Continental Airline Pilots and ATC at Houston

[Ex737Driver]

On behalf of all CAL pilots, I would like to thank you. You see, at CAL, we're not very up to date on FAR's and procedures, so we definitely can use all the insight and tips we can get. In fact, at Continental, our ops-specs require us to have flown with at least three regional FO's in our jumpseats within the preceeding 90 days to stay current. Your vast knowledge and experience instilled upon us is not just appreciated, but required in our jumpseats. So, next time you jumpseat with us, please, please tell us how we could have done a better job. Jumpseat post-flight critique from regional f/o's such as yourself is the foundation of our continuing qualification and training.

We, and our passengers, will thank you.

Perfect. I feel much better now about accepting visual clearances into EWR now. Thank you for thanking the original poster.

 

[OPECJet]

Continental pilots, I fly into IAH frequently. Also, I have jumpseated in your cockpits many times going into IAH.

Yesterday (March 11, 2009 around sunset), I was going into IAH and the weather was IFR with a small pocket, clear of clouds near the aiport, well inside of the FAF for the westbound runways.

Many of the CAL planes going into IAH were accepting visual approaches going into IAH. How could you guys accept visual approaches at that time? There was no way you could conduct visual approaches. So, ATC tried to pressure us to take a visual approach into RWY 26R. Unfortunately, my captain fell for the bait because ATC threatened to break us off from the approach and re-sequence us. The result was that ATC gave us some wild vector, well inside of OWELL FAF that resulted in an un-stabilized approach that I managed to save. However, both my captain and I were extremely upset.

I have jumpseated many times on CAL in the cockpit. I've seen you accept visual apps into IAH and then fly straight into the clouds which is a violation of the FARs.

So, please CAL pilots, do not accept visual apps going into IAH when conditions are not VFR. You are breaking regs and giving the controllers a false impression that conditions are safe for visual apps when they are not.

IAH controllers, please stop issuing visual apps when conditions are below VFR.

My passengers and I will thank you.

Apparently you didn't get that memo about CAL installing a Chuck Norris in every airplane. This device enables visual approaches in all conditions, including 0/0. Apparently Chuck Norris can see through anything, including kryptonite, clouds, and unobtainium. The Chuck Norris barks out commands such as "HIGH", "LOW", "LEFT", "RIGHT", etc. Chuck Norris v2.0 even has speed commands. Compliance is ensured by a karate chop to the flying pilot should the approach become unstable. If the remaining pilot does not comply with the Chuck's commands, he will also be karate chopped and Chuck will land the plane himself.

FAA acceptance was a breeze. The inspector only had one question, and halfway through it was roundhouse kicked so hard that his pen slipped out of his pocket and signed the TSO on its own out of fear.

Until you get your own Chuck Norris, please stop trying to save the world on your own.

Back to the compound, Hippy....

 

[C-150ETOPS]

There has been a upsurge in panty requests from a certain pilot group.

While the number of requests has been very small condsidering the amount of aviators, most of whom who obviously don't need them, a small number have overtaxed the panty supplier, as well as caused an uptick of problems with Apple Inc support because of Ipod battery problems, and spot supply issues at La Quinta Inns with hair gel stocks. Only the suppliers of big plastic "Paris Hilton" type white plastic sunglasses had the foresight to anticipate the uptick in the 90 day moving average, and moved quicky to solve the critical emotional needs of their end customers.

Although you probably can't do it, you need to spend some JS time observing approaches in BOG/CLO/MDE/TGU/UIO/LPB because your IAH CAL guys have probably done a few approaches into those places by now.


Good Luck,

Signed "a BOG/CLO/MDE/TGU/UIO/LPB flyer for brand X"

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Also, are there any regionals or coporate outfits in which I could upgrade to captain in 1-2 years? Finally, I am flying a jet. If I found a turboprop job in which I could quickly upgrade to captain, would this look bad on my career and at places I would interview at in the future, i.e. "why did you leave a jet job to go backwards and fly a turboprop?"

Say again?

 

[say again]

Continental pilots, I fly into IAH frequently. Also, I have jumpseated in your cockpits many times going into IAH.

Yesterday (March 11, 2009 around sunset), I was going into IAH and the weather was IFR with a small pocket, clear of clouds near the aiport, well inside of the FAF for the westbound runways.

Many of the CAL planes going into IAH were accepting visual approaches going into IAH. How could you guys accept visual approaches at that time? There was no way you could conduct visual approaches. So, ATC tried to pressure us to take a visual approach into RWY 26R. Unfortunately, my captain fell for the bait because ATC threatened to break us off from the approach and re-sequence us. The result was that ATC gave us some wild vector, well inside of OWELL FAF that resulted in an un-stabilized approach that I managed to save. However, both my captain and I were extremely upset.

I have jumpseated many times on CAL in the cockpit. I've seen you accept visual apps into IAH and then fly straight into the clouds which is a violation of the FARs.

So, please CAL pilots, do not accept visual apps going into IAH when conditions are not VFR. You are breaking regs and giving the controllers a false impression that conditions are safe for visual apps when they are not.

IAH controllers, please stop issuing visual apps when conditions are below VFR.

My passengers and I will thank you.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. One word if u cant accept.."unable". So u are complaining about something that you did too?? I thank you, for being a complete tool and hypocrite.

 

[xkuzme1]

...

Class B is 5 miles and clear of clouds. Did you have the airport environment in sight? You dont have to actually have the runway in sight. Could you manuver and proceed to the airport visually without actually flying THROUGH a cloud?

I would bet that those conditions could have been met. I would bet that you are one of the people that insist that a visual app corresponds with the ILS.

Just a guess.

X

 

[Mamma]

You all think this guy is funny or pathetic but please be aware that implementation of the MPL will make a guy like this the norm. The greenhorn in the right seat is going to be an huge impediment to the barely qualified captain in the left and buffoonery like this will be the standard. Fly safe!

 

[bizicmo]

Class B is 5 miles and clear of clouds. Did you have the airport environment in sight? You dont have to actually have the runway in sight. Could you manuver and proceed to the airport visually without actually flying THROUGH a cloud?

I would bet that those conditions could have been met. I would bet that you are one of the people that insist that a visual app corresponds with the ILS.

Just a guess.

X

Do you mean 3 miles and clear of clouds?

 

[Singlecoil]

yes he does.

 

[pilothouston123]

I know who dream_guy is: He was a FO on my King air. 18 months NO UPGRADE! I will gladly share his name... WWW.EBAY.COM to the higest bidder.
I remember asking him to fill up the snack tray. He asked me 'with what'? I told him... "snacks"

 

[Amish RakeFight]

I know who dream_guy is: He was a FO on my King air. 18 months NO UPGRADE! I will gladly share his name... WWW.EBAY.COM to the higest bidder.
I remember asking him to fill up the snack tray. He asked me 'with what'? I told him... "snacks"

Does he drool when he speaks too?

 

[eaglesview]

This should be a good one....my advice...duck

Classic humor

 

[SuperFLUF]

On behalf of all CAL pilots, I would like to thank you. You see, at CAL, we're not very up to date on FAR's and procedures, so we definitely can use all the insight and tips we can get. In fact, at Continental, our ops-specs require us to have flown with at least three regional FO's in our jumpseats within the preceeding 90 days to stay current. Your vast knowledge and experience instilled upon us is not just appreciated, but required in our jumpseats. So, next time you jumpseat with us, please, please tell us how we could have done a better job. Jumpseat post-flight critique from regional f/o's such as yourself is the foundation of our continuing qualification and training.

We, and our passengers, will thank you.

Excellent!

I'm sure that's exactly the kind of post he was looking for.

 

[SuperFLUF]

look in the mirror stooge

....So, ATC tried to pressure us to take a visual approach into RWY 26R. Unfortunately, my captain fell for the bait because ATC threatened to break us off from the approach and re-sequence us. The result was that ATC gave us some wild vector, well inside of OWELL FAF that resulted in an un-stabilized approach that I managed to save. However, both my captain and I were extremely upset.....

Blaming others for your screw up? If you can't do it, then don't. If you have to break off, then "oh well".

Take responsibility for your own actions and worry about what you can control. Your own frikin' airplane. My passengers and I will thank you.

 

[Cardinal]

Hey dreamguy, it's a pity you didn't JFK JR inverted out of your pet clouds. Would've saved alot of bandwidth.