Position: In the descent; 60 miles west of Philly...
Altitude: 28,000 feet...Vertical speed: 3800 feet p/min...
Indicated Air Speed: 326 knots...
Equipment: A319
Pax-on-Board: 123
Airborne...
OK, I am pushing it a bit. It is going to be tight at the crossing restriction. The tailwinds are increasing as we descend... That is unusual. At the moment, they are 60 knots stronger than at cruise altitude. On the plus side, we are arriving well before sunrise and 40 minutes ahead of schedule because of steady tailwinds at altitude.
The ATC controller told us speed your discretion. To me, that means one thing: Warp 9! The only thing I have to worry about at the crossing restriction is altitude. I should have started down a little sooner, though... I did not think the winds would increase this much. Actually, I did not think they would increase at all. The extra push is bending my descent profile toward the crossing point, i.e., shortening the time I have to lose altitude (energy).
Why is this happening?
It is the co-pilot's fault! She is in captain Dave's Top Ten list, an aviator of extraordinary talent. Every time we fly together, the trip ends up being a contest of who is the smoothest pilot, burns the least amount of fuel, gathers most compliments on landings from pax, and a separate category; compliments from flight attendants, which are few and far between.
The last category is most important because it gives me the opportunity to say, "What did you expect? I am the captain." This irritates the co-pilot to no end, and makes the flight attendants laugh. A form of psy-ops at Flight Level 390...
The first time I flew with the co-pilot, about eight years ago, she was a 26 year old new hire. Before that flight, I was told by a captain that had recently flown with her that she, and this is a quote, "Can't fly worth a damn, but who cares."
She was and still is exceptionally attractive. By the second day of that first trip eight years ago, it was readily apparent that captain did not know what he was talking about. I suspect he tried to put a "move" on her with negative results... So, to massage his bruised ego, he started spreading bravo sierra amongst the pilot group.
As I quickly discovered, her intellect and airmanship were more than equal to her physical attractiveness.
PPOS (present postion)...
I am a big believer in the proverb of old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill. I have about 30 miles to prove that or I am going to have to ask ATC for altitude relief... Oh, Lord, please do not let that happen.
The thought of the low-life gang of gray-haired captain buddies I hang with discovering I busted a crossing restriction while showing off to a young female co-pilot is truly frightening. They might even put me back on probationary status; another 90 days of buying adult beverages at post-flight safety meetings.
Fi-Fi's vertical nav calculations are showing us too high at the waypoint, but captain Dave's mental vertical nav loop, honed to a razor's edge in the B-737, shows us crossing in a high-energy state of perfection. I need to lose 20 knots of tailwind, though, which I am reasonably certain will happen.
The noise level in the flight deck is increasing, as it always does, below 28,000 feet, but especially so this morning as I nudge Fi-Fi up to the barber pole (max airspeed for a given altitude). I have half wing spoilers extended... Two-thirds might be better. The wings begin to rumble as more lift is shed into the darkness.
In my peripheral vision, I can see the co-pilot's lips moving as she silently calculates time, distance, and altitude. I am doing the same, except my lips are not moving. The Electric Jet is settling on the vertical path... The tailwind is decreasing. This is going to be good!
Yes, I believe it is time to stir the pot...
Wanting to say, "Hey, watch this...," but knowing better because that has been the preamble for several high-profile incidents in my business; instead, I ask, "They did say speed our discretion, correct?"
The waypoint is coming fast... Stow the spoilers as we re-merge with the v-nav path. Slowly, ever so slowly, I increase the speed command to the auto-pilot keeping Fi-Fi at max allowable airspeed, which increases as we descend.
The waypoint...
A fast moving 319 crosses the waypoint at zero altitude deviation and maximum airspeed: Warp 9, baby...
The co-pilot said, "I wasn't sure if you were going to make that one."
"What? Of course I was going to make it... I am the captain. I mean, really, come on... Have you ever seen such precision?"
A pale hue of green light from the flight instruments is enough to see her eyes roll back as she says something a little too quietly for my turbo-jet damaged ears to pick up. Surely, it was not rude...
The roar of the thickening atmosphere is getting to be obnoxious... I roll Fi-Fi's speed selector back 100 knots and crack the spoilers just as our ATC controller asks us to slow down... Maintain 250 knots, please.
Whew-wee! Made it without embarrassing myself...
Life on the Line continues... At 330 knots and slowing rapidly...
47 comments:
How did you keep from laughing out loud? So glad y'all are having fun!
~D
That was a good read Captain! I caught myself leaning forward on my monitor trying to push you down to the designated altitude. I think it's safe to say you have a pretty good feel for your equipment there.
Dave, I love the way you mock yourself as you show us how happy your job makes you sometimes...would that we could all be engaged in our work the way you are.
What is that photograph? It's a really arresting compostion, whatever it is.
LOL, once again a post about this particular female co-pilot. But still one impression, Captain Dave: She kind of owns you. And there is nothing you can do about it, not even the most perfect descent and landing :-) -fdei
Fantastic flying (C)aptain. I bet though that you'd be pretty bummed when your co-pilot gets promoted as you won't have the joy of that friendly competition sitting in the right hand seat next to you.
Loved the latest instalment and eagerly awaiting the next.
Claython
F-a-s-c-i-n-a-t-i-n-g (C)aptain Dave!
THANK YOU.
And really like your photograph....what did you shoot exactly?
Only one to go for October 2010...
Tee-hee....
Bev
Cape Town
Excellent stuff Captain Dave, and you didn't even need the treachery, just the old age!
I think the right stuff may have been a better title for this fine piece of text. ;-)
I am convinced – we miss all the fun sitting in the back seat!
Well done, Captain! Nice landing!
Smooth Dave, always a joy to read your posts..
Thanks
James
Super cool. Thank you!
Nothing like a little over-the-center-console verbal bantering...
Bingo! Like threading a needle, Captain. Thanks for another one.
From one who remembers the cockpit fun.
Fun stuff, Captain Dave. It's interesting how airplanes always do come down, but sometimes you have to work hard to put it where you want it.
I'm grateful for this broad smile your post put on my face and . . .
(its' a little tough confessing this in an open forum, but here goes . . )
It's immensely reassuring to hear from you - whom I trust - that the woman next to you in the co-pilot's seat is top notch.
I have to admit that when my white knuckles and I have watched women pilots entering the jet at my gate - some ugly uninvited part of me worries about quality and competency.
You have allayed my concern.
That's big. Thank you.
I'm guessing that ATC, also waiting to see if you made it, had a nice chuckle before giving you the speed limit.
Nice job!
Great post! Love the blog!
I'm pretty sure the picture is an engine blade.
I was smiling all through this one!
As humorous as this may look, in my view this is one example of hierarchy in the cockpit that scares me a little. Let me first introduce myself. I am a retired fighter pilot from The Royal Netherlands Airforce, having flown the F-5, F-104 and 20 years on the F-16. Furthermore I was a qualified crash investigator (military) and I have spent quite some time in the Flight Safety arena. The young co-pilots have a hard time to prove themselves; female pilots in the airline world still have to fight even harder to "earn" their seat. This is clearly proven again by the (wrong!!) statements made by your colleague 8 years ago. So there is a chance they (male and female youngsters) will not always be as perky as may be required in certain circumstances (CRM!). This may be the cause why she remains silent until after the crossing. And I do wonder if she was certain that you knew what you were aiming at! You could have made an error; after all, you're just human. Only after the crossing she makes a remark, why not before? Was this because of the hierarchy I mentioned? I do hope I'm wrong! This makes me think of the disaster at Tenerife where the co-pilot did not dare to speak up when lining up, remember that one? Honest, in this case I was going to challenge her on her judgement or say something just to break the silence around that item. She's part of the team in the cockpit and a member you may need dearly in other circumstances. Quietness in the cockpit during these situations is not what I prefer. Having said all this, I don't what the relationship is between the crewmembers on your airline, so it may be not as "heavy" as I think and just healthy competition as you described in the beginning of this article. But I do wonder what would have happened if you did not make it because of that tailwind. Admit that you were wrong this time? It was a close call after all, wasn't it? I hope you catch my drift. Please keep your articles coming, it's good reading!
Cheers,
Loek
@Cathy,
Isn't it an awful admission to have to make Cathy?
You should have seen ME on my first visit to the dentist (I was seven I think) - and SHE came at me with some or other instrument in her hand asking me to 'open wide...'
With mouth TIGHT-SHUT I was up 'n outta that chair before you could say Coco-lolo, dashing for my too-distant home, with my 11-yr-old sister in hot pursuit!
I was so traumatised by that little happening that I can't even recall how it ended...
And it definitely had to do with gender. Show's how deeply even WE have internalised the rot...
(Altho I have to admit utter defeat, as a woman, when it comes to map-reading ! Ho-hum...)
C'est la vie, huh... ?
Please bin this once Cathy's seen it (C)aptain Dave.
NOW:
I am also wondering:
IS IT an engine 'blade' or ISN'T it....
Bev
Cape Town
What a great read Captain Dave!!! Funny, technical, seat of the pants flying all in one!!! Message from the Blog Control Center (BTC)...gloat at your discretion! :)
Great post Dave,
I especially like the posts that describe the descent and approach part of the flight and how you have mastered them.
thanks again
Wow! What all goes on during the night's secrecies. Perhaps someone lives there, thousands of feet below that waypoint.
He must have been fast asleep while Captain Dave crossed the point with perfect perfection.
"What a strange dream!, waking up, he might have told to himself: "I saw a highly automated ship going Warp. And the captain, in spite of all those automations, displayed some fabulous airmanship just overhead!"
Down, boy.
"I have flown in just about everything, with all kinds of pilots in all parts of the world — British, French, Pakistani, Iranian, Japanese, Chinese — and there wasn't a dime's worth of difference between any of them except for one unchanging, certain fact: the best, most skillful pilot has the most experience."
— Chuck Yeager
She might be beautiful and skilled but you, by Yeager's measurement, will always be the best and most skillful..Time is on your side...lol Thanks Capt.Dave, Here's to age and treachery. L. Jones
Another great post, Dave. Might the photograph be the tail end of one of your powerful V2500 engines?
All the best.
Rich in MN
Cathy --
As a male chauvinist pig from 'way back, let me assure you that a woman can push any button a man can.
It would appear that, percentagewise, there are fewer women than men who want to be pilots or similar jobs. The ones who do tend to be motivated, with the result that the average woman in such a job tends to be better than the average man. The only thing that even holds that tendency back is that many women don't stay with it, for various reasons, and so don't get the experience. If she's co-piloting for Captain Dave, that doesn't apply.
I once flew from Tampa to Tallahassee on a commuter. When I came out of the terminal, there was a nice shiny SAAB with a pretty girl standing by the entrance stair. Flight attendant on that!?" I thought. Nope. Pilot in command, at night in the rain. She done good.
Nice post Captain. I was eager to see if you made the crossing point and feared you would not.
I think the photo is of the bypass section of the turbofan engine looking from the rear forwards?
Smooth work (C)aptain Dave
like a babies bottom.
Great read as usual.
Ian
Fantastic read, Dave! Might this have been the red-eye from LAX? Seems you fell victim to the strange wind phenomena we experienced last week in the Midwest/East.
Captain, great post. Question on a different topic. Is there any ratinoal reason to think twice about maintenance/aging issues with the American Airlines fleet? There was the 757 just last Friday that had a hole open up in its fuselage, and then there are all the MD80s. I was watching an interesting documentary "A week in the life of American Airlines" on CNBC the other day, and just in the small sample size, there were two potentially serious problems with various "Mad Dogs"... one a hydraulic leak that took a plane out of service right before it was supposed to taxi to the runway, and another a serious air conditioning problem that had temps go up to almost 90 degrees inside the cabin, requiring an unscheduled landing. Other incidents have been well documented. These MD80s are as old as dirt, and frankly I am starting to wonder how safe they really are. Now with the 757 issue, I am wondering if AA is so hell bent on saving pennies that they are cutting corners on maintenance. What gives? I have heard that AA pilots are absolutely superb airmen and women, but is this a situatino where superstar jockeys are mounting creaky old burros? Would you think twice about stepping on board a creaky old Mad Dog as a passenger? Any insights would be most appreciated!
Great read- Kept me on the edge of my seat
BoredPilot.com
Hello Dave,
Just got to know your blog. A portuguese fan of yours sent me the link and I'm glad he did; it's great! Please keep it going! Since we are in the same business you and I, I'd like to share my blog with you: www.picsfromtheoffice.blogspot.com
Happy landings!
Mathieu
How would this "read" were the co-pilot that super sharp Navy guy ... or the amazing riddler stick guy ... or the freight dog guy (who has apparently been flea dipped). Some of what this particular pilot brings to the cockpit makes it harder for her to be accepted as a highly skilled pilot. She hears the snide remarks ... nothing she hasn't heard before ... she sees the sidelong glances ... "whatever" she may think ... she is relieved when she cinches the seatbelt and starts the checklist routines. Fi-Fi doesn't notice that a women is sitting in the right seat. The guy in the left seat is treating her like the pilot she is. What will she have to deal with tomorrow when a different kind of captain is "in charge"? Who knows? (Yeah, she deals with those shadows) Today she is flying ... with a Captain who really likes to fly ... .
So glad y'all are having fun! I really hope those moments are enough to offset all the "stuff".
~DeAnn
Loek,
Just a thought, but I doubt a long-serving airline pilot really needs CRM advice from a steely-eyed jet jockey more familiar with managing a crew of, er, one.
However, I'm sure your words of wisdom would be invaluable the next time he dogfights a KLM AirBus.
No.....
Engine blades are much closer together....
I don't think it would be possible to photograph one on its own (like this) ?
Can't be an engine blade....
But then what IS it?
Give up Captain Dave!
Tell us...
Bev
Dear Phil.Osophy,
My writing was just based on thoughts as well and I never meant to be "the wise guy". Re-reading my own post I can even understand you seem to think I am. Believe me when I say that it is only my aim to have a free and open discussion and learn from the opinion of others. About CRM, yes, it goes in a little different way in the Airforce, but in a formation of fighter airplanes you do talk about a crew with the same mission. You still need each other and all within the formation have their tasks.
Cheers,
Loek
Ummm... I just had a worry that maybe you got a talking to for this... if so (although I am not normally one to buck a system) you are even more a hero to me. Reading this blog over the last few years has completely changed my experience as a passenger for the better: I mean a large, significant difference. Thank you again.
@Paul As a regular AA flier I have noticed in the last six months on my usual routes, a replacement for the Mad Dogs (thank goodness) with new 737s.
Hi Dave,
Have you ever experienced similar engine problems to what happened yesterday to the Qantas A380.
Thanks!
phil.osophy
and I'm quite sure Captain Dave is capable of responding to a legitimate concern without using childish putdowns.
The engine fan blades are in the background of the photo. This is taken (with the engine core cowls open) from behind the fan cowl looking towards the front of the engine. The heavy duty wing that you see is a guide vane that stops the swirl induced by the fan blades and directs the air bypass flow out the back of the engine.
right?
I heard you are a good writer from a co-worker of mine. He's a pilot and I'm a flight attendant. I like the way you made me feel like I was right there in the flight deck with you anticipating every moment. I look forward to reading more.
Thanks!
Captain Dave I believe you have verily mastered the knack of extracting every morsel of interest and enjoyment from your mighty perch and persuasion and it shows in the crafting of your lovely stories. Many people can write but fewer can "Write" in a way that folk are actively looking forward to the next story. Earlier this year I started flying lessons (ambitious at my age). An unknown (to me) female was instructor substituted at short notice at hour 5 in my logbook. I recall my out of body experience reaction, when having made her endure the drunken sailor taxi out and line up and fully expecting her to do the take off she folded her arms and said so very matter of factly "ok you have control, I want full power keep it on the centre line and I'll keep an eye the rudder" She was just over half my age but I learned more from her in 45 minutes than, my beautiful wife rolls her eyes now every time so I don't mention it anymore! But her enthusiasm for flying was amazing. The only time she raised her hand from her lap was when I got ever so slightly exuberant on the turn on to finals She is flying airliners for one of Europe's largest now, I would be more than happy to be on board knowing her calm expertise was up front .
@Cathy and Bev:
I will always remember, the first time I noticed a female captain in command of a flight I was on.
It was Jan 31st, 1999. The Last United flight from LAX to SFO, to arrive before midnight.
As I left my seat, I noticed that all the cabin crew were female, not so much out of the ordinary (at least here in the USA.) And as I approached the door to exit, both Pilot and Co-Pilot were standing there, wishing everyone a happy new year. AND Yes, they were both women. I thanked them both for a wonderfully smooth flight and excellent landing (given the usual wind and rain at SFO) It was truly heartwarming to know that these women had flown a 737-400, perfectly, safely, and it was, for them, simply business as usual.
I know it could be considered sexist, but still, even in this day and age, I believe that many women feel they have to try harder, perform better, and show it, to earn the respect that many men do in male dominated jobs.
I for one, am always encouraged knowing there is a woman on the flight deck, even if it's because of my archaic (and sometimes embarrassing belief) that women still DO have to try harder to prove themselves.
It's also heartwarming to know that folks like (C)apt Dave, have the respect for women like the co-pilot he praised in this article, and are helping to dispel even my archaic way of thinking!
It's great to see a Captain that knows he is human and able to keep the big picture in mind! Not the easiest of tasks in this industry!
Keep it up.
-J.
37000.blogspot.com
Not wanting to burst anyone's bubble, but ATC crossing restrictions aren't cast in stone. Moreover, any competent controller has a pretty good idea whether it's going to be tough to make one, and will offer any number of alternatives.
Just as an example of their variability, normal operations into MDW (Midway in Chicago) required crossing JOT (Joliet, IL) at 6,000. It's about 25 miles from JOT to MDW—a lot of fuel low and slow. So, on the midnight shifts when most of the sectors were combined, I used to let the Learjets descend (from FL410) at their discretion. Most of them went over JOT at between FL260 and FL240.
There was one guy at ORD (O'Hare approach) who hated it—"the Letter of Agreement doesn't expire at midnight!" he used to yell), but most everyone else did pretty relaxed things on mids.
LRod
ZJX, ORD, ZAU retired
Great reading Captain!
Thanks for sharing your passion.
Very well written, and interesting posts.
Love this Blog!
JCM
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