What do Netjets guys do on long flights

[glasspilot]

I have a separate headset for ADF so I'm okay.




zing.

Sarcasm machine disengaged.

 

[acaTerry]

I actually agree with you about the ipod thing. I think it's pretty rude to the guy you're flying with and disrespectful to the owners who are paying a ton for your professional service.

However, what's with your dig on Regional Pilots? Your name is ACA Terry. Isn't that Atlantic Coast Airlines? Flew for United as United Express? Isn't that CL65 in your aircraft flown a CRJ that ACA operated? I'm not putting you down...just wondering why your busting on former regional pilots if you were one.

I take no offense at all to your post. My beef isn't with regional pilots, I was on myself for years. But with the ones of today, in particular the ones who were career changers rather than the "kid at the airport" types. I see them with their blue sunglasses (inside the terminal), green or red backpacks jacked up like they're going camping, plugged in with white wires coming out of their ears, and God help you if you're a passenger asking for any kind of help. You'll get the "I'm far too cool to be bothered by you" look, with a shrug of the shoulders. I just think that yesterdays regional pilot took the job and the public eye more seriously. Sure we had fun, but we were more concerned with the publics perception of us. We knew that their perception of us dictated the kinds of letters they wrote to our management (which was important during contracts), and that ultimately, the passengers were our paycheck. I just don't see todays regional pilots as professional aviators, but rather as a bunch of spoiled kids who slapped down $80,000, instructed 3 months and now see the world as owing them a living.
I know there are a bunch of regional pilots out there who are not fitting of this opinion (I taught many a good student at an academy), but that they are dwindling in population and the refills are really weak and immature.
Look at the Pinnacle pilot who was arrested last week, and how about 80% of his peers are sticking up for him in here. But if he crashed a plane from a mess-up, he'd be hung to dry. So its this:
**get arrested for running around naked in someones yard, you're cool. Made a conscious and deliberate choice to get drunk, naked and stupid. But...if you
**have an accident....you're stupid. And there is nothing to learn here because all these regional kids COULD NEVER make such a mistake. After all, they passed a checkride!
It's the immaturity and short sightedness that kills me. I see it all the time now at NJA in my fleet. We hired a fair number of regional FOs last year because that's all we could get with that silly domicile system. Now I inherit about 400% to 500% more dirty, unstocked airplanes. Passengers complain more and we have had ridiculously high numbers of reminders from the CPs about uniform issues (which isn't that hard to follow...we don't even wear hats!).
So you see, it drives me nuts that I have to fly with a guy who required electric stimulation 24 hours a day, won't do his job, and sees everyone else as the problem. Hope that clears my position more.

 

[acaTerry]

But if we are going to be total sticklers, is leaving the flight deck to help pax acceptable either????

It's a requirement of our job, in the FOM approved by the FAA.
The iPod is not the issue with me, it's that it freaks out the passengers who could get a pilot with an iPod for $19,400 a month less. We agreed to a job description, so why can't we just follow our end of the deal? It's not that hard...fly the company planes, in the company uniform, following company policy. If this is too hard, then some guys have had too many easy jobs in their life.

 

[a&p cfiguy]

And remember: If you denounce iPods yet listen to the ADF over the very same headset, you're a hypocrite. That is all.

My favorite is the guys who denounce using ipods, but read a book or newspaper in cruise. When listening to music in the backround during cruise, you can still scan the instruments, look outside, reprogram the FMS, adjust the power, and even make radio calls. When reading a book or newspaper, you can't do anything. You don't read a newspaper when driving your car right?

I do think it is a bit unprofessional if you make it obvious, like having white earplug wires coming out of your headset. Just get a headset adapter or QC2 or something and keep the ipod hidden.

 

[FLYLOW22]

Soooo.... what you guys are saying is that it's ok to listen to an iPod on EMPTY legs then?

 

[CA1900]

Nah... the empty legs are where the sound system gets tested out!

 

[satpak77]

And since when did amateurs need a license???

uh, since the FCC was created

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=about&id=amateur

http://www.arrl.org/

 

[skiandsurf]

What do we do on long flights..?[/quote]

If it is an early morning flight, climbing thru 18,000', I like to go check on Thurston and Lovey. Make sure that their coffee is at the right temperature. I always make sure that the kids or dogs are comfortable as well. Then I return to the cockpit and eat my "healthy cereal" (cereal, 2%milk, and yogurt). Then we will do our daily engine trend monitoring checks. Once all that is done we have some free time. This is the best time of the flight, as we have time to listen to all the bozo pilots out there missing their calls (ie..."say again"). Then about an hour prior to landing, I go back and make sure that everyone is still doing ok. Sometimes I will have to throw a blanket over Lovey. Then its back to the cockpit for lunch. Maybe a PB&J, or maybe a Cobb Salad. Then it gets busy again.

If this is a long repo (2hrs+). I just go in the back and sleep

 

[acaTerry]

Then I return to the cockpit and eat my "healthy cereal" (cereal, 2%milk, and yogurt).

You know, with a little water you can make that a skim milk.

 

[blueskies8]

And remember: If you denounce iPods yet listen to the ADF over the very same headset, you're a hypocrite. That is all.

Doesn't the iPod come through a seperate headset or earpiece than the aviation headset potentially blocking out aircraft comm in that ear vs. listening to the ADF, HF and VHF at the same time in one headset which is entirely possible?

 

[Jafo73]

Doesn't the iPod come through a seperate headset or earpiece than the aviation headset potentially blocking out aircraft comm in that ear vs. listening to the ADF, HF and VHF at the same time in one headset which is entirely possible?

depends. a few headsets have adapters or plugs that allow you to plug the iPod or any other audio device into them. So it would be just like listening to the HF...

 

[SSDD]

Play FMS golf

 

[Mike Jenvey]

When reading a book or newspaper, you can't do anything. You don't read a newspaper when driving your car right?

Well, I have cruise control in my car, but the autopilot does an even better job in my aircraft.

Surely there are times when it is possible to read (book or newspaper) or even listen to music, & times when it is not appropriate. If you make the rules too stringent, then you will soon get very bored & your attention curve will be on the draggy side of the line. If it's 0900 local in the middle of a busy ATC sector, bad weather enroute, then no, it's not appropriate to relax a little. At 2200 local, in a very quiet sector, with good enroute weather, awareness of FIR boundaries & expected freq changes, system checks completed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, etc, then as long as both pilots are not engrossed in the latest Tom Clancy novel, no big issue.

We're not flying DC3s here, with an engine failure imminent!! One guy monitors, one guy does the crossword! One pilot goes back to check on the owners, the other guy does not carry on with 23 Across!

You can safely combine airmanship with other activities - but don't link your iPod to the MFD!!

 

[DO-82 driver]

Do what you wish, but policy is policy and I am not going to sacrafice my Captain's pay (which I worked so hard for) so my F/O can listen to AeroSmith!!!!

Turn it off........plain and simple

Don't want to turn it off....explain it to the ACP....you're not worth it.

 

[xpdriver]

count our money!!!