OT Flying an A320 :)

Bob Fry wrote in
:

(Ramapriya) writes:

the pilots allowed me to disengage the
autopilot and bank the aircraft as much as I liked during cruise and I
think I did a decent job of maintaining the correct heading because

Hmmm....another chap with an odd name who is only learning to fly
during the cruise phase...


I can't believe you wrote that. OMG A TERRORIST CALL HOMELAND SECURITY.

"Ramapriya" wrote in message There wasn't one moment where I experienced
the
raw feeling one gets while driving a car or motorcycle. And I wasn't
even on some small, unsophisticated airplane. I know you'll be gasping
at how silly I could be for saying this but that's what I felt anyways

Next time you get to fly a bus, have the pilots disconnect the batteries.
generators, and ram turbine. Try to land.

Next time you get to fly any plane. have the pilots take you through a
thunderstorm. Then decide what keeps an Airbus out of thunderstorms.

Next time you fly a bus, watch the autopilot fly a perfact approach, and
then watch as it goes missed approach into a holding pattern with very
little fuel remaining. Try not to sweat too much as the automation refuses
to release control to you because you forgot a keystroke while arming the
approach. Pray you figure it out before you run out of gas.

Next time you fly a bus, cut both engines at 35000 feet and try to land on a
runway. Any runway will do.

Next time you fly a bus, pray that the tail stays attached. Pray that it
will turn into a real airplane like an MD-80.

D. (motorcycles are for kids)

"Capt.Doug" wrote in

Next time you get to fly a bus, have the pilots disconnect the batteries.
generators, and ram turbine. Try to land.

Snip - some more good examples

I fear you were aiming your bus driver comments straight at me. I deserve
your reply. I realized as soon as I sent the send that what I wrote was
insensitive and incomplete.

I do realize that a bus driver could not handle the emergencies you
mentioned, and that was not the intent. I was only commenting on the
"thrill" aspect. The skill and expertise needed to fly today's complex
airliner, boggles my mind. Managing and operating the flight director and
all the other complex systems, and troubleshooting when things go tits up is
an huge job, and an admirable position.

Keep up the good work, and continue the smooth, non-thrilling "bus rides"
that everyone wants and expects.

Did that come out any better? g
--
Jim in NC


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"Morgans" wrote in message I fear you were aiming your bus driver
comments straight at me. I deserve
your reply. I realized as soon as I sent the send that what I wrote was
insensitive and incomplete.

Apologies, but I hadn't read your post before I replied to Ram. If I am
expected to engage you in a flame-fest, please let me know. :-)

D.

"Capt.Doug" wrote in message news:%


Apologies, but I hadn't read your post before I replied to Ram. If I am
expected to engage you in a flame-fest, please let me know. :-)

D.

I thought you had gotten the "bus driver" comment from my post, which was
why I was posting a retraction. I have no desire to engage in a flame fest
with you, or anyone else.

I have the greatest respect for what you do, and if given the choice, I
would be up there "driving the buses" with you. :-)

By the way great post you wrote, a day or two ago. Keep 'em coming.
--
Jim in NC


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"Morgans" wrote in message
Jim in NC

Thanks.
My ranting comes from an inner self that will be kicking and screaming as
they drag me off my cable-operated jetliner into one of them flying
computers.
I go into Andrews-Murphy once in a while. How far is that from you?

D.

The difference between flying a Cessna 172 and an A320 is the difference
between driving a motorboat and an oil tanker. The goal of the A320 is to be
as boring as possible.

The glory days of being an airline pilot are long gone. With each decade we
see less reliance on individual skill and judgment and more on automation
and procedure. It is still a challenging job and I doubt we will ever see
pilotless commercial aircraft, but for the most part progress has
dramatically increased safety for all. The same thing happened long ago in
the maritime realm when we stopped relying on sails to push us across
oceans. It still requires significant skill to pilot that tanker across the
ocean but not like it used to, and it's orders of magnitude less dangerous.

-cwk.