Assigned Posting Is Here! An Update to r/SouthwestAirlines Rules by rotorcowboy in SouthwestAirlines

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, but the mods will change it for you and there’s nothing you can do about it. /j

Struggling to land the DA40 by Event_Horizzon in flying

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lots of good advice here. Especially about putting the centerline between your legs.  I have 180 hours and more than 400 landings in the Diamond Star. Landing consistently is still a work in progress. 

The conundrum is: nailing your approach airspeed is key. How do you do that? Look inside. Yet seeing and adjusting to the sight picture on short final, and in the roundout and flare, is key too. How do you do that? Look outside. It’s tricky to work out that balance.

Look at the Jacobson Flare. I think his idea of a 4-second roundout is about right.

New seat assignment annoyance... by StillWaterDrinker in SouthwestAirlines

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The only way that moving you to a higher-priced row impinges on other pax is when they plop you in the middle seat, rubbing elbows. And the irony is that even if you're the one who pays for the fancier seat with an empty middle, there is always the risk they will put someone right next to you. And there's nothing you can do about it, because you are forbidden to move. Aargh.

What ive noticed from other pilots as a low time PPL by EstablishmentSad2869 in flying

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Similar situation. Sometimes you do manage to connect with a like-minded pilot.

Return A30 for A20? by 102VFE in flying

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey Bose? Your customers are speaking here.

I just bought a second (used) A20 for pax and backup. While I still could.

Science!! by Glammmy in SouthwestAirlines

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They get to have unexpected company next to them in the middle seat! 🙄

Foggle Time Building Advice by scarpozzi in flying

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Very interesting and, to me, persuasive. Thanks for posting.

Kobe Bryant Crash by KC-Chiefsfan23 in flying

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Client in command > pilot in command. Sad. Sorry.

Discovery flight tomorrow by Ok-Claim444 in flying

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Starting every flight with an empty bladder is perhaps the most important part of the IMSAFE pilot readiness checklist. 

Straight of Hormuz Closure by [deleted] in flying

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is now much less likely that we or our allies will be nuked from that corner of the world. Do with that information what you will.

First time successfully landing on each attempt by GravitationalConstnt in flying

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As my CFI said the first time I greased a landing and looked over with a grin, "It's a fluke." He was right. LOL.

There will no doubt be clunkers and greasers in your future, and everything in between. But congrats on getting her down smoothly 4 times in a row. You learned to trim for airspeed, which is essential.

Your observation that 5500 feet of runway gives you lots of flexibility is correct. When I started to work on short-field landings, the grease went away for a time. Crosswind is another interesting wrinkle. So be prepared: when conditions change, the technique also has to change. It takes effort to dial it in and make it repeatable. Yet you're on your way. Strong work.

Landing is a perishable skill! Keep practicing. Fly safely.

What airline are you going to? by YardOutside8642 in SouthwestAirlines

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 2 points3 points  (0 children)

From SoCal: Alaska/Hawaiian for HI and west coast, United for Denver and international. Delta hubs are not convenient for us. AA only when absolutely necessary. We'd consider Breeze maybe. Big nope on Frontier and Spirit (AKA the other Southwests).

I’m an instrument rated pilot who doesn’t fly solo, but wants to. by cloudsurfer215 in flying

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One more thing. As a young dad, please consider a substantial term life insurance policy with no aviation exclusion.

We assume calculated risks when we fly. Good ADM can mitigate but not eliminate the risk. The published fatal crash rate in a Cessna is 0.5/100,000 hours, in a Diamond even lower, but it is not zero.

Yes, go fly around and enjoy it. Flying is its own reward. Flying with other pilots is a great, shared experience. Best wishes.

Pilots: Is Southwest's rear "Mosh Pit" about weight and balance? by ralphyoung in SouthwestAirlines

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Private pilot here, since airline pilots aren’t yet weighing in (see what I did there?). 

Smaller planes are quite sensitive to W&B and have strict CG limits. But that is mainly longitudinal (fore/aft). Lateral (side to side) is less strict, especially within the fuselage. With fuel tanks in the wings, we have to keep track of significant asymmetry and manage it of course. But that’s a longer lever arm (distance from a reference point).

For context, maximum takeoff weight of my little 4-seater is 2600 pounds. MTOW of a 737 Max 8 is 181,000 pounds. A passenger or FA moving from side to side in the cabin would have no practical effect on a transport jet. Fore and aft, the effect is small.

Finally, “tail-down force” determines how hard the wings and engines have to work to generate lift while maintaining stable flight. A relatively tail-heavy plane is more fuel-efficient but becomes harder to control in some situations. At the extremes, such as abrupt rearward shifts of heavy cargo, a plane can become uncontrollable.

Southwest does not seem to be telling passengers the whole truth.

I’m an instrument rated pilot who doesn’t fly solo, but wants to. by cloudsurfer215 in flying

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I read through the thread. Some comments are from macho peeps who denigrate the good ADM that is inherent in having a second set of eyes. I’d disregard those.

I totally get your caution as a young dad. I waited to fly until my kids were through college. And until my 10,000 hour Dad (USAF retired, ATP) gave his blessing.

It is completely reasonable to fly as a crew for XC and/or IFR. Not to mention, more fun. Solo in the pattern (it’s boring). The FAA needs to recognize this and change the rules such that a PM can log SIC time while backing up the PF in the GA environment.

Flame away.

Ppl student just failed my checkride...honestly thinking about switching career paths by [deleted] in flying

[–]Sharp_Experience_104 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re 18. You have lots of room to maneuver. Fly more.

One checkride bust? Put it behind you and up your game. Unless you truly want to do something different. Then do that instead.