The chief purpose at the outfit I still fly for was if both mirrors were placed in the up position (intentionally, by a pilot) it indicated the mechanics had the logbook, we were waiting for an amendment, needed paperwork, etc... but just a reminder all the checklists were on hold, and for whatever reason(s) something was amiss, and we weren't legal to continue. If the second pilot showed up and saw the mirrors up, the first question was "what are we missing?" Overall, the DC-9 was a lot like Army Basic Training. I'm grateful for the experience, but would not want to do it again.

(Written on 05/12/2023)(Permalink)

Obviously, we all have various flight training experiences. I was lucky, large PT141 school, no busted check rides, no extra training, a diploma, ASMEL, CFI-II. Less than 400 hours total time, all in training, maybe a few pleasure flights in my local practice area. Then I got my first job in KMTH, FL doing rental check outs and whatever primary students I could dig up. One of the advantages of the less than $200/week salary was use of a VFR C-150 for the cost of the fuel. Somehow, I ended up well after the end of evening civil twilight in Key West,with girlfriend, no moon, departing runway 27 - over the ocean, had to get the plane back before morning, out over the ocean, sans any form of horizon. I realized at Vr that this IFR stuff was no joke. Yes, I had my ratings,hood time, and Link Trainer time. Staring into the black. I think "Startle Factor" and :Rookie Factor" hit at 100AGL. Then remembering I'm supposed to ever so gently simultaneously use Attitude indicator for an

(Written on 02/17/2023)(Permalink)

Agree.

(Written on 02/17/2023)(Permalink)

When you get typed in an Airbus for a US 121 outfit it's not required to hand fly a traffic pattern without autopilot and autothrust. When I did it. Hopefully, this lack of a requirement in recurrent training/evaluation is going to be fixed. Gosh, I'm sure the airline CFO's will just fold and give the training departments larger budgets without pushback for additional Sim time. Steep turns (with autothrust), stalls, single engine ILS (from the FAF with autothrust), no flap/slat, and windshear recoveries are trained and evaluated. I've found my experience dragging a Waco tail,thousands of hours hand flying a 1900 in the NE corridor, and actually feeling the yoke move cables and bellcranks in a DC-9 does not translate to the Bus in degraded automation modes. Electrical system failures with both gens and the APU Tango Uniform results in the left PFD and ND giving degraded information with a ram air turbine and batteries is what needs to be trained and evaluated. At least on the

(Written on 11/25/2022)(Permalink)

I certainly didn't make up the phrase "regulations are written in blood". But with the current (US) FAA regs a pilot could fly a A-320 for his/her entire career without ever demonstrating a VFR traffic pattern (take off to landing) without using the autopilot or auto thrust). Looks like the (US) feds are finally going to force the 121 operators to train this (other than single engine approaches from the marker, steep turns and stalls). Of course the FAA won't do anything without ICAO involvement, so I hope we lead the way. All about the benjamins, and SIM time is expensive. At least the reality of the past 20 years is getting some attention. I've been seeing new hire FO's using the automation from a couple hundred feet after takeoff to a terrified look on their faces at 200AGL on a coupled ILS in VFR.

(Written on 11/25/2022)(Permalink)

I was wrong our contract prohibits the use of the cvr in discipline.

(Written on 10/07/2022)(Permalink)

I have to edit this as our ALPA contract specifically states: 1. The Company shall not use any information gathered from a cockpit voice recorder in any disciplinary or discharge action. 2. The Company will not regularly or randomly review flight data recorder data or cockpit voice recordings for the purpose of discovering pilot irregularities. The Company shall not use any information gathered from a flight data recorder in any disciplinary or discharge action, unless the information be- comes a matter of public record in an NTSB proceeding

(Written on 10/07/2022)(Permalink)

The way I interpret it is Part 91 applies to all operations and when Part 121 is more restrictive, then those rules apply on top of Part 91. I think they should have got the guy for at least "Careless and Reckless", but the information provided is so obfuscated who knows. The use of the tapes as internal discipline might be a question for any SWAPA guys on the forum familiar with their contract and SWAPA's history of dealing with Section 19 (Disciplinary-Grievances). My 121 outfit (ALPA) doesn't specify use of or prohibit the CVR in our contract, so perhaps the company could have used it for internal discipline. It's all academic now as apparently the captain quit or retired. If I was that FO I would have submitted and ASAP, Safety report, and NASA report, and phone call to my Professional Standards and MEC to inquire about civil action before I left the parking lot on the way home.

(Written on 10/07/2022)(Permalink)

Transport category aircraft flight deck doors are (post 9/11) designed to lock people out, not "dead bolt" the pilots in. Let's use some common sense. She wasn't locked in. She could have easily called for a flight attendant, and at least in an Airbus unlocked the door from her seat, while staying at her duty station, to have a witness for the violation and crime. There is also a system to unlock the flight deck door from the cabin that all flight attendants and pilots are taught to use although, at least on the Airbus that system may be overridden, to keep the door locked from the flight deck. Need a Boeing person to confirm the door lock actuating system can be unlocked from the pilot seats.

(Written on 10/07/2022)(Permalink)

Excerpt from 14 CFR § 91.609 - Flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders: "Information obtained from the record is used to assist in determining the cause of accidents or occurrences in connection with the investigation under part 830. The Administrator does not use the cockpit voice recorder record in any civil penalty or certificate action."

(Written on 10/07/2022)(Permalink)