fuel means a cost saving of $680.
If that was the saving in (maybe) 2 days, then the saving per plane per year is about $120,000
Multiply for a fleet of 350 twinjets, and this comes to $42 million
Ever wonder why airlines are so keen ?
anonymous 237- glad to hear you recovered from your accident. I ride the fizzer about once per week an average of 20 miles per ride. I have another bike, BMW, that I put the most miles on. I know they are dangerous but still continue with the habit. Knock on wood.
flyaway- you are correct; we do not eat identical crew meals. My favorite airline movie is Airplane. The scene where the captain ate the fish was great.
aluwings- the flight attendants judge the landings on a point system 1-10; we keep a running tally day to day.
aviatrix- yes, I have played that and had forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me. We used to tie entertainment expenses to the chalk mark.
anonymous 509- no, Fi-Fi does not have a cockpit read out, but does record touch down parameters on the optical disk. The flight attendants use a 1-10 scale and we keep score day to day. We are at their mercy.
OK, I'll bite. What does "Static Port" thing-y do?
Just found the answer to the question on [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitot-static_system[/url]
Pretty cool.
so who won, finally?
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