I doubt BA/AF/KLM/Cathay pay their pilots much less, if less at all, than US carriers. It's also funny to see this argument when American companies operate everywhere in the world in other areas (think McD's or 7/11) by beating the competition in these areas. Thanks for answering though.

The prolonged exposure to increased amounts of radiation high in the atmosphere has been discussed here though I'm not really that well informed on the added risks this entails.

Pilots with back issues have problems with the prolonged sitting and the dry air of the plane makes staying hydrated an issue and can have a bad effect on the sinuses.

I don't know specifics, but I've heard that they've made big strides since the wall came down.

No, I hadn't heard any rumors, but it doesn't surprise me. Conspiracy theories are quite the cottage industry in this country.

Any links?

Yes, I did read it about 10 years ago. I never thought of it being inspired by the Aeroflot crash, but you might be right.

You're right. Not that big a risk at LAX where the prevailing winds are westerly and almost never oriented directly north or south. A little different for ADW but then they have a nice divert field handy in IAD.

Excellent thread my man.
That's all I got.

Yes, I'm familiar with the stormscope though I've never actually seen one. And believe it or not, in 32 years of flying I have never been to Oshkosh. It's a major hole in my aviation experience and I really need to go.

Well that was easy:

Also, what were you doing in SWF? I love that airport -- so much closer to my house than JFK, LGA, EWR etc and so small and quaint and its the best!!!!

When I flew for ACA (United Express) we used to overnight there. I remember we stayed in some hotel that seemed like it was designed by M.C. Escher...crazy hallways and partial staircases.

I have a memory of doing what we used to call the "Boston Shuffle" out of Newburgh...just back and forth to BOS.

One day I remember the weather was down to minimums and it was a long day of hand flying in the J32. On one flight back to SWF, we were vectored to the final approach course and then turned over to Stewart Tower by NY Approach Control. We contacted the tower, "Blue Ridge 123 on the ILS Runway niner". He said, "Roger Blue Ridge 123, call the marker."

Stewart tower had no radar, so they depended on voice position reports and he wanted us to call him at the outer marker, about 5 miles from landing. Well, it being such a long day, we forgot to call and just landed. As we rolled out, the tower called, "Blue Ridge 123, say your position." Crap! We had landed without a clearance! The controller couldn't see us (or the runway) from the tower because the visibility was so low.

The Captain thought quickly and took advantage of their lack of radar: "Sorry tower, we forgot to call at the marker. Blue Ridge 123 is short final."
The controller said, "Roger, Blue Ridge 123. You are cleared to land Runway niner".

We taxied off the runway and held for a minute or so and then called the tower, "Blue Ridge 123 is clearing the runway." and then we were cleared to contract Ground control for taxi clearance.

That was 1994 and I think it's the only time I've ever landed without a clearance.

"ooohhh...yeahhhh....i really love the way you're sucking on my ***** right now! As soon as I land this baby, I'm taking you anywhere in the world you'd like. After all, I am THE PILOT ON THIS PLANE"

thanks for a great thread, Adsman has some competition for best 2+2 Thread IMO!

My question is do you find any type of aircraft particulary sexy? For some reason i find the PBY Catalina great to look at.

Of airliners, the 747 has always been my favorite. It looks great just sitting on the ramp and even better in the air, particularly coming down final approach.

Of warbirds, it's the P-51 (the later models like the -D which had the smooth canopy).

Military jets: I love the F-16 and the F-14, but if I had to choose it would be the F-16. I'd love to fly that plane...the closest I'll ever come is when I flew a Cozy:



It's got the side stick and visibility of the F-16 and rolls really well. But, it tops out at 230 mph.

The only Far East airport I've landed at was Yokota AB in Japan and that was in a Cessna 172, flying with the Yokota Aero Club.

I don't think I will ever tire of the view. Without a doubt, it's the greatest office window of any job in the world and I often wish the passengers could see it the way we do up front.

He's right. I've flown over Greenland only a handful of times (maybe 6) because our routes usually take us south of Greenland. Occasionally (and usually on the Moscow flight) we'll go that far north. Of those few times, I've only had a good view once...and it was spectacular.

Iceland is another one that is often snow covered, but the scenery on a nice day is great, particularly the eastern coast.

On a flight to Milan a month ago, it was crystal clear over the Alps and I made a PA. Several passengers thanked us for that as they got off, because most of the windows were still closed from the night crossing of the Atlantic. They would have completely missed what could be a once-in-a-lifetime view for some of them.

To 9-5orPoker:

You sent me a private message and I can't respond...it says you don't accept private messages.

I think my favorite in-flight scenery is over the Faroe Islands. I have never had the pleasure of flying over greenland, though, so I can't comment on that one. Another really cool thing is electrical storms when you can see them from above, especially at sunset or dawn, which happens quite a bit when I fly BOS-LAX.

God, I'd love so much to be a pilot. I have some hearing loss though - is it still possible to get a license or anything, just for personal flying? I read that it probably takes a long time - I'm still pretty young - 22- but it's always been something that I've wanted to do but didn't really enquire about because I can't hear really high pitched beeps and stuff, and god forbid some critical beeper goes off and I can't hear it and kill a plane full of people. Any thoughts OP? I mean, I can handle a normal conversation - it's just the high pitched stuff that gets me.

I meant cloud covered.

I'd be surprised if you couldn't get a 3rd Class medical, which is what's required for a Private Pilot License and instrument rating. BTW, the 3rd Class medical also doubles as your Student Pilot License.

A 2nd Class medical is required for the commercial license and the 1st Class medical is required to exercise the privileges of an Airline Transport Pilot license. The guidelines for the medicals get more stringent as you go from 3rd to 1st (as you would expect), and I'm not sure what the hearing standards are, but you could just check with any AME (Aero Medical Examiner) to find out.

To find an AME near you, go to: http://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/

Great read, W0X0F.

Out of sheer coincidence I found this thread, as last night over dinner I mentioned to my girlfriend the possibility of obtaining my private pilots license.

Can you recommend a flight school near Boston? Do you have any advice for obtaining the license on a budget, other than spreading it out over time?

There are ads in the classifieds of the AOPA Flight Training magazine for $6k, 3 week programs in Alabama. I've spent almost that much locally and haven't even soloed yet.

WOXOF or anyone else that might have any input or TR on a school like that?

I live in the D.C. area and I have no knowledge of Boston area flight schools. Find a nearby municipal airport and just go in for a visit and maybe take a familiarization ride in a plane. Bit of a crap shoot on the instructor you get.

You could find the Designated Examiner (you might be able to find a list through Google or call your local FSDO - Flight Standards District Office ) and ask for some contact information for local Examiners. The D.E. will be able to recommend a good instructor.

The best way to do it on a budget is to find some like minded friends and then together buy a used training plane -- a C-152, Piper Tomahawk or a Piper Cherokee. Of course, the initial outlay is greater, but the per hour costs will be lower overall.

There's just no getting around the fact that it's expensive.

$6k and haven't soloed? How many hours of instruction is that, and over how long of a time period? Has it been with one instructor?

I think I soloed in about 10 hours, but I was going at it pretty strongly. I took my first lesson in February 1977 and got my license in early June of that year, so I was flying most weekends.

My log book is in my office safe with my receipts so I can't give exact figures, but I have 23 hours over the course of a little over a year flying once or twice a month some months for around an hour to an hour and a half at a time. It is a rural area and there is only one instructor. The Wx is notoriously bad and I've had to frequently cancel lessons. Some months the instructor is not in the area, so no lessons. Most people go elsewhere to get their license, I've been looking at North Las Vegas and the AOPA magazine ad in Alabama.

I'd estimate I've paid the FBO+instructor about $3800. Add $250+ materials for ground school, $100 for FAA private pilot exam, $120 for Class 3 airman medical certificate.

I discontinued flying in June because I realize that I am not going to finish in decent time not being able to fly every weekend or at least every other weekend. I intend to take a three week period give or take and go somewhere just to crank out the hours and get my license.

When I've heard or read transcripts of air traffic controllers and pilots talking, it seems like the planes / flights have code words. Example, instead of "delta 028" It would be like "lion 327 heavy" - how are those picked out?

and what does "heavy" mean?

http://www.atcmonitor.com/callsigns.html

OP can answer but here is a site in the meantime. Most companies use their name, but they can apply to ICAO (I believe) to use another call sign. One of the most famous ones is Clipper, which was what Pan Am used. Also, British Airways uses "Speedbird."

Hi again WOXOF

3 quick ones

1.Where I live the Northern Lights are awesome. I thought you noted that you did some flying in the north... have you been lucky enough to see any major displays of Northern Lights? How far north in Canada have you flown (if at all)?

2.Another question. There are overflights in the north where I live that are in the Vancouver to London (or other European destinations) route, and some flights from the east coast of the US to NRT. I was wondering, with the use of GPS and all, why do I still see overflights correcting over the VOR? I have been out of the field for a while but just assumed some of the need correct while ovr, by or abm VORs enroute would have been supplanted by routes using GPS, thus no need for even small corrections over VORs. Heck, do you even use VORs anymore as enroute nav aids?

3. Ever have any close calls in the transition between 18,000ft and FL190, due to going on to altimeter 29.92 or coming off of it?