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!

@Twofishfingers & @4forkssake
Do you mind if I answer these in depth tomorrow, as I have an early flight tomorrow and am heading off to bed!

@MizCracker
I don't fly A380. In airlines where there is fleet specific pay, I am sure there is a hierarchy. However, that doesn't exist where I am, so not in my case.

I have a question! Is a bit gruesome though, sorry to lower the tone.

My DH reckons that the reason that you adopt the ‘brace’ position in the event of a crash landing, your neck is broken against the seat in front.
Is there any truth in this or are your chances of survival if you ‘brace’ any better than if you don’t.

I always thought the brace was to preserve your dental records!

@alexd112 thank you

Why does it feel like I'm plummeting to my death around 5 seconds after take off?

Why during landing, do pilots reduce altitude during a turn?

See that’s fascinating if gruesome WTF! I feel creeped out about being briefed to preserve my means of being identified if I die! 😉

Good thread. Thank you.

After take off/ on ascent, you get that 'losing the stomach' feeling of free falling. (Just a little and happens a lot, so know it's normal). What is it? Levelling off? Is there some free fall? I always wonder.

@alexd112 my questions keep coming!

I’ve flown on tiny island hopping twin propeller planes that seat 20 and you’re sitting behind the pilot. I’ve also flown ‘above’ those planes and seen them below us.

Is there a snobbery / hierarchy? A case of ‘my plane’s bigger than your plane’ and ‘I’ve got the lives of more people in my hands than you have’ or is there an across the board respect for ‘we all pilot / we’re all one?’

Alex, your post about trust makes so much sense. So obvious really on one hand, but also massively reassuring. Thank you.

What would be your dream plane to fly?

Is there any aeroplane you wouldn't fly no matter how much money you were offered?

Probably a question more suited for a FA, but what does that little strip of coloured lights by the galley indicate?

I find it so reassuring that in 20 years you e only had 3 or 4 emergency situations.

My question is do pilots/cabin crew have any negative effects on their long term health due to flying?

These ones:

Hopefully you’re still there, my 14 year old daughter was considering a flying career, however wears glasses and asked if that means she wouldn’t be considered?

Coloursofrain I always get that feeling and can’t relax until it’s passed!

Glad it's not just me

Pretty sure the losing stomach thing after take off is because the engines are powered down slightly for noise abatement. Might be wrong though!

@MooseBeTimeForSpring I work in Aviation and I believe they are lights to enable you to see the exits in the case of the cabin being filled with smoke and blocking your view of the Exit sign & arrows above.

@MooseBeTimeForSpring as an ex FA I can answer yours quickly; the coloured lights represent anything from a passenger call bell to a fire in a toilet depending on the colours and combinations. They are accompanied by sound too, you may often hear a faint 'ding'ing on board. The lights also illuminate to show a call from another station (each jumpseat is a 'station') and again there are various combinations of sounds/lights to indicate if it's a call to all stations to a call from the flight deck, a call to the cabin service director etc. There are completely different systems on Boeing and airbus and you have to learn and memorise them for all aircraft you're licensed to operate.

Hi Capt OP,

Having witnessed the A380s astonishing air show display at Farnborough, I realise that only a small fraction of the aircraft’s performance envelope is used in normal operations.

How often do you get the chance to fly the aircraft empty, and do you take advantage of the opportunity to have some fun?

Do you eat the airplane food or take a packed lunch

@alexd112

Why do we have to switch off ipods etc for take off /landing? I always presumed it was to make sure that passengers are paying attention in case of emergency. Surely an ipod can't have any effect on a plane?! I'm quite anxious about flying and need the distraction of music!

What are you like when you're a passenger on an aircraft?
My brother is a fast jet military pilot,I think he gets a bit nervous when he's not in the driving seat as it were.

Please could you list as many airports as you can think of where the airport is REALLY close to/central the City it serves - like Nice airport or London City

Thank you - I am always looking for holiday destinations like this with a v. short transfer time and travel agents rarely have any idea.

Is it possibly for the plane to roll over or crash while banking? 😳 (turning?)

What is the scariest situation you've been in while flying? And are you generally fearful ever or as relaxed as a non-phobic would be when driving?

I see sometimes that emergency landings were executed without casualty (one pretty recently) but they're always on land. If an emergency arises when flying over the Atlantic for example does this mean a greater risk of crashing? Is it more dangerous to fly over ocean than land where there are airports?