Cockpit Chronicles takes you along on each of Kent's trips as a co-pilot on the Boeing 757 and 767 out of Boston. I'd like to welcome Gadling's latest blogger, Heather Poole and her feature, Galley Gossip. Gadling had been looking for a flight attendant's perspective of this ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Kent Wien is a New York-based 757 and 767 co-pilot for a major airline with more than twenty years experience both as a domestic and international pilot.
Kent is a third-generation airline pilot from a family that pioneered flying in Alaska. He enjoys writing about his flights while using video and photography to capture a glimpse of life behind a cockpit door.
He currently writes the Cockpit Chronicles feature for Gadling and previously answered a lot of questions in a now retired Plane Answers feature for Gadling. He occasionally covers the airline and aviation industry in between.
You can reach him through the Cockpit Chronicles Facebook site at kentwien.com or via twitter.
The Cockpit Chronicles
Cockpit Chronicles: Paris - A trip to satisfy the taste buds
Cockpit Chronicles takes you along on each of Kent's trips as a co-pilot on the Boeing 757 and 767 out of Boston. I'd like to welcome Gadling's latest blogger, Heather Poole and her feature, Galley Gossip. Gadling had been looking for a flight attendant's perspective of this ...Cockpit Chronicles: Paris with the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew
Cockpit Chronicles takes you along on each of Kent's trips as a co-pilot on the Boeing 757 and 767 out of Boston. As I mentioned in the last post, I was given this two-day CCS trip instead of a three-day Paris. While I enjoyed the extra day off, it was hard to give up a ...Cockpit Chronicles: Our easiest trip: the two-day San Juan
I finished the last Paris trip four hours before my wife Linda and the kids would arrive in Boston on a Lufthansa flight from Germany. I debated waiting for them at the airport, but I knew Linda would be especially thrilled if she didn't have to go to the store on the way ...Cockpit Chronicles: Bombed in Paris
I managed to move my schedule around so I'd have the first 9 days of May off. My wife and kids had already left to visit my mother-in-law in Germany, so once I was finished working in April, I hopped on a Lufthansa flight to join up with them. Most pilots would rather have ...Cockpit Chronicles: The airline industry's newest business model: Desperate Housewives.
There are some advantages to flying a reserve schedule every now and then. I prefer the variety and the thought that just maybe I'll get called out to cover a New York trip to Zurich or Brussels. It's rare, but it has happened before. For April, I didn't fly anywhere I ...Cockpit Chronicles: Domestic Duties
I can't wait for our one European destination to come back to Boston in May. These crack of dawn departures don't fit my circadian rhythm at all. I'm convinced in fact, that when I retire I may never again see the sun rise. That said, it's just so amazing to walk down the ...Cockpit Chronicles: Caracas and New York
Being the only pilot on reserve, I figured I'd be getting a call to fly over the weekend. Sure enough, Camille called on Thursday to tell me I'd be departing at 6:30 the next morning. It was a new sequence that I hadn't flown yet. They took away our Panama City and Caracas ...Cockpit Chronicles: Lonely paradise
It must sound so exciting. "Why, sure, I'll take the Aruba 2-day trip, with a layover on the beach!" Even I was thrilled for a moment. At least I wasn't being sent out to do the Panama City and Caracas three-day trip. There's nothing wrong with that trip, really, it's just ...Cockpit Chronicles: A three-legged turn
I raced to the phone to check the caller ID. It was crew scheduling. Of course I had to answer. As much as I hoped I wouldn't be called for an Easter trip, I knew it was likely to happen--It's part of the job when you're on reserve. Camille had two trips to offer me, one of ...Cockpit Chronicles: A view from the office window
There's a bit of strategy involved with being a pilot on reserve. At least that's the case at our company. On any given day there may be 4 our 5 reserve pilots qualified at the base to fly a particular airplane and division (domestic or international, for example.) If ...Cockpit Chronicles: How pilots stay proficient
Last week I accomplished something every pilot dreads. Every nine months we have to go down to Dallas for recurrent training. The FAA lays out its mandates for airline recurrent training and the specific airlines design their courses around these requirements. It seems like ...Cockpit Chronicles: Taken for a ride in Panama City
I called my friend Captain Dave the day before our trip. "Dave, we're going to hit the ground running in Panama City so we can check out the canal. I've got it all figured out. Just get to bed early," I said. Dave was up for this. He actually traded one of his Barbados ...Cockpit Chronicles: How pilots choose their schedules
Today's flight was a turn (out and back in the same day) from Boston to Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. The airplane was a 767, which is always nice to fly. We're able to fly either the 757 or the 767 using the same procedures and training. I think most pilots ...Cockpit Chronicles - Riots in Panama
I've flown with Captain Jim on the MD-80, the 737 and the 757/767. It's always a pleasure to work with him and we often discuss everything from politics to aviation -- but lately he's also become my mentor in photography. Jim has been trying to expand my interest in shooting ...Cockpit Chronicles: Travel Tip: Don't leave home without pants!
The third and final London trip of the month was the most memorable. I doubt if I'll be able to see London again before it goes back to the 777, which normally operates the route, in March. Oh, well. It was fun while it lasted. European trips generally allow just enough time ...Cockpit Chronicles: Miami Closed? You're pulling my leg!
Occasionally international pilots at our company will fly domestic trips, and a Miami turn I had on my schedule last week is a good example of that. Fly down and an hour later, come back to Boston. When you live somewhat close to the airport, these trips are a great way to ...Cockpit Chronicles: Europe without the jetlag
I know I promised you a tip on how to fly to London from the East Coast without suffering any jetlag, but I suspect this method will be about as useful for most readers as my last post on how to park a 757. We have a trip out of Boston that is highly coveted by pilots and ...Cockpit Chronicles: How to park a 757
So you just bought yourself a 757. Congratulations are certainly in order. But when you approach the gate in Aruba for your well deserved vacation, you find no one to guide you in. They're all just standing around waiting for you to line up your shiny new ride. Fortunately ...Blogger Kent Wien
Introducing the newest member of the Gadling team... Kent Wien Since air travel is such a significant part of most of our lives, we're bringing on Kent to share his experiences as a commercial pilot with Gadling. Kent will be writing about each of his trips, giving you an ...
