Position: Over ICT (Wichita)
Altitude: 33,000 feet
Groundspeed: 570 kts (655 mph)
Indicated Airspeed: 261 kts
Mach Number: Point Seven Four (.74)
Compass Heading: 073 degrees
Equipment: A320 A-5 engines
Pax-on-Board: 150
Airborne...
We are a late night departure out of KLAX en route to the eastern edge of the American Empire. As we climb thru 10,000 feet and Fi-Fi begins to accelerate toward the warp gate, the pesky email alert light illuminates. No, no no... Not tonight, please!
The co-pilot, number two on my top ten list, rips the message out of the mini-printer and snickers. She says, "Momma wants you to slow down. I guess you have to control your need for speed."
My cursing trigger trembles...
"Of course... The only night on this trip we have decent winds and we gotta slow down."
The co-pilot enters the new CI (cost index) and RTA (required time of arrival) into the nav computers and Fi-Fi increases pitch to catch the new and much slower climb speed. What a waste of free energy! Oh, well... Mother signs the paychecks.
Over ABQ VOR... 31,000 feet... Mach .71
Earlier, the Albuquerque Center controller suggested 31,000 feet for a smoother ride. The flight plan calls for 35,000 feet over ABQ; a quick fuel check as we pass overhead shows us falling behind on the burn. That is to be expected 4,000 feet lower than planned. Better to burn a bit more fuel than to break a flight attendant's ankle, though.
Over LBL VOR... 33,000 feet... Mach .72
This is painful! Seven-two? Fingernails on a chalkboard... I briefly think about taking the speed control away from Fi-Fi, but common sense prevails. Mother has the big picture on arrival slotting into one of the busiest airports in the world. On the positive side, the ride seems to be improving at higher altitudes and because of that, we are slowly ascending.
I look over at the co-pilot in the dark flight deck and ask, "Hey, you wanna hear some more Robert Stack? I've been working on it since we last flew together."
"No."
"Come on, I know you like it."
"No, I don't."
The mach number is creeping up as the nav computers continuously chew on the RTA. The tail wind has increased to 60 knots helping us slip through the 500 knot warp gate. It is about time!
PPOS... 33,000 feet... Mach.74/570 kts gs
Underneath our belly, Wichita is a soft yellow smudge on the otherwise dark undercast. Overhead is another story, though. It is appears that an angel threw a bucket of stars across the heavens... Hey, Capt. Dave look at this!
Even with my aging eyes, it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. The viewing conditions are perfect this morning. I can only imagine what it must look like on the other side of the heated Plexiglas. Outside, tailwinds have increased to 126 knots.
Over STL... 35,000 feet... Mach.75/590 kts gs
Moonrise on the eastern horizon is at 0330 hrs local... Tailwinds are 145 knots. We could easily break 620 knots across the ground with a little more thrust, but...
The undercast disappears east of St. Louis and countless agricultural communities of the great American Midwest stretch to the horizon. They look like small diamond broaches illuminated with yellow-orange light. In the center of each is a tiny pin-point of flashing red light... Main and First street intersection, undoubtedly.
I always wonder if anyone is looking up at a small twinkling light moving east against the star fields. It is Capt. Dave and 154 souls passing overhead...
Back to reality and time for a system check:
Hydraulics are 3,000 psi...
Fuel is balanced within 1,000 pounds...
Electrics are good...
Engines are loafing at a reduced thrust setting...
Oxygen pressure is 1550 psi...
We are looking good... Another eighty-eight minutes to top-of-descent.
Life on the Line continues...
38 comments:
Captain Dave,
just wanted to drop a note telling you how much I enjoy reading your blog. I am always happy when my RSS reader shows me another Flight Level 390 entry has been posted.
Thank you for the reading!
Markus
The errant spousal unit flew on a FiFi from LAX to CLT and then onto LEX on a cousin. He said the flight was really nice. As I write this, he's winging his way west on 1437 and will be home. He's had nothing but good things to say about Mother and her brood.
If we have to go there together, we'll go with Mother. The other choice from the South is not even on the table.
Thanks for the word pictures!
Captain Dave-
Live two minutes from KOKC (Wheeler Downtown, KCMO), fly out of KLXT.
I can assure you my eyes are always searching for that distant twinkle, wondering what it's like to be up there at the Flight Levels!
I wanted to be one of the first to say is that poetry in motion Capt Dave. Lovely post and as for mother she is a cruel task master.
Best wishes
Ian
Australia
Why do they slow you down?
First!!
Great post Capt Dave!!
Not so long ago it would have been me on the other end of the radio between BUM and STL, 133.47 on your radio dial. Safe voyages, Captain.
Awesome... just missed a dawn picture!
Nice flights, Captain!
I, Captain Dave, ALWAYS look up whenever I hear or see the small twinkling light moving overhead. Thanks for another great post. Keep working on that Robert Stack. ;-)
CFII Rich
Minneapolis, MN
Capt Dave,
When I'm at 10,000 in my 310 at 3am hauling boxes I wonder if YOU are looking DOWN at me.
Joe
"The aeroplane has unveiled for us the true face of the earth."
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I'll be looking up for the twinkle of your port and starboard lights.
Hey Capt. Dave,
Not only am I always looking up, I am wondering what the pilots are doing to keep the airplane moving, wondering what the FAs are serving, or whether they are announcing anything at that moment. I wonder where the airplane originated and what its destination will be. And I say a little prayer for safe travels for those onboard. And most of all, I always wonder whether anyone on that flight is looking down wondering if anybody is looking up.
Thanks for the amazing stories.
hi captain,
thanks for a great blog, i have a holiday home in a tiny village called clarens in the mountains of the eastern free state here in south africa. at night the stars on view are just unbelivable so i can understand the view you have from 33000 ft. people who live in the cities have no idea what they are missing.
thanks again for a great blog.
alistair from south africa
Everyone loves speed! On cars, on boats, even on aircrafts! I enjoy reading your blog, the fluency, the content, you get an A+.
I live in the city of VHHH, VHSK. How small the city is, every time I look at the sky, there are always an aircraft!.
Another excellent post Capt. Dave. Can you explain exactly what is meant by "undercast" please?
Capt. Dave,
Really enjoy all the posts. I was missing your prose during your recent "down time" but glad you are back and posting again. I DO look up at the twinkling lights as they streak by overhead. Beautiful.
JTC
Great post, it is a pleasure to read.
Capt Dave, thought you might be interested in seeing this on the discovery of more of the Air France 447 wreckage:
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/04/04/france.jet.wreckage/index.html?hpt=T1
"It is appears that an angel threw a bucket of stars across the heavens..."
You're singing my song, Dave! I have memories that still excite me of sleeping under a dome of stars in the outback of the vast NW of Western Australia.
Hi Captain,
I'm always looking up at the lights wondering if it's you on approach to CMH. Enjoyed the post.
On an unrelated note - finally they found AF447. This is great news for all of the families. Maybe we will finally know. Link http://avherald.com/h?article=41a81ef1/0053&opt=0
Captain Dave,
always enjoy your great posts.
Could you please tell me what the button "EXPED" below the altitude selector on the autopilot panel does?
Does it change the vertical speed during a level change?
Thanks much - Fly carefully.
Cheers
Tom
Captain Dave,
Just wanted to tell you that your blog is proberly the only thing keeping me going while I read the POH from cover to cover on "Fi-Fi" as I have my type rating next week on the Airbus family and still feel its "Fi-Fi" flying me and not the other way around.
Your blog is brilliant I really enjoy reading your posts I can only hope that my captains are as nice as you seem to be to your new first officers who are strugeling to see the Electric Jet Light.
Wishing you CAT free flying and good Tail-Winds
Jon
England
Hah... You think getting slowed to .71 is bad? In the BarbieJets it's pretty normal to see .65 or less, all the way up in the low 30,000s. Granted we only have to deal with crawling along at that speed for an hour or so. I can't imagine doing a transcon at that speed.
Hey Captain, thanks for another chapter. Let me ask, can you tell us a scary story sometime? Perhaps for Halloween?
Seems we are victims of costs these days instead of efficiency. Heck, sooner or later someone will decide that we don't need pilots anymore!
JetAviator7
All Things Aviation
I agree with Noella...
"It is appears that an angel threw a bucket of stars across the heavens..."
Reading that line made me look up and sigh. Beautiful images, Captain Dave.
Thanks for the smile.
(Oh, and you should record your impressions of Robert Stack and post them to your blog...*giggle*)
Whoa.. just saw this.. http://avherald.com/h?comment=43a6bc08&opt=0
I assume that Fifi still has steam driven AI and other instruments for major failures such as this..
Still amazes me that they kept relative directional control with limited brakes, spoilers, and no nose stearing.. I am guessing flaps deployment was limited as well?? And they were probably very overweight as well...
You pros give me alot of inspiration to keep plugging along at my training..
Thanks for posting another chapter :) I love to read your blog!
I really enjoy your blog Captain. I look forward to your commentary on the Airbus landing today at NOLA. Hope that wasn't you! Although, the pilot did a great job...
My backyard in Central NJ is a showcase for aircraft descending to 10,000 feet for final approach to EWR from the south. Others may be annoyed living under this flight path, but it is one of the reasons I enjoy living here. When I fly this route as a passenger, I recognize the runway of TTN airport, and the twinkling lights of my neighborhood and workplace.I can truly say that I love the view "from both sides now".
Beautiful. Lucky you.
It is written on the arched sky; it looks out from every star. It is the poetry of Nature; it is that which uplifts the spirit within us. ~John Ruskin
Hi Captain Dave,
Wow ... what a wonderful little jewel of writing ... masterfully faceted to highlight your "enthusiam" for life on the line. Thank you for sharing the fun and slendor with us. This particular post is one of my
top ten favorites for sure!
~DeAnn
Captain Dave:
"I always wonder if anyone is looking up at a small twinkling light moving east against the star fields. It is Capt. Dave and 154 souls passing overhead..."
Simply beautiful, and right on target for me. Yes, I am looking up, when I go for a run with the dog in the early morning and see a con-trail over the eastern sunrise, lights blinking. I am looking up when I head home from the office in the early evening sunset, and see another trail streaming out over the western sunset.
I always think of and pray a quick prayer for the flight crew doing their job faithfully, the controllers guiding the way down here on earth, and of all the stories of the 150 or so souls in that aircraft; where they are going and what is happening in their lives that has put them in the air today.
Your writing is exquisite. Keep it up, is is a blessing to us earthbound souls.
Andy, "undercast" is what you call a solid cloud layer when it is below you rather than above you. The same cloud deck we would call "overcast" if we are on the ground is an "undercast" if you are flying above it.
There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician; the other is an artist.
. . . E. B. Jeppesen
Capt. Dave, there's no doubt your are an artist! Keep 'em comin'!!
Capt. Dave
Your blog is dangerous! Very easy to get addicted and once stumbled upon, one must check on time to time to get the weekly reading cravings!
Can your Fi Fi back up with the reversers? Like MD 80's at times reverses from the gate or like Herc 130 ship @ airshow showing off? FOD not counting, is it possible?
RC
@ Ciaran; ONE of the reasons for maintaining slower GROUND speed is the age old time over distance calculation. If DEST has a daily ops schedule that calls for Gate X to be used for Flight XXXX from, say 13:45 to 14:45, and then Filght YYYY from 15:05 to 15:45, arriving to DEST too early will cause acft to sit on the ground keeping passengers slightly unruly. A maintenance issue for a departing aircraft may also cause a departure delay, but in this day and age of such closely managed gate assignments, nav computers can ease the passengers frustration of sitting on the tarmac.
Additionally, an early arrival into a busy SECTORE and TRACON can upset the overall masterplanning of the airspace management scheme.
Thank you tscottme
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