Smoke in the cockpit

[floatflyer99]

You're probably thinking this thread is about some lame-ass checklist question.

Actually, I'm thinking more along the lines of a different lame-ass question: do YOU smoke in the cockpit or fly with someone who does? I've seen it quite a bit, personally. I'm just curious as to how widespread the practice is.

Anyhow, what's the safety rationale behind the smoking ban in the cockpit (besides lung cancer for fellow crew members, etc.). Would the thick haze somehow obliterate the flight instruments?

There's nothing quite like sitting in the jump seat in the quiet early-morning hours behind two chain smokers going for some kind of record. This was at a northern bush operation in a DC-3.

I'm not really for or against it. Just trying to stir up some interest. Not really sure how things work at a 121 operation.

 

[Typhoon1244]

For us, smoking is absolutely prohibited in or around the airplane at all times. (Dipping isn't allowed either, but I know some who do...doesn't bother me, as long as they don't spill any on me!)

I know that the F.A.A. was concerned about banning smoking in the cockpit because they didn't want people flying around with nicotine withdrawl! So help me, I'm not making that up.

Sounds like the F.A.A. considers a cigerate to be a drug...

 

[Citationkid]

My mom flew for an idiot that smoked in his King Air 200 and messed up the pressurization system. I couldn't take flying that airplane it smelled terrible inside.

 

[Steve]

My mom flew for an idiot that smoked in his King Air 200 and messed up the pressurization system. I couldn't take flying that airplane it smelled terrible inside.

Citationkid, Your 14 years old and a student pilot but have 210 hours and fly king air's? Smells like a pile of poo if i've ever smelled one

 

[floatflyer99]

My mom flew for an idiot that smoked in his King Air 200 and messed up the pressurization system. I couldn't take flying that airplane it smelled terrible inside.

Citationkid: Why they'd equip it with a cigarette lighter, then? Screw up the pressurization system? I don't think so. Now the smell I can believe. Sucks to be you, eh?

Typhoon1244: Haha that's interesting. Nicotine withdrawl. I guess the FAA couldn't trust guys to plan ahead and pack enough smokes for the trip.

 

[learflyer]

I flew with a guy who smoked in the cockpit. I was to new and green at the time to say anything. He also "in a joking manner" used to flip linemen the bird while taxiing into the ramp! What a class act!

 

[F9 Driver]

With round dials

,since the vacuum system sucks air from the cabin through the instruments, the tar from the cigs gets into the berings and screws up the gyros .

In the old days, with smoking allowed in the cabin, it was MUCH easier for the mechanics to find pressurization leaks by looking at the tar streaks.

 

[Snakum]

Citationkid, Your 14 years old and a student pilot but have 210 hours and fly king air's? Smells like a pile of poo if i've ever smelled one

Ya know ... I've been wondering about that one since I read some of his comments dressing down a professional pilot on another thread.



Minh

 

[Citationkid]

When did I say any thing about a pro pilot I try not to talk about other pilots, because they could end up being my boss some day. About my times I fly with my mom in the right seat of those planes and she is a CFIIME. It seems I get asked that question on every forum I'm a member of , oh well.

 

[Citationkid]

Citationkid: Why they'd equip it with a cigarette lighter, then? Screw up the pressurization system? I don't think so. Now the smell I can believe. Sucks to be you, eh?

My mom said she always had trouble with it, but they may just be because it's a crappy airplane. I never flew that king air, she only flew it part time. I think it's grounded now because the owner didn't keep up the the AD's.

 

[Swass]

Whatever

 

[Hawker rider]

and about the tar getting in the gyro's

Most airplanes that have pressurization have electrically driven gyros, for sure most jets have an AC-fed gyro system, so i doubt that nicotine can "screw" up the gyros.

I flew with pilots that used to smoke so much, that it would take our mechanic 2 days to soak the outflow valve to get the tar off of it. Off course we've had our share of pressurization failures, but that was all in a lear23/24 and it never got prove to just be smoking that caused it.

I for one am not a smoker, but it didn't bother me too much.

 

[Typhoon1244]

My dad was telling me that back when everybody smoked in the cockpit, you couldn't use the escape ropes (we're talking DC-9 here) if you needed them because they were coated with tar...it'd be like going down a greased pole.

 

[jergar999]

I used to right seat on a Metroliner on a night freight run. The pilot would constantly smoke those Swisher Sweets, sometimes 3 or 4 on a 1:15 flight.

 

[Snakum]

I smoke crack, opium, and banana peels almost constantly in the Cessna and Piper singles that I fly. And I have never, in all these years, had problems with gyro instruments or with pressurization.

I have, however, tumbled a few AIs in severe clear VFR.

Minh "Swizzle-chest" Thong

(My mom's an IP on the U2 and she's had the same problem ... but I haven't flown that one yet.)

 

[F9 Driver]

Some of the mechanics at the freight hauler I flew for told me about the gyro problems. I don't have any first hand info.

The smoke was so bad sometimes that I'd have to let the Commander air out for a bit before I'd climb in Glid I lived through that phase, and my lungs are still pink!

HS-Rider, those were unpressurized .

 

[SquirrelDog]

Yea!

...and one time at bandcamp my Mom and Dad flew this 777 on a test flight and joined the mile hile club...



...I like stories

 

[Citationkid]

haha

 

[I.P. Freley]

I understand that most unpressurized light planes are great to smoke in, since open vent windows will suck the smoke right out... Especially the Chieftain, except that when you tap ashes out the vent window, a lot ends up on the horizontal stabilizer, so the deice boot looks like it's flecked with white paint when you land. When doing your postflight you should simply run a napkin across the boot and you're good as new.

Or so I understand.

I can say that the ashtrays in the Saab go unused, unfortunately, but they are a lovely place to leave naughty pics for the next crew.

Or so I understand.

As for "messing up the pressurization system", I do believe that... But just because of gunked-up outflow valves, like someone else mentioned.

 

[floatflyer99]

Interesting...

Never would have thought that you could smoke enough to gunk up the outflow valve.

Learn something new every day.