I'm an Airline Captain - Ask me anything!

[alexd112]

Hi all,

As the title says, I am a senior airline captain with 20 odd years of experience. Ask me anything!

@HopelesslydevotedtoGu
Sorry for the late reply to your Q - obviously I can only speak for my own airline, but I am fairly sure that most of the well established airlines act the same. When a pilot makes an error which has an effect on the flight, or the safety of those in the aircraft, there is a very fair reporting and investigatory process. I have certainly filed reports when certain decisions I took might not have been the most correct way to handle the situation. In scenarios like that, the safety office of the airline along with the flight department, will review the details and assess whatever data is available and they will then issue a finding to all the pilots in the airline with recommendations as to how to prevent it occurring again in the future. Sometimes, it can be pilot error, sometimes technical peculiarities with the aircraft which the manufacturer has to investigate. In all cases that I have ever seen, there is no fear of making a report as the process in place is absolutely fair and just.

@PatchworkElmer
I think that type of scenario really needs to be flagged to someone higher up. If I was you, I would have a think about how this might affect safety - does your company deal with the public, is it responsible for anything safety critical, or could your work be negatively affected? If the answer to any of these is yes, I would very fairly (but firmly) approach that manager again and I would make it crystal clear that such a flippant dismissal of your concerns is just not acceptable. If they value you enough to work for them, then they should value you enough to listen to your input. If that doesn't work, talk to someone higher up who you trust, but be careful that it doesn't backfire against you. It doesn't sound like they're a very good manager in the first place, so tread carefully.

@CoffeeTable
I am equally jealous of your job - I find ATC fascinating.

@YouveCatToBeKittenMe
No questions for him, but pass on my thanks to him and his colleagues

Also, thank you so much to everyone that gave advice re medical profession. My daughter has followed this thread and has taken all of your advice, and will put it to good use. Your time is very much appreciated.

How do you lock the plane when you leave it at the end of the flight? Always wondered! :)

I’ve got a burning question @alexd112! I’m fascinated by flying and I’ve always wondered how they manage you when you’re stacking over LHR.

Obviously in flight, you can be given a bearing to follow in a straight line.

But when you’re in a stack, you’re following a circular route - how do ATC give this to you?

When you look on Flightradar24 the shapes are almost perfect and also there are loads of aircraft in the same stack sometimes, so obviously no room for error. So how do you do it?

Also on take off, are you free to go up to flight level however you like? So if there’s a massive cloud, you can turn early to avoid it? Or is the entire take off route dictated by ATC as well?

I hate flying...but not more than boats.As I am brave and love my children we recently went to Florida..myeo big flight fir severely disabled child and Autistic kid!!!!
Flew TC and thought the whole team were amazing!!!!! Ds2 shouted 3 2 1 blast off.... On each take off repeatedly... considering he has no speech that was Amazing !!!!
In future could you please eradicate turbulent...the. I'd be a happy flyer!!!!

Is your missus called Lisa?

Thank you Captain Alex, I have copied and pasted sections to,share with my plane mad ds who also wants to be a pilot.

My question to you, would be if he wanted to study a degree prior becoming a pilot what sort of subjects would you recommend?

To put into context; My ds is only 8, but we live in France, so getting. Ppl would be cheaper than the uk. He also has an engineering head, so I also suspect that he may enjoy aeronautical engineering. ( We are not too far from Toulouse - airbus)

Based on your previous advice i will get him to continue with some team sports. However could you expand on things he could do to expand his 3D awareness?

I was on a flight when the window made a whining noise during take offwhich disappeared when we were cruising. When we were landing the noise started again so I reported it to a cabin crew member who listened to it, poked the window (it moved), looked panic-stricken, thanked me gratefully for reporting it, and we landed safely.

What was the situation with the window?

Do you have to have regular medicals? Check ups? Mental health screening? Drug tests? Etc etc

Just a technical question on Approach height on coming in to land. Can you request a height on Final Approach or is it set by ATC and is common for all incoming aircraft. Particularly into Gatwick if you can comment. Massive twitter argument over approach heights!