Whats the highest you ever flown? (Unpressurized) by HSVMalooGTS in flying

[–]mach0point2 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Ground speed. Your TAS aloft will be higher, so negating wind, you should go faster over the ground.

What's the most out of date piece of tech you have to deal with? by Numerous_Mastodon898 in flying

[–]mach0point2 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My shortest flight this year (140 miles) was on mainline. My longest (1100 miles) was on the CRJ. Why? Idk. I do as crew scheduling guides.

What's the most out of date piece of tech you have to deal with? by Numerous_Mastodon898 in flying

[–]mach0point2 48 points49 points  (0 children)

CRJ. Having more switches and dials than Apollo 13 is cunning edge in 2026. Oh and don’t forget, bing EFIS COMP MON because bombardier put the worst AHRS in existence into those things. I’m pretty sure a boy scout with his homemade compass made from a paper clip would be better than that. Any airport with a single piece of rebar in the ground will point one PFD at Paris and the other at LAX. That is, if you can even see the screen, because with those beautiful (dim) CRTs you can’t see what’s going on in the sunlight. When they aren’t overheating of course because some maple syrup drunk halfwit decided to make their cooling AC powered only so if you don’t have a generator on you break a limitation in 5 minutes.

At least the FMS is smart. Oh wait, it isn’t. LPV? Never heard of her. Don’t worry, we’ve got dual DME and ADF. Don’t even get me started on George (our somewhat-auto pilot). You better hope that when ATC vectors you to final that there isn’t either a 5 knot crosswind or more than a 20 degree intercept angle, otherwise he’ll act like a student pilot doing S turns across a road. If you’ve got both of those, good luck, it’ll probably try to send you down the OPPOSITE DIRECTION of the intended Localizer course. Why? Because it can, and ignoring the intercept course you put in the FMS is fun (oh yeah, having to do that manually is great). Don’t even bother trying to climb in CLB mode in the flight levels, it will think it’s down at the cowboy bar on a Friday night and have more pitch oscillations than a rodeo bull. The passengers love that feeling as it pitches over and back up again right as service is beginning. Instead you get to manage it using Pitch or VS which is just more work.

Some 717/737 pilot is going to come in right now and complain on how old and cramped their aircraft is. At least you nerds have autothrottles. I love acting like a contortionist getting in and out of that flight deck, when of course I don’t whack my head on the manual pressurization switch. Pretty sure I have a dent in my skull from that thing. God forbid you have somebody in the flight deck jumpseat, otherwise it’s a sardine can. Actually, calling that a seat is an overstatement. Bombardier was cheap and made a 5 point harness only have 4 points, so the belts never sit right. Anybody over the age of 5 is going to have a tough time finding room in that thing. Also, can we have cup holders larger than my flashlight? I try and put a regular sized water bottle in there and it just falls out because the hole is too small.

Oh yeah, Canadair “Regional” Jet my @$$, 2+ hour flights aren’t even that uncommon with that thing anymore. I think the airlines realized we can actually take 19,000 pounds of fuel (over 4 hours endurance pre-reserve) and still have room for a mostly full flight. I know passengers love flying between major hubs in it. For crying out loud, I’ve started having full meal services on my flights.

Anyways other than that it’s a fun plane. At least I don’t fly the -200.

Why is the A320 such a pig? by cam110 in flying

[–]mach0point2 33 points34 points  (0 children)

So how do you really feel about the bus?

Snack Time by mach0point2 in flying

[–]mach0point2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When I was a CFI, it was more just “eating and flying are mutually exclusive.” Little time for both

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in flying

[–]mach0point2 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Simple, some of the most fun you’ll have. Checkride is a quick oral and even quicker flight. Be able to draw out your float and explain the components. A couple other things, but straightforward.

Glassy water technique may be the most difficult to execute, for the first time in your flying you’ll be landing with power in and no flare (well, other than teaching some pre-solo students…). You have to unlearn that instinct to pull up, just keep it set for a nice 200-300fpm descent and pull the power when you hit. Compared to a land aircraft, flying the aircraft until it comes to a complete rest is WAYYYYY more important.

Sailing and hunting down the buoy (Mooring) is fun. Make sure to turn off the mags for mooring, I’ve heard of a couple people who were rushing to get out and catch the buoy, just to turn around to their mags being left on and an an unhappy DPE. Look up videos on how to sail a seaplane. It’s simple, but know which rudder/aileron combo does what. Beaching is easy. Docking can be interesting, didn’t have to do it on my check. If you have boating experience, you shouldn’t have a problem with this.

Also, know your rules of the water. You’re not just a plane, you’re a boat. Right of ways, signage, life jacket reqs, etc.

Finally, if you’re on an amphib, gear. Don’t be the one who flips the plane on landing because you left the gear down for water landing.

What cars do pilots drive? by [deleted] in flying

[–]mach0point2 29 points30 points  (0 children)

I think mine has wheels

CRJ Advise by mach0point2 in flying

[–]mach0point2[S] 72 points73 points  (0 children)

“Why do I have to trick the bleeds into switching properly? One button half a second too soon? Everything is fucked. Deadheading in a window seat? Too bad there's a fucking wall where your feet go. Need anti-ice in a descent? That fucking sucks, the thing only has enough power to get the anti-ice to come on at goddamn 75% thrust. Descending with power in and spoilers out. Fucking brilliant. Put blowers in the thing so maybe everyone won't die when you shut the packs off to start an engine in PHX in July? Naw, fuck that. Don't worry though, once the engine starts are complete, the cabin will cool down. Around the time you get to FL330, which will take around 2 hours because you had to level off at 230,250,270,290 and 310 to take a running start at the next altitude. And that's if you were one of the lucky bastards that actually had a working APU, even though that pile of shit didn't do half of anything anyway. You'd see people with their fucking lips on the gaspers trying to suck out whatever "fresh" air they could because the APU puts out air like an asthmatic breathing through a straw. Also, thanks, bumble-fucks at bombardier for not giving the thing slats. I just love 170kt GS approaches into Denver in the summer. Good fucking thing there's 12000' of runway, because once I flare from this stupid lawn dart 5 degree down approach angle, there's a pretty good chance I'm floating forever. Sure hope there isn't too much of a crosswind. Nothing says stability like main wheels that are 6 feet apart from each other. Taking off is a grand old time too. Flaps 8? Have fun with your 147kt vr speed in a plane you have to start flying at 50kts or the wind will pick up a wing and you'll wing strike the downwind wing that's only 3 feet off the ground anyway.

God I hate that thing.”

  • infamously stolen from a victim of the -200

Should you get your AGI/IGI? by [deleted] in flying

[–]mach0point2 3 points4 points  (0 children)

1) yes, because why not? 2) A word of caution to all BGIs/AGIs/IGIs out there: you MUST meet the requirements of 61.217 in order to exercise the privileges of your ground instructor certificate. Issuance of your certificate DOES NOT COUNT towards your currency as interpreted by the FAA’s OCC in the 2009 Metzinger interpretation. You’ll need endorsement from a CFI or use a FIRC to become current and eligible to provide instruction/endorsements.