| The
Bluffer's Guide to the Flight Deck |
| By
Captain Ken Beere |
| |
| Extracts
from the book | |
| |
| Stress
factors |
| Psychologists
put pilots' stress levels at the top of the league alongside surgeons, although
the latter have an advantage - if the scalpel slips they do not accompany the
patient to the mortuary. The pilot's stress is rarely apparent, except when the
airline loses his suitcase. |
| |
| Tick
off |
| Pre-flight
checks are a vital part of the operation and cover virtually every aircraft system
- electrics, hydraulics, pressurisation, flight controls, autopilots down to the
windscreen wipers. Someone also has to do an outside check to make sure that all
the bits of an aeroplane are still there. |
| |
| Fuel
consumption |
| Because
of the extra weight, up to three percent of any extra fuel taken aboard will be
used each hour simply to carry it. Thus, on a ten hour flight an extra thirty
tonnes of aviation kerosene can use almost ten tonnes of itself simply by being
there. |
| |
| Burning
rubber |
| Airlines
like their pilots to make firm landings. The wheels are stationary. The runway
is passing by at around 150 mph. The two have to meet up. If the pilot does a
smoothie, the tyres drag along the runway surface without spinning up which burns
off rubber. A firm landing gets the wheels spinning with less loss of expensive
tread. |
| |
| Manual
controls |
| If
the weather is fine, enthusiastic pilots often disengage the autopilot in the
latter stages of the descent and fly the aircraft by hand. Not only is it enjoyable,
but with the relentless increase in automation it is sometimes a comfort to discover
they still can. |
| |
| Reviews |
|
| |
| This
little gem is full of facts... clear and very funny. A must for every pilot's
flight bag... |
| The
Log-Journal of the British Airline Pilots Association |
| |
| The
Bluffer's Guides are a quick read and chock full of the basic information
on any subject that's needed to pass yourself off as knowledgeable. |
| The
Toronto Globe & Mail |
| |
| An
excellent light hearted look at the operations on the flight deck and a great
insight into how it all works. Very amusing in places, it also delivers a lot
of facts and useful information. Guaranteed to make you sound knowledgeable next
time you want to visit the captain on your summer vacation! |
| A
reader from Leeds, England |
| |
| Table
of Contents | |
| |
|
Introduction Before
the Flight
Flight Planning
Fuel
Weather
Aircraft Serviceability
Flight Notices
Pre-flight Checks
The Dispatcher Getting
Started
Start-up Clearance
Push Back
Engine Start
Taxying
Before Take-off Checks
Runways Take-off
Initial Climb
Pressurisation The
Pilots
Who's Who on the Flight Deck
Fitness
Maxims
Who's Who
Among the Captains The
Cabin Staff The
Sharp End
Flight Decks
The Glass Cockpit
Recorders
Radio Communications
The Phonetic Alphabet
Air Traffic Control
Turbulence
Navigation
Behind the Sharp
End
Wings
Passenger Doors Conversation
Pieces The
Descent
Ground Proximity System
Holding
Diversions
Intermediate
Approach
Final Approach The
Landing
Instrument Landing System
Landing Limits
Automatic Landings
Landing Lights
Touchdown
Reverse Thrust
Doors to Manual
Parking
Hierarchy
Never Ask, Never
Say |
| |
Fortune
Telling
