Long Haul Pilots

[terryhfly]

I start at World Airways next week and had a few questions for those who fly long haul flights. I have never flown these type of trips (14 days or more) so I don't really know what to take with me.

What do you usually take with you besides the usual stuff (clothes, ext)?
What type of calling card is the best?
Is there usually Internet access at the hotels overseas?
Any useful gadget or item that you have found that makes sense to have on your trips.

Thanks

 

[Clutch_Cargo]

Bring half the clothes and twice the money! Best calling card... a local (to wherever you are at the moment) pre-paid card. Yes, there is often internet access but you'll often have to pay for it... depends on the deal World has worked for you at that particular hotel... I don't know if they even do that kind of thing at World. Useful gadget... well, only thing that comes to mind is adapters... for the different outlets you'll run across. Converter too if you plan on using anything that isn't dual voltage.

cc

 

[Lead Sled]

Bring half the clothes and twice the money! Best calling card... a local (to wherever you are at the moment) pre-paid card. Yes, there is often internet access but you'll often have to pay for it... depends on the deal World has worked for you at that particular hotel... I don't know if they even do that kind of thing at World. Useful gadget... well, only thing that comes to mind is adapters... for the different outlets you'll run across. Converter too if you plan on using anything that isn't dual voltage.

I always carry a small travel iron and the usual assortment of adaptors. I also carry one of those dental kits that you can buy at almost any pharmacy - just in case you happen to blow a filling or a crown and don't relish the idea of visiting a local dentist. Finally, carry a color copy of the front page of your passport. It will help if you ever have to get a replacement on the road.

'Sled

 

[Boeingman]

Immodium.

 

[Clutch_Cargo]

I always carry a small travel iron and the usual assortment of adaptors. I also carry one of those dental kits that you can buy at almost any pharmacy - just in case you happen to blow a filling or a crown and don't relish the idea of visiting a local dentist. Finally, carry a color copy of the front page of your passport. It will help if you ever have to get a replacement on the road.

'Sled

Never thought about the dental kit but that's a good idea 'Sled... I don't even like to get my hair cut overseas much less have them grind on my teeth. I used to carry the travel iron but quit when mine broke... I just ask to borrow one at the hotel. Carrying copies of your "papers" is a must... can't believe I forgot to mention that! I carry a couple of copies and keep them in different places... just in case.

 

[Lead Sled]

Never thought about the dental kit but that's a good idea 'Sled... I don't even like to get my hair cut overseas much less have them grind on my teeth. I used to carry the travel iron but quit when mine broke... I just ask to borrow one at the hotel. Carrying copies of your "papers" is a must... can't believe I forgot to mention that! I carry a couple of copies and keep them in different places... just in case.

And I can't believe that I forgot to mention the Immodium. Blessed be the man who invented that! While we're at it, here some more obvious stuff. Make sure you've got all of the recommended shots - especially the hepatitus series. Oh, and don't drink the water.

'Sled

 

[satpak77]

I recommend Skype messenging software, calls to US numbers are like 2 cents a minute, and most overseas hotels have internet in the rooms

 

[Clutch_Cargo]

And I can't believe that I forgot to mention the Immodium.

Me too!! or would that be maybe or just !!

 

[bafanguy]

Preparation H... You'll be a hemorrhoid farmer and you want to be able to "tend" your crop.

 

[Clyde]

I start at World Airways next week and had a few questions for those who fly long haul flights. I have never flown these type of trips (14 days or more) so I don't really know what to take with me.

What do you usually take with you besides the usual stuff (clothes, ext)?
What type of calling card is the best?
Is there usually Internet access at the hotels overseas?
Any useful gadget or item that you have found that makes sense to have on your trips.

Thanks

Terryhfly,

First, congrats on your new job!!

O.K., I'll share with you what I pack and you can pick and choose from there. Hope this helps. I'll skip the clothes part.

FOOD:
I take a backpack with food and supplies in it. It is accessible to me in the flightdeck and if I have to commercial somewhere. Here is what I pack in it:

1 or 2 boxes of cereal.
Vacuum packed packets of tuna and/or salmon.
Meal-replacement mix (powder form) which I can make with bottled water.
Container for meal-replacement mix.
Plastic silverware (usually spoons and forks)
Granola bars and a small jar of peanut butter. (sometimes)

Sometimes you will wake up in the middle of the night overseas wide awake, hungry, and with nowhere open to eat for at least 4 or 5 more hours. Other times the onboard catering may be less than delightful or downright fattening and carb-laden. Either way, you have some other choices and it will hold you over until you find a decent place to eat.

MEDICINE CABINET
Basic first aid stuff and medicine:

Bandages
Tylenol and/or asprin
Immodium and/or Pepto
Neosporin
First aid ointment

This is also kept in my backpack, usually in one of the small pockets.

SHAVING KIT (carried in suitcase)
Just the basics:
Travel sizes of toothpaste, deodarant, shampoo, and shaving cream, etc. Not too much, just the basics to get me through a two-week trip.

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF:
Extra shoelaces: you will need them at one time or another. (I wear boots)

Alarm clock (battery powered): a travel alarm with a loud tone. Wake-up calls don't always come and a power outage in the middle of the night can mess up the hotel's clock.

Calling card.

Book and/or magazines

Small atlas that fits in your brainbag. (interesting to see what you are flying over sometimes)

Running shoes and workout clothes.

I hope this is insightful for you. Congrats again.

 

[semperfido]

skype.com works great to call home and free computer to computer (we have Co paid internet- it can be 30 bucks a day intl).
ipod
book
computer with some dvds (ethernet cable to reach the bed 15')
treo650 or other gsm phone (unlocked,cingular)-has good alarm and multiple time zone clock-only used as phone for emerg in most countries-digi camera
credit cards (change money in atms)
bottled water
clothes for hot and cold
xtra large crew bag on wheels (to fit all this stuff into)
computer bag on wheels (because it gets heavy too)
don't scrimp on the creature comforts

 

[bafanguy]

Good list of stuff.



The alarm clock needs to be a wind-up. Where are you going to find a battery for it in Outer Slobovia...and do you really want to have to do that ? Never trust the hotel to make good on a wake-up call...never.

 

[FracCapt]

Get Vonage. Works great with any high speed connection I've found. You can carry your Vonage unit with you on the road, or for another $10 a month get a "Softphone" unit(that attaches to your laptop and you can make calls on whenever you have a high speed connection) that they sell and have your own number for it. Calls are treated as if you made them from your home, since your number would be a XXX area code(wherever you want).

 

[limodriver1]

I guess we are talking about flying anywhere else than Europe!

If you fly to Europe, no worries there. Most of the European countries are more developed than US, so no worries there!

If you fly out to Asia or South-America I don't think you can ever be prepared enough. I would think your aircraft has somekind of emergency kit with medicines etc. for flight part and also your company should be able to tell you what shots you need. IF you go to Southern African countries like Gongo etc... be prepared for anything! WHO has website and also FBI website is good to study about countries you go.


Good luck and watch out missiles!

 

[dash8driver]

condoms

 

[Mooseflyer]

If you don't already have a laptop, you'll want one soon. When you wake up at 2200 local on your "day" off and are wide awake until sunrise, you can pass the time watching dvds, playing games, writing email, listening to mp3s, surfing the net (if you have access),etc. Books are great too, but personally I can't read for 10 straight hours.

I fully agree with the "food in a backpack" for the same reasons.

I bring clothes for all types of wx. Shorts and t-shirts to polar fleece and jacket. Many times, I'll wear both in the same day. Not too much of a concern this time of year though.

Have fun...

 

[Vik]

I second the Vonage phone adapter, the rubbers and the imodium.

 

[VVJM265]

Might as well upgrade your cell to triband. Internet phone etc is good for when your are back at the hotel, but its nice to have something that will work in the event of an emergency. Make sure you store the numbers with a "+1" in front of the area code. That way any network the phone happens to be on will automatically figure out how to connect back to the states (or + country code, then number for else where).

Good luck!

 

[Clutch_Cargo]

Might as well upgrade your cell to triband.

Terryhfly,

Consider where you'll be spending your time if you are going to switch phones. Some countries, like Japan and South Korea, use a different system and even a tri-band phone isn't going to work there. Also, there are some countries where American cell phone companies do not have agreements with local carriers to provide coverage... not that you want to go that way. Using an American provider overseas can be very expensive, depending on location. The best way around that is to get pre-paid SIM cards from a local cell phone provider. Downside is your phone has to be unlocked, which you may have to do yourself because some companies won't unlock them, and the fact that you'll have a different phone number with each SIM card... so your phone number in Frankfurt won't be the same as the one in Kuala Lumpur... not a big deal if you leave an itinerary/number list with people (or use something like this). FWIW, I have a tri-band phone and I can count on one hand the times I've used it overseas. Once you get online, you'll get plenty of good gouge from your fellow crewmembers and soon find what works for you and what doesn't. Have fun!

cc

 

[T-1GUY]

I once needed some dental floss. I couldn't find any anywhere. It sucked to have something bothering me with no way of getting it out.... I finally went into
Macgivor mode and took a thread from a sock... Worked like a charm...