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!

Oh yes and is it true you have your blinds up so your eyes are already adjusted to outside in the even of a crash during take off or landing!?

I thought blinds up was so that if there was a need to evacuate on landing/take off, the crew and passengers can see if there is a fire or other reason not to evacuate in a particular place outside

Come to Canada - Calgary Airport is in the city and it’s only an hour to the Rockies.

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

As the mother and mother in law of flight deck crew and cabin crew I would say it does. The inhuman sleep patterns can have serious health implications long term and sitting for hours at a time apart from stretching their legs every so often can cause back issues.

And there are other things - for eg I read the other day in a newly published report that there’s a higher incidence of breast cancer amongst female crew.

What are you like when you're a passenger on an aircraft?

My lot tell me they sleep unless it’s a friend flying and they sit in the front with them.

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

Nah. He’s probably just bored because the planes not going fast enough. 😀

But on a different note we do have a female captain who posts here. She’s a training captain for one of the worlds largest airlines. We also have a poster who works for Airbus in Toulouse as an aviation engineer.

Are you concerned about the effect of a hard, no deal brexit on your industry?

Do cabin crew generally know how to help someone when they are phobic of flying and having a full on panic attack? Is it part of their job or not really something they encounter? Asking for a friend

Ok, seems the place to ask anybody for some advice! My DH has had to cut short a trip and has a flight booked this morning. He is on route to the airport as we speak. Flight departs in 3 hours time.

My DB has also decided that he would also like to return early and has jumped in the taxi with him to see if he can be booked onto the flight. Is this something that can be done at the airport? There was no option to book him on so short notice online.

Is this something that can be done at the airport?

Yes it can be done at the airline desk but it will all depend on if there are seats and available and it will more than likely cost more for the change being made if no changes are allowed on the ticket. It may also even mean buying a new ticket.

Thank you for your reply. They have just arrived at airport... Fingers crossed !

Ooh I know the answer about the sinking feeling!

A pilot explained it to me as your inner ear, brain and eyes having an argument!

Basically after take off, aircraft pitch is reduced (by a tiny amount, a couple of degrees) and because we as passengers can’t see the horizon, the slight change feels like a massive one.

Pilots don’t get it, because they can see the horizon so their brains have all the information.

Rinkals some European cities off the top of my head where the aiport is close to the city; Malaga, Barcelona, Bilbao, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Geneva, Milan (Linate), Berlin (Tegel), Lisbon, Gibraltar. Most ‘holiday’ airports have a close-by resort, is that more what you meant?

Dc was on a flight last week & flight actually touched down then took straight off again & then circled for around 20 minutes.

Dc & other passengers were terrified.

Why was this? & how common is it?? Nothing in the news about it.

Thank you

What flight was it? If you have any details it may be possible to find out.

I’ve already googled - nothing came up.

Was it like a go-around? Or did it actually touhc down! en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go-around

Go-arounds are actually pretty common and not news-worthy at all which is why google won’t come up with anything. There’s plenty of YouTube videos if you want to see what one looks like.

My DS wants to be a pilot too, lots of great info OP.

I didn't mean by google!

Could you explain how a plane flies, in very easy terms? I've tried to understand but I still don't get it. I reckon if I knew more I'd be more relaxed when flying!

No it touched down

How if not by google?

Anon it's rare for a touch and go, could be various reasons why that happened to your dc. What was the weather like? Could be something on the runway..did they not have any PA announcement?

How if not by google?

I was offering to help, not to be questioned

*Dc was on a flight last week & flight actually touched down then took straight off again & then circled for around 20 minutes.

Dc & other passengers were terrified.

Why was this? & how common is it?? Nothing in the news about it.

Thank you*

This happened to me once. It was because the plane that landed in front of us hadn’t cleared the end of the runway yet by the time we landed, so we had to take straight off again.

Watching with interest OP as I also have a 13 year old desperate to be a pilot. Be really useful to know what exams he needs and to what level. University degree needed? - which course? Or straight into flight school after school? How much is this going to cost me?!!