Airline pilot's abilities

[no1pilot2000]

In your opinion, what skill is more important or equal when it comes to a pilot operating a airliner?

Is technical skill (operating all the computers and automated flight systems)more important?

OR

Is actual flying skills such as take-off, flying, and landing important?

I believe that flying skills are the most important because. Case in point. I remember flying Southwest airlines from BWI to PVD. I don't know who was landing the airplane (captain or first officer), but the aircraft "hit" the runway like someone would drop it like a basketball onto a driveway or sidewalk. As I was leaving the airplane, I said hello to the pilots and mentioned to them that whoever landed the airplane needs to take some more lessons on how to properly land an aircraft.

 

[fugghedabowdit]

Oh this is going to be fun.......

 

[pipe]

It is neither. Most accidents are caused by poor judgement and decision-making. Many more are avoided by good judgement and decision-making.

A really good pilot does not put themselves in a position to need really good hands.

PIPE

BTW - Your judgement is poor by all early indications.

 

[Huck]

A really good pilot does not put themselves in a position to need really good hands.

Except every landing.....

 

[SWA GUY]

I remember flying Southwest airlines from BWI to PVD....

This one time at band camp...ummmm. Tool.

Palomino....like my new avatar? LOL!

 

[pipe]

Except every landing.....

I am not landing on runways with huge crosswinds, with bad RCR's, with low fuel states, out of unstabilized approaches, etc., etc. on a regular basis. You know why -- good decision making.

Those things are always out there. You usually see them by stringing a bunch of poor decisions together.

If most of your landings max out your stick and rudder skills there is a problem.

PIPE

 

[b747dogg]

As I was leaving the airplane, I said hello to the pilots and mentioned to them that whoever landed the airplane needs to take some more lessons on how to properly land an aircraft.

They should of beat your a$$!

 

[ferlo]

In your opinion, what skill is more important or equal when it comes to a pilot operating a airliner?

Is technical skill (operating all the computers and automated flight systems)more important?

OR

Is actual flying skills such as take-off, flying, and landing important?

I believe that flying skills are the most important because. Case in point. I remember flying Southwest airlines from BWI to PVD. I don't know who was landing the airplane (captain or first officer), but the aircraft "hit" the runway like someone would drop it like a basketball onto a driveway or sidewalk. As I was leaving the airplane, I said hello to the pilots and mentioned to them that whoever landed the airplane needs to take some more lessons on how to properly land an aircraft.

Dude, You're too amature to even respond too. Get back to your sectional and have your instructor sign off your cross country.

 

[Nindiri]

Did you also remind them to do a mag check?

 

[Junkflyer]

The ability to fly with a major league a&&hole without choking his neck.

 

[GuppyWN]

I remember flying Southwest airlines from BWI to PVD. I don't know who was landing the airplane (captain or first officer), but the aircraft "hit" the runway like someone would drop it like a basketball onto a driveway or sidewalk. As I was leaving the airplane, I said hello to the pilots and mentioned to them that whoever landed the airplane needs to take some more lessons on how to properly land an aircraft.

That was me. Last spring. 400 overcast 1 mile heavy rain. Surface wind was 120 at 39 gust 49. Winds at 1000 agl were 170/81. The landing wasn't as bad as you remember.

You could of at least thanked me for getting you there safely with my "good hands."

Geez,
Gup

 

[T Heavy]

They should of beat your a$$!

Amen...

"Take lessons"...hey you paid for that ride.

 

[Green]

That was me. Last spring. 400 overcast 1 mile heavy rain. Surface wind was 120 at 39 gust 49. Winds at 1000 agl were 170/81. The landing wasn't as bad as you remember.

You could of at least thanked me for getting you there safely with my "good hands."

Geez,
Gup

Sounds fun. Just out of curiosity are you guys required to discontinue an approach if windshear is present?

 

[Benhuntn]

Yeah (NO1) You are lucky I didn't punch you out for saying that, but I would have missed my swing at you since I didn't my glasses on and you were a blurr just like the runway.

By the way some airports ask me to land firm as a means to alter the magnetic variation so they don't have to do Jepps updates.

 

[capt. megadeth]

I believe that flying skills are the most important because. Case in point. I remember flying Southwest airlines from BWI to PVD. I don't know who was landing the airplane (captain or first officer), but the aircraft "hit" the runway like someone would drop it like a basketball onto a driveway or sidewalk. As I was leaving the airplane, I said hello to the pilots and mentioned to them that whoever landed the airplane needs to take some more lessons on how to properly land an aircraft.

I call flamebait on this one.

If not, you are lucky they didn't punch you out. I would have. WTF?

 

[SkiFishFly]

It is really about our smashing good looks and our smooth moves with the good looking female FAs...

 

[Guitar Guy]

I was going to say that most important skill for an airline pilot is to be able to properly save for retirement. But after re-reading the initial post, I'd say the most important skill for an airline pilot may be the ability to restrain him- or herself from causing great bodily harm to passengers who make assinine comments...

 

[CF34-3B1]

Is that you Guat?

 

[thunderworm]

I am not landing on runways with huge crosswinds, with bad RCR's, with low fuel states, out of unstabilized approaches, etc., etc. on a regular basis. You know why -- good decision making.

Those things are always out there. You usually see them by stringing a bunch of poor decisions together.

If most of your landings max out your stick and rudder skills there is a problem.

PIPE

sometimes you don't have a choice on where to land and the wx always sucks. it is your job to get there and back so i would say having good flying skills in this day is the same as having good tech skill is the same as having good judgement. all are needed and one cannot be sacraficed for an excess of another. besides a firm landing is always better than floating a third of the runway looking for that greaser.

 

[mdf]

The best pilots have the most boring days. They are never in a bad situation. I love those east coast pax who like to critique landings in PVD, and ISP.

 

[pipe]

sometimes you don't have a choice on where to land and the wx always sucks. it is your job to get there and back so i would say having good flying skills in this day is the same as having good tech skill is the same as having good judgement. all are needed and one cannot be sacraficed for an excess of another. besides a firm landing is always better than floating a third of the runway looking for that greaser.

Judgement would the part where you say "F**K the smooth landing, this has gotta be in the zone". Good hands might put you in a position to make the smooth landing in the zone. Both are safe.

PIPE

 

[ferlo]

Judgement would the part where you say "F**K the smooth landing, this has gotta be in the zone". Good hands might put you in a position to make the smooth landing in the zone. Both are safe.

PIPE

Yep. Burbank on a gusty day, you can bet your as* it's gonna be a "bad" landing. I'll be off at Bravo 5 though. Pro's don't care about pax comfort at landing it's always about walking away...unless you're at Denver and there is almost 17,000 ft. of pavement in front of you.

 

[D-Bo]

In your opinion, what skill is more important or equal when it comes to a pilot operating a airliner?

Is technical skill (operating all the computers and automated flight systems)more important?

OR

Is actual flying skills such as take-off, flying, and landing important?

I believe that flying skills are the most important because. Case in point. I remember flying Southwest airlines from BWI to PVD. I don't know who was landing the airplane (captain or first officer), but the aircraft "hit" the runway like someone would drop it like a basketball onto a driveway or sidewalk. As I was leaving the airplane, I said hello to the pilots and mentioned to them that whoever landed the airplane needs to take some more lessons on how to properly land an aircraft.

The best pilots are compasionate. They send your Mom home with $100 so she can buy you 1.2 in a 172. I know it doesn't cost $100 but $25 of it had to go towards the cab ride and $3 for the babywipes. We're all looking out for ya. Really dude, you can't be F'n serious? If you are serious, stick and rudder skills are the most important. When everything goes to s**t, that's all you have left anyway. By the way, one good landing doesn't mean you have good stick and rudder skills and vice versa. Some of the best landings are the hard ones.

 

[HighSpeedClimb]

As I was leaving the airplane, I said hello to the pilots and mentioned to them that whoever landed the airplane needs to take some more lessons on how to properly land an aircraft.

Get out of the aviation business before you really hurt someone. Consider this advice the skills of a good pilot.

 

[myq2u]

As I was leaving the airplane, I said hello to the pilots and mentioned to them that whoever landed the airplane needs to take some more lessons on how to properly land an aircraft.

Did they give you the little plastic "kiddo-pilot" wings? Sounds like you earned them!

 

[bustinmins]

If one is to succeed, one must have tremendous amounts of patience for questions and comments such as yours. Whether your just baiting a flame trap or actually curious - I'll never know. What you said to the crew as you headed out the door was inappropriate. You haven't the slightest idea of what the crew was doing or for that matter - preventing. They may have actually stuck the landing on purpose - for your safety. Did you ever think about that angle? I doubt it.

What makes a good airline pilot in my opinion:

Patience with the flying public and all of their questions in the concourse.

Stick and Rudder skills

High Tech Gadget skills

Attention to detail

Thinking outside the box as a situation dictates and always taking the safest course of action.

Standardization

Crew Resource Management

Accounting knowledge

Finding Booze to make the above living conditions tolerable

 

[RedBelly]

Sounds fun. Just out of curiosity are you guys required to discontinue an approach if windshear is present?

That all depends on what your definition of windshear is.

 

[G21Agoose]

Is actual flying skills such as take-off, flying, and landing important?

What do you think $hithead?

 

[maru657]

In your opinion, what skill is more important or equal when it comes to a pilot operating a airliner?

Is technical skill (operating all the computers and automated flight systems)more important?

OR

Is actual flying skills such as take-off, flying, and landing important?

I believe that flying skills are the most important because. Case in point. I remember flying Southwest airlines from BWI to PVD. I don't know who was landing the airplane (captain or first officer), but the aircraft "hit" the runway like someone would drop it like a basketball onto a driveway or sidewalk. As I was leaving the airplane, I said hello to the pilots and mentioned to them that whoever landed the airplane needs to take some more lessons on how to properly land an aircraft.

Awww, come on, get with the program. Today's schedule doesn't allow for actual skill or experience to interfere with whatever the latest brain trust
has decided is important. Common sense has no place in a situation where we can practice checklists and getting our "Hollers" down correctly. Expanding airlines need bodies in those seats and this requires a factory line approach to every situation. If your on approach with an engine fire you turn circles and do checklists. Original thought, like just putting it on the runway and worrying about checklists at Joe's Bar and Grill is not allowed. Your not flying the airplane anymore, the training dept, appropriately staffed with yes men, is by extension controlling the airplane. Mass produced training and operations leave no room for skill or experience. It interferes with the corporate program.

 

[pilotyip]

Better now days

Yes maru that may be true, but we smashed more airplanes before we had that type of training. That is where the superior intelligent comes in, at 500' on ILS with the runway in sight, you loose B Hyd, you do not orbit and run checklists, you understand what you have lost and land the airplane because it is the safest course of action. Unlike what I have seen in the sim, with a GA in the same situation. BTW I like the idea of the debrief in the "Wedge" our local watering hole, and I mean hole.