Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Plane Answers: What kind of math skills are needed to become a pilot?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/27/plane-answers-what-kind-of-math-skills-are-needed-to-become-a-p/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/27/plane-answers-what-kind-of-math-skills-are-needed-to-become-a-p/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/27/plane-answers-what-kind-of-math-skills-are-needed-to-become-a-p/#commentsFiled under:


Zach asks:

Hello First Officer Kent!

It has been my dream since early childhood to earn a private pilot's certificate. For a number of reasons--both financial and otherwise--it is only now (pushing age 30) that I am able to seriously begin the process of choosing a flight school and creating a road map to the goal of earning the license (while I would love to work as an airline pilot, I am content to keep my less interesting day job and fly as a pure hobbyist).

The only potential barrier that I can envision is what I fear to be a lack of the necessary math acumen to be successful. I am simply intimidated by any math more complicated than very basic algebra, and while this is something that I believe I can overcome, I wonder how it will impact my ability to earn a private pilot's certificate. How much and what type of math is necessary to know in order to reach this goal? Should I brush up on any particular area of mathematics before starting my flight training?


Hi Zach,

I have good news for you.

Continue reading Plane Answers: What kind of math skills are needed to become a pilot?

Plane Answers: What kind of math skills are needed to become a pilot? originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineautopilotflyingidle reverseIdleReverseMathmath+needed+to+be+a+pilotmath+needed+to+become+an+airline+pilotmathneededtobeapilotmathneededtobecomeanairlinepilotpilotreverse thrustReverseThrustwhat+kind+of+math+does+a+private+pilot+needwhat+kind+of+math+is+in+flight+schoolwhat+kind+of+math+is+needed+to+be+a+pilotwhatkindofmathdoesaprivatepilotneedwhatkindofmathisinflightschoolwhatkindofmathisneededtobeapilotSat, 27 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: Have turbulence encounters become less common?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/24/plane-answers-have-turbulence-encounters-become-less-common/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/24/plane-answers-have-turbulence-encounters-become-less-common/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/24/plane-answers-have-turbulence-encounters-become-less-common/#commentsFiled under:

Welcome to Gadling's feature, Plane Answers, where our resident airline pilot, Kent Wien, answers your questions about everything from takeoff to touchdown and beyond. Have a question of your own? Ask away!

Fellow Gadling writer Mike Barish (author of the hilarious Skymall Mondays asks:

I have a plane answers question of my own for you and thought others might be curious, too.

Not sure if it's my perception, improvements in technology or changes in flight paths, but it truly seems like I experience less turbulence in general, and less aggressive turbulence when my flights do hit it, than I did back in the 1980s. What's changed to make flights smoother?

You're likely right, Mike.

In the past ten years, more of the airplanes flying today have advanced radar, with features such as 'Predictive Windshear' and better depiction of turbulence associated with precipitation.

The FAA has also installed weather monitors for Air Traffic Controllers that show the level of intensity for a given cumulonimbus build-up of clouds. It's comforting to hear "we show a level three thunderstorm along your route of flight, deviations to the right or left are approved" from ATC before the weather even shows up on our radar.

Occasionally these advisories are for storms that are well below us, but the courtesy report is well appreciated, especially since they include the intensity of the weather, which saves us from having to pan and tilt our radar to determine if a cloud could cause significant bumps. Exceedingly wet clouds that climb above 25,000 feet are the best indicator of possible turbulence, and it takes some manipulating of the radar to find those.

Continue reading Plane Answers: Have turbulence encounters become less common?

Plane Answers: Have turbulence encounters become less common? originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome to Gadling's feature, Plane Answers, where our resident airline pilot, Kent Wien, answers your questions about everything from takeoff to touchdown and beyond. Have a question of your own? Ask away!

Josh asks:

We've all heard the standard spiel about oxygen masks and flotation devices. Likewise, we've all seen the cartoonish drawings of proper positioning of one's body in the event of an emergency (the "brace for impact" pose), etc... Two things I've heard people say are that:

a) the air temperature outside the cabin at most cruising altitudes on jet engine planes is sufficient to instantly freeze all bodies on board solid within literally seconds;

b) the change in air pressure is likely to be so disruptive to one's ear drum, putting on oxygen masks and taking the fetal position is difficult to impossible due to disorientation.

Continue reading Plane Answers: Can passengers survive an explosive depressurization?

Plane Answers: Can passengers survive an explosive depressurization? originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircraft+depressurizationaircraftdepressurizationairplane+depressurizationairplanedepressurizationAloha 243Aloha243blanketscabindepressurizationexplosive+depressurizationexplosivedepressurizationHeliosKalitta 66Kalitta66oxygen maskOxygenMaskpassegers+freezing+to+death+on+planepassegersfreezingtodeathonplanetemperatureMon, 12 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: Paying off passengers on weight restricted flights and a question about approach speeds]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/05/plane-answers-paying-off-passengers-on-weight-restricted-flight/http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/05/plane-answers-paying-off-passengers-on-weight-restricted-flight/http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/05/plane-answers-paying-off-passengers-on-weight-restricted-flight/#commentsFiled under:

Welcome to Gadling's feature, Plane Answers, where our resident airline pilot, Kent Wien, answers your questions about everything from takeoff to touchdown and beyond. Have a question of your own? Ask away!

Kent,

My girlfriend and I were traveling to Washington D.C. on Delta from Des Moines via Cincinnati. At CVG, the ticket agent said they were looking for volunteers, as the flight was oversold. I eagerly rushed up, since we were just staying with a friend that night, and inquired. He offered $600 each, meal vouchers and a hotel for us. He said there was an issue with weight as well.

We hung around the gate to make sure, and at the last minute, he said "Captain's ordered everybody on." The flight was full. Very full. We were the last two seats on the CRJ. My girlfriend had to sit next to the FA in a jumpseat/lavatory door.

My question is: How can weight play an issue? Aren't they fueled according to the passenger count? How much does luggage weight come into fuel calculations? And lastly, What could have made the pilot change his mind about weight?

Continue reading Plane Answers: Paying off passengers on weight restricted flights and a question about approach speeds

Plane Answers: Paying off passengers on weight restricted flights and a question about approach speeds originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>approach speedsApproachSpeedsdenied boardingDeniedBoardingmax landing weightMaxLandingWeightpassenger weightPassengerWeightVrefweight and balanceWeightAndBalanceMon, 05 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: Crew rest seats and identifying pilot uniforms]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/29/plane-answers-crew-rest-seats-and-identifying-pilot-uniforms/http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/29/plane-answers-crew-rest-seats-and-identifying-pilot-uniforms/http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/29/plane-answers-crew-rest-seats-and-identifying-pilot-uniforms/#commentsFiled under:

Welcome to Gadling's feature, Plane Answers, where our resident airline pilot, Kent Wien, answers your questions about everything from takeoff to touchdown and beyond. Have a question of your own? Ask away!

Ignacio asks:

Say you're on a Boston-Paris trip. The flight is totally loaded up, so there are no free seats, neither First nor Tourist class. When it comes to rest-time, what do you pilots do? Is it possible for a scheduled flight to have no seats available?

The policy varies by airlines, but the FAA requires that a seat be provided somewhere in the back for the third pilot on flights over 8 hours. Whether that seat is in coach or business class is something that's determined by contract negotiations. At my company, we're lucky to have a seat in business, often with the seat next to us blocked as well.

Jocelyn asks:

Regarding airline pilot uniforms;

1. What is the difference between the different colored epaulets airline pilots wear on their uniforms. Some wear white and some wear gold, that I have seen.

Continue reading Plane Answers: Crew rest seats and identifying pilot uniforms

Plane Answers: Crew rest seats and identifying pilot uniforms originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crew restCrewRestepauletspilotuniformMon, 29 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: A controller opinion on the JFK kid and a college major for pilots]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/10/plane-answers-a-controllers-take-on-the-jfk-kid-and-college-ma/http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/10/plane-answers-a-controllers-take-on-the-jfk-kid-and-college-ma/http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/10/plane-answers-a-controllers-take-on-the-jfk-kid-and-college-ma/#commentsFiled under:

Welcome to Gadling's feature, Plane Answers, where our resident airline pilot, Kent Wien, answers your questions about everything from takeoff to touchdown and beyond. Have a question of your own? Ask away!

A friend of mine who works as an air traffic controller emailed me with his thoughts on the JFK 'bring your kid to work' controversy. Here's what he had to say:

Each of my 3 kids have talked to planes in Chicago airspace 7-10 years ago. I limited it to a frequency change after advising the pilot "it's take your daughter to work day, standby for a frequency change."

I recently mentioned it to some former colleagues who all said they had done something like that also. I believe that any clearances are clearly inappropriate but that there was no danger involved at JFK. The dad certainly would have been in the trainer jack with override capability.

So there you have it. I'm still hopeful that nothing more than a policy memo is sent out and that the controller(s) in question are able to come back to work as soon as possible.

And now a multiple-part question from Ricardo about a university major for a prospective pilot and the best direction he should take afterwards:

Hey Kent,

I have always been interested in flying commercial aircraft ever since I was a child. My ultimate goal is to gain an ATPL. I am currently 16 years old and I'm already looking through colleges. I have found several that offer a Private Pilot minor but I do not know what to major in. Do airlines look for pilots that majored in something in particular? I was thinking of aerospace engineering or aerospace systems technology but I would like to know for sure what I should major in so that I will have better luck with airlines in the future.

Continue reading Plane Answers: A controller opinion on the JFK kid and a college major for pilots

Plane Answers: A controller opinion on the JFK kid and a college major for pilots originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airline pilotAirlinePilotATCATC kidAtcKidbe a pilotBeAPilotbecomingchildcollege majorCollegeMajorJFK controllerJfkControllerkid controllerKidControllerpilotWed, 10 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: JFK kid controller incident and a smoking 757]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/03/plane-answers-jfk-kid-controller-incident-and-a-smoking-757/http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/03/plane-answers-jfk-kid-controller-incident-and-a-smoking-757/http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/03/plane-answers-jfk-kid-controller-incident-and-a-smoking-757/#commentsFiled under: ,

Probably the most popular offering on LiveATC.net is the JFK ground and tower frequency. It's rather entertaining to listen to the Kennedy controllers who are often faced with the daunting task of moving so many airplanes from all corners of the world with a variety of accents.

So it's no surprise that when a JFK controller hosted a young visitor to the tower on February 17th, and even allowed the kid to make a few transmissions over the tower frequency, those listening to LiveATC.net were there to catch it. And the TV reporters weren't far behind.

The child, who was possibly the controller's son, was heard handing off an Aeromexico and JetBlue flight to departure control as well as clearing the JetBlue flight for takeoff.

As a pilot, I'd probably react in the same way the JetBlue crew did. I'd get a chuckle out of it, but the FAA can't possibly shrug off this now highly public incident. I just hope the controller doesn't lose his job.

Frankly, these instructions could have been given in French and pilots would understand exactly what was instructed. And each pilot in this case read back the instructions clearly, so there was no misunderstanding. If the readback was incorrect, the controller would have jumped right in. So don't believe the hype that a near disaster was narrowly avoided.

Of course we don't bring our kids to work in the cockpit. In fact, there were two high profile examples of why this isn't done. A Turkish pilot was fired in 2008 for letting a 15-year old sit in his seat.

And tragically, an Aeroflot flight crashed while the captain's 15-year old son was flying. But a child saying adios from the tower to a departing flight isn't exactly the same as letting a kid fly the plane.


No doubt the media will be all over this today. Here's one report from The Early Show on CBS this morning that includes the kid's ATC audio that was surely obtained from LiveATC.net:


Watch CBS News Videos Online

And finally, we're going to get back to more questions on Plane Answers. Here's today's:

Continue reading Plane Answers: JFK kid controller incident and a smoking 757

Plane Answers: JFK kid controller incident and a smoking 757 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>757ATCChildengineFAAJFKjfk+controllerjfk+incidentjfk+kid+controllerjfkcontrollerjfkincidentjfkkidcontrollerkidLiveATC.netsmokestarttake+our+kids+to+work+airplane+phototakeourkidstoworkairplanephotoWed, 03 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: The Frontline episode regional airlines don't want you to see]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/02/09/plane-answers-a-frontline-episode-regional-airlines-dont-want/http://www.gadling.com/2010/02/09/plane-answers-a-frontline-episode-regional-airlines-dont-want/http://www.gadling.com/2010/02/09/plane-answers-a-frontline-episode-regional-airlines-dont-want/#commentsFiled under: ,

I've always been a big fan of PBS's Frontline. It's obvious that they study a subject before they report on it. And as any pilot knows, that can be a rarity in the often hyped television coverage of the airline industry.

Frontline has tackled specific airline subjects in the past and I've always found them to be accurate and insightful. I'm looking forward to the episode tonight called "Flying Cheap" that may just expose the disparity in pay and working conditions at the regional airlines.

Major airlines have long used separate carriers as a firewall of deniability while playing them off each other to secure the lowest bid. They control the scheduling of these companies, but leave the maintenance and operational responsibility to the regional.

A few carriers, such as Delta and American wholly own and have control over their regionals, but they still contract with other small airlines to some extent.

After the response from last week's Plane Answers about the NTSB reaction to the Colgan 3407 accident in Buffalo, it will be interesting to see if this PBS Frontline episode spurs enough public interest to cause some changes. PBS has provided an eleven minute excerpt below of the show that may give you an idea of what direction the program is taking tonight.

Continue reading Plane Answers: The Frontline episode regional airlines don't want you to see

Plane Answers: The Frontline episode regional airlines don't want you to see originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As a pilot, I feel the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has failed me. They're tasked to investigate accidents and report on them so the aviation community can hopefully avoid similar mistakes. They also submit recommendations to the FAA for changes they feel will make air travel safer.

But I have to question the impartiality of the NTSB after seeing the outcome of the Colgan 3407 investigation.

Yesterday the NTSB came out with a report on the Colgan 3407 accident in Buffalo, New York last year that puts the blame squarely on the captain.

CAPTAIN'S INAPPROPRIATE ACTIONS LED TO CRASH OF FLIGHT 3407 IN CLARENCE CENTER, NEW YORK, NTSB SAYS.

Clearly, the captain reacted to a reduction in airspeed in a way that is contrary to everything we're taught as pilots. But what caused this?

The NTSB sought to find out just why this reasonably experienced captain would respond in such a manner. Training records were examined, toxicology reports were submitted and everything that was said by the crew during the flight was analyzed.

Glossed over in the report was the fact that both the captain and first officer had very little sleep over the previous 24 hours. The NTSB says the captain had 'reduced sleep opportunities' and attempted to rest in the company crew lounge. Apparently the attempts at sleeping there weren't effective since the captain logged on to a company computer at 3:10 in the morning.

The first officer likely had a full day near her home in Seattle before commuting on an 'all-nighter' to her base in Newark. She also tried to get a nap in at the crew lounge in the morning as well.

But one of the investigators in the Colgan accident, Robert Sumwalt refuses to allow for the possibility that fatigue was even a contributing factor in the accident, saying "...just because the crew was fatigued, that doesn't mean it was a factor in their performance."

Incredible.

Continue reading Plane Answers: NTSB glosses over fatigue in the Colgan crash

Plane Answers: NTSB glosses over fatigue in the Colgan crash originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BuffaloColgan 3407Colgan3407Dash 8Dash8fatigueNTSBThu, 04 Feb 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: Follow up questions to 'So you want to be a pilot.']]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/28/plane-answers-follow-up-questions-to-so-you-want-to-be-a-pilot/http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/28/plane-answers-follow-up-questions-to-so-you-want-to-be-a-pilot/http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/28/plane-answers-follow-up-questions-to-so-you-want-to-be-a-pilot/#commentsFiled under:

Welcome to Gadling's feature, Plane Answers, where our resident airline pilot, Kent Wien, answers your questions about everything from takeoff to touchdown and beyond. Have a question of your own? Ask away!

We've received a lot of follow up questions to the Plane Answers post from last week, "So you want to be a pilot. Here's how." The following questions were chosen from those who wrote in asking about a career change:

Rick asks:

I read your article last week about pilot training and careers "So you want to be a pilot?" on Gadling. I am 55 years old. Is it too late for some one my age to consider a career in commercial aviation? I am in excellent health and train daily (running, swimming and cycling).

Hi Rick,

The mandatory retirement age is 65 for airlines, but there isn't a retirement age for corporate flying, instructing or 'Part 135' charters.

If an airline hired you at 59 or 60, you may find it impossible to recoup your investment in the years of flight training you'd have to accomplish.

But there's usually pretty good demand for flight instructors who are willing to stay with a company, as opposed to those who are building time with their sights set on the first charter or airline job that comes along. If you really enjoy flying, and you think you might be a good teacher, that could be your best bet. And you can often continue working somewhere else while you instruct on the weekends, for example, especially since the pay for instructors is so low, you'll likely need a second job anyway.

Continue reading Plane Answers: Follow up questions to 'So you want to be a pilot.'

Plane Answers: Follow up questions to 'So you want to be a pilot.' originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age limitAgeLimitbe a pilotBeAPilotflight trainingFlightTraininglearn to flyLearnToFlytanker pilotTankerPilottoo oldTooOldThu, 28 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: So you want to be a pilot? Here's how.]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/14/plane-answers-so-you-want-to-be-a-pilot-heres-how/http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/14/plane-answers-so-you-want-to-be-a-pilot-heres-how/http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/14/plane-answers-so-you-want-to-be-a-pilot-heres-how/#commentsFiled under:

Michael asks:

I am an aspiring airline pilot and I was wondering what were the steps you took to get hired with the airlines. So far I am 15 and starting my flight training with the Civil Air Patrol.

So you want to be a pilot? You've probably read the stories of the expensive flight training, years of instructing followed by long working hours at a regional with shockingly low pay rates. Perhaps you aspire to eventually make it to the 'majors' or a secure corporate jet job, where you might find some stability and decent pay if the airline doesn't restructure in bankruptcy or the corporate flight department doesn't shut down during a cutback.

There's plenty of turbulence in any flying career. That fact hasn't changed since the '70s, to be honest. But pilots are still attracted to the job for a variety of reasons. It's hard to beat the view or the flexibility in your schedule, and some carriers will take you to places you probably wouldn't have flown to on your own. And for anyone who loves to fly airplanes, you'd be hard pressed to land another career where you can still afford to fly a jet and still be able to accrue enough flight time in to be competent. So even with all the possible hardships, you've decided to chart a course to becoming a pilot. But where do you start?

By far, this is the most frequently asked question we get for Gadling's Plane Answers column. Since it's been twenty years since I was acquiring my ratings and looking for a job, I'll do my best to offer some suggestions to help you along in your career path, and I'll save the story of my climb through the civilian process for another post.

I'd also like to see some suggestions from those who are learning to fly now, as well. So if that applies to you, leave a comment or two about your path.

This post will deal with the more common paths to an airline pilot job in the United States. I hope to tackle some of the steps needed in the U.K., which is representative of the process in Europe, in a future post.

Let me warn you, not only is the process to becoming a pilot a long one, but because of the different choices available to you, this post may be almost as protracted as your career track. But don't get discouraged. Having a variety of options is a good thing.

So let's begin.

Continue reading Plane Answers: So you want to be a pilot? Here's how.

Plane Answers: So you want to be a pilot? Here's how. originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceairline pilotAirlinePilotbe a pilotBeAPilotciviliancollegeComairdelta aviation academyDeltaAviationAcademyJoe deonJoeDeonlearn to flyLearnToFlymilitarypilotuniversityThu, 14 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: Announcements from the captain and Denver turbulence]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/08/plane-answers-announcements-from-the-captain-and-denver-turbule/http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/08/plane-answers-announcements-from-the-captain-and-denver-turbule/http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/08/plane-answers-announcements-from-the-captain-and-denver-turbule/#commentsFiled under:

Rich asks:

Hi Kent, I love your blog and it has really helped me to relax when flying. When I was a kid and used to fly it seemed as though the flight deck would regularly update passengers about what was going on with the trip, the plane, etc. Now it seems as though most of the time I hardly hear anything. It would be nice to know if there is some turbulence coming up or something like that. The best flight recently was an "Express" flight where the pilot told us on the ground that we would be having turbulence the first 30 minutes and then at about the hour and a half mark. It really helped us relax.

Hi Rich,

I once sat in the back of a United plane flying from Denver to Miami when the passenger next to me grabbed my arm during what I would consider light turbulence. As her fingernails dug into my skin, she explained to me how she'd feel so much more comfortable "if the pilot would just say something!"

It left an impression on me. At my airline those announcements are entirely up to the captain, although we're highly encouraged to keep the passengers informed without being a nuisance. As a copilot, I'm limited to a subtle reminder every now and then about a possible PA, since it would be a bit out of line for me to start talking on behalf of the captain.

Continue reading Plane Answers: Announcements from the captain and Denver turbulence

Plane Answers: Announcements from the captain and Denver turbulence originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementcaptaindenverfear of flyingFearOfFlyingflight planFlightPlanPApilotrocky mountainsRockyMountainsturbulenceFri, 08 Jan 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: Civilian vs. military pilot — which one is better?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/28/plane-answers-Civilian-vs-military-pilots/http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/28/plane-answers-Civilian-vs-military-pilots/http://www.gadling.com/2009/12/28/plane-answers-Civilian-vs-military-pilots/#commentsFiled under:

Nathanial asks:

Hi Kent,

My dad has been an airline pilot for a major carrier for over 25 years and also fly's the 757/767, he was also a naval aviator for 10 years before that. He talks about the difference in pilots that were trained in the military vs. the civilian trained pilots. I want to know if you can tell right away who is an ex-military pilot or not? Is there a difference in flying styles? Is one better than the other?

Also, I currently attend College at Syracuse University. To get home for holidays and breaks if I want to use my non-rev passes, I have to take a 50 seat RJ to a larger airport and then connect. However, during the winter my mother has prohibited me from doing so after the accident in Buffalo last year. In the winter she makes me buy a seat on an Airbus that a low cost carrier flies out of Syracuse to JFK, where I connect with my dad's airline.

Is it safer to fly on a larger aircraft in the winter...especially in a climate as harsh as Syracuse can get?

Thanks for the great blog... it has provided some well needed study breaks. Keep up the good work!

There has always been a debate over which background, civilian or military, turns out the better pilot for an airline. But it's impossible to get an unbiased view from a pilot since he or she will likely claim their path to the airlines was superior. Civilian trained pilots may argue that a fighter pilot is at a disadvantage since they've never flown as part of a crew at an airline. And military pilots may claim that a civilian pilots training is more of an unknown to a perspective airline.

Continue reading Plane Answers: Civilian vs. military pilot — which one is better?

Plane Answers: Civilian vs. military pilot — which one is better? originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: Three inexpensive ways to make flying safer]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/23/plane-answers-three-inexpensive-ways-to-make-flying-safer/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/23/plane-answers-three-inexpensive-ways-to-make-flying-safer/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/23/plane-answers-three-inexpensive-ways-to-make-flying-safer/#commentsFiled under:

The culture in aviation has always been focused around how to make flying even more safe. The FAA, NTSB and even Congress are looking into ways to improve air safety after the 49 people were killed in the Colgan Air accident in February-the only fatal accident in the U.S. so far in 2009.

I'd be willing to wager that more money goes toward ensuring the safety of the flying public than to life saving procedures or infrastructure in any other industry or activity. I've likely benefited from that investment, with far fewer of my colleagues lost in airplane accidents in the past ten years than in any previous decade.

But it's easy to become hyper-focused on ways to make air travel safer without considering the opportunity costs. As a society, we have a limited amount of resources we can use to save lives. And somehow we tend to overlook the fact that, on average, 123 people are killed every day in the U.S. while driving in automobiles. That's equivalent to an airliner crashing every day. Clearly that would be unacceptable.

But there are still a few areas of low-hanging fruit that could make air travel safer at a relatively low cost. Here are my top three:

Airway Offsetting

Today airplanes usually fly between two published points, essentially creating a 'road' in the sky called an airway. When these airways were designed, they were given four miles left and right of the imaginary centerline. GPS equipped airplanes occupy just a few hundred feet of that width, since they now fly very close to the center of the airway.

Air Traffic Control does an amazingly good job keeping airplanes at different altitudes to prevent opposite direction traffic from colliding.

But because of the precision of GPS equipped airliners, if two airplanes were heading in opposite directions on the same airway at the same altitude, a collision is relatively certain.

Continue reading Plane Answers: Three inexpensive ways to make flying safer

Plane Answers: Three inexpensive ways to make flying safer originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Air SafetyAirSafetyAirway OffsetAirwayOffsetATCEFBEMASOffsettingthreeMon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: 5 things to look for on your next flight]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/plane-answers-5-things-to-look-for-on-your-next-flight/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/plane-answers-5-things-to-look-for-on-your-next-flight/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/plane-answers-5-things-to-look-for-on-your-next-flight/#commentsFiled under: , ,

O.K., I'll admit it. Flying has become a monotonous chore that few look forward to. As a frequent flyer, you're probably more concerned about who you're sitting next to than what you're flying over.

But I always try to think about what Louis CK said on the Conan O'Brien show: "You're sitting on a chair, IN THE SKY!"

If you still need something to break up the routineness of flying, try a few of these ideas:

Note the airplane type.

This is the least you could do. If only to be able to give an intelligent answer to the aviation geek picking you up at the airport. It's always good to know what kind of airplane you're flying on, including the series (-700, -300ER, etc.). What if they ground the entire fleet of A321s next week. You'll be wondering just how close you cheated death on your last flight.

Continue reading Plane Answers: 5 things to look for on your next flight

Plane Answers: 5 things to look for on your next flight originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5activitiescockpit visitCockpitVisitpassengerWed, 11 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: A closer look at technology in the Northwest overflight]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/29/plane-answers-a-look-at-the-technology-used-in-the-northwest-ov/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/29/plane-answers-a-look-at-the-technology-used-in-the-northwest-ov/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/29/plane-answers-a-look-at-the-technology-used-in-the-northwest-ov/#commentsFiled under:

I've had a few questions come in concerning the rather egregious error made by the Northwest pilots last week. I hesitated to discuss the incidents, since there's absolutely no defending what they did.

But when my own sister Kim, asks:

"I would love to hear your opinion as to what the NWA Pilots were really doing when they "missed" MSP."

Well, for you, Kimmie, I just can't say no.

It's the topic of the week among pilots.

Speculation has been rampant, but the NTSB and FAA released some preliminary information from the pilots that has all but squashed any speculation on what exactly they were doing. The more pressing question has been, "How could it happen?"

The conversation among pilots so far has ended with claims of dismay. How did they disconnect from flying enough to lose that kind of situational awareness?

By coming clean and explaining their story, the pilots admitted to something essentially no better than falling asleep; something that took their attention from flying the airplane. And they sought to set the record straight, confess and explain what diverted their attention; I can appreciate that.

As a result, the FAA has immediately revoked their certificates.

Most notable in their story was the fact that they had their laptops out inflight. Many airlines encourage the use of laptops to access an electronic version of their flight manuals. These "EFBs" are more useful than their paper counterparts because of the quick searching capabilities a laptop offers. However, it's my understanding that Delta and Northwest don't use any EFB on board their aircraft. Regardless, the pilots admitted that they were discussing new scheduling procedures that were to take effect with their laptops, something that's prohibited even at airlines that use Class I (laptop) EFBs.

Continue reading Plane Answers: A closer look at technology in the Northwest overflight

Plane Answers: A closer look at technology in the Northwest overflight originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ACARSATCclass III efbClassIiiEfbcockpitEFBlaptopsNorthwest 188Northwest188OverflyThu, 29 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: Is there a pilot shortage coming?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/19/plane-answers-is-there-a-pilot-shortage-coming/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/19/plane-answers-is-there-a-pilot-shortage-coming/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/19/plane-answers-is-there-a-pilot-shortage-coming/#commentsFiled under:

Welcome to Gadling's feature, Plane Answers, where our resident airline pilot, Kent Wien, answers your questions about everything from takeoff to touchdown and beyond. Have a question of your own? Ask away!

Justin asks:

I have seen advertisements lately that have been saying that there will be a large number of airline pilots retiring in the next few years and that the demand for new pilots will be high. Is this just a rumor or what?

If so what do you suggest as the best route in becoming an airline pilot?

For the next three years, we'll likely see some of the fewest pilot retirements since the end of World War II. On December 13th, 2007, the mandatory retirement age for pilots was raised by Congress from 60 to 65 years. This has drastically reduced retirements for the past two years, and we're likely not going to see those numbers pick up until after December of 2012.

This may seem like bad news, but if you're in your late teens to early twenties, you may be in a good position to take advantage of this stagnation while you work on your 4-year college degree and pick up the ratings and flight time needed to be competitive when the hiring resumes.

Continue reading Plane Answers: Is there a pilot shortage coming?

Plane Answers: Is there a pilot shortage coming? originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ATPcivilian route pilotCivilianRoutePilotfurloughspilotpilot retirementPilotRetirementpilotsretirement ageRetirementAgeretirementsMon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: Airlines see green in appearing green]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/15/plane-answers-airlines-see-green-in-appearing-green/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/15/plane-answers-airlines-see-green-in-appearing-green/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/15/plane-answers-airlines-see-green-in-appearing-green/#commentsFiled under:

You'd like to choose the most eco-friendly airline, a company that goes above and beyond the others to fly efficiently, burn less fuel and maybe even offset its carbon.

But does an airline like that exist?

Airlines have gone to great lengths to operate efficiently in their struggle to survive, but some companies are touting practices they hope will cast them as greener than the rest. What's hype and what's really effective in reducing an airline's fuel emissions?

The Greenest Airline

Since the price of fuel represents as much as 40% of an airline's expenses, the industry has been on a quest for new technology and operating techniques to fly in a more efficient manner.

But if every airline is doing it, how can one company set themselves apart from their competitors and declare themselves the most green airline?

Virgin America offers the opportunity to voluntarily buy carbon offsets based on the length of your flight and Delta offers an option to plant a tree with each listing at a cost of $5.50 for a domestic flight.

Ethiopian airlines has already planted 7.5 million trees in Ethiopia, one for each passenger flown since 2005 at no extra charge to their customers.

But Nature Air in Costa Rica claims to be the first carbon neutral airline, and it looks like they've managed to accomplish that with carbon offsets and the use of 100% biofuel in their fleet of deHavilland Twin Otters.

But the airline many think of when discussing green initiatives in aviation, Virgin Atlantic, has an offset plan, too.

Virgin Atlantic has agreed to offset each and every one of its upper class customers limo rides to the airport by planting a few hundred trees each year. This is far short of the 59 million trees needed, according to the Guardian, to offset a year's worth of flying.

Carbon credits and offsetting are likely going to play a larger part in the airline industry, but airlines will always try to reduce their emissions.

Let's look at some of the efforts, and the impact it's having.

Continue reading Plane Answers: Airlines see green in appearing green

Plane Answers: Airlines see green in appearing green originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon neutral airlinecarbon offsetsCarbonNeutralAirlineCarbonOffsetsclaimsFuel efficiencyFuelEfficiencygreen airlineGreen airlinesGreenAirlineGreenAirlinessingle engine taxiSingleEngineTaxiThu, 15 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: What preparation does a pilot do prior to a flight?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/12/plane-answers-what-preparation-does-a-pilot-do-prior-to-a-fligh/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/12/plane-answers-what-preparation-does-a-pilot-do-prior-to-a-fligh/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/12/plane-answers-what-preparation-does-a-pilot-do-prior-to-a-fligh/#commentsFiled under:

Welcome to Gadling's feature, Plane Answers, where our resident airline pilot, Kent Wien, answers your questions about everything from takeoff to touchdown and beyond. Have a question of your own? Ask away!

John asks:

Hey, I was wondering what pilots do before a flight. How much time before a flight do you need to be at the airport and other than flight planning and aircraft inspection, what do you do? Do you inspect the airplane then come back to the terminal and grab a bite to eat? Do you file your flight plan then hangout in the boarding area if (for example) the plane you're flying hasn't arrived yet?

We're required to 'sign in' at least an hour before the flight. We stop in operations (an office with computers and a bunch of mailboxes) to check for any revisions to our manuals, print out depictions of weather along our route of flight as well as the paperwork required for the leg. If we have any revisions, we'll do them. A few revisions can involve changing out a few hundred pages in our manuals, so it's helpful to show up a bit earlier to work in that case.

Once both pilots are ready, we'll go through security and then to the gate. Occasionally the inbound flight may be late or passengers are still deplaning, in which case there's really nothing else to do than to wait around, just as the passengers are doing.

Assuming the airplane is at the gate, the captain will talk to the flight attendants about anything that might be unusual for the flight, including the ride reports, any cabin items that might be inoperative such as an oven or coffee maker, and then he may grab a coffee in the terminal before setting up his side of the cockpit.

Continue reading Plane Answers: What preparation does a pilot do prior to a flight?

Plane Answers: What preparation does a pilot do prior to a flight? originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ACARScockpitpaperworkplanningpreflightrevisionsMon, 12 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane Answers: Why can't airlines wait at the gate vs. in a queue on the taxiway?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/05/plane-answers-why-cant-airlines-wait-at-the-gate-vs-in-a-queu/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/05/plane-answers-why-cant-airlines-wait-at-the-gate-vs-in-a-queu/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/05/plane-answers-why-cant-airlines-wait-at-the-gate-vs-in-a-queu/#commentsFiled under:

Welcome to Gadling's feature, Plane Answers, where our resident airline pilot, Kent Wien, answers your questions about everything from takeoff to touchdown and beyond. Have a question of your own? Ask away!

Mike asks:

Hello Kent,

There are times when I find myself on a plane that is waiting in the queue to depart and I wonder if this makes sense. After all, having 10 airplanes push from gates only to idle their engines for 20-30 minutes waiting to take off does not seem to be a good idea for an industry where fuel is the largest single cost.

Can you explain who decides when an aircraft pushes back and queues up to take off? Is there a reason that airplanes get in line to depart as opposed to just being assigned a number and waiting at the gate until it's their turn (other than if the gate is needed for an arriving plane)?

It doesn't really make sense, Mike. But some airports have adopted a gate hold program that does just what you're talking about; hold airplanes at the gate until the line begins to clear out. London and Paris both use this technique. However, even after holding at the gate for 15 minutes to an hour, we still often find ourselves waiting in line for departure as we approach the runway. It's simply a matter of the required spacing for departures combined with the number of flights scheduled to leave at the peak times that causes this.

Continue reading Plane Answers: Why can't airlines wait at the gate vs. in a queue on the taxiway?

Plane Answers: Why can't airlines wait at the gate vs. in a queue on the taxiway? originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AirlinesATCFuelGate HoldGateHoldqueueRichard BransonRichardBransonTrafficMon, 05 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST