Congress Moves to Ban Cockpit laptops
11-05-2009, 02:51 PM
#82
Retired
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: whale wrangler
Posts: 3,527
The camel strikes again
Why does it take congressional action when the carriers themselves schould put this ban into effect on their own instead of having the government do it for them?
What ever happened to self regulation?
Ally
What ever happened to self regulation?
Ally
11-05-2009, 06:59 PM
#83
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Posts: 786
You people actually believe that your elected officials listen to you? After 9-11, I wrote my local state congressmen and explained to them that we needed to arm pilots, in the interest of national security.
A few years later I wrote again on the subject and told them that the armed pilot program needed to be expanded to include international flying. I got a form letter back from two different congressmen and two different parties, telling me more or less that the security measures (like removing my shoes and submitting to screening) at my local airport were needed because of events and known threats like 9-11.
I guess they had aids "read" the letters and decided which form letter to send me, to make me think they gave a hoot.
We pilots are fools. Our paid union representation is no beter than our elected officials. Their hands in our wallets in our best interest.
A few years later I wrote again on the subject and told them that the armed pilot program needed to be expanded to include international flying. I got a form letter back from two different congressmen and two different parties, telling me more or less that the security measures (like removing my shoes and submitting to screening) at my local airport were needed because of events and known threats like 9-11.
I guess they had aids "read" the letters and decided which form letter to send me, to make me think they gave a hoot.
We pilots are fools. Our paid union representation is no beter than our elected officials. Their hands in our wallets in our best interest.
11-05-2009, 07:27 PM
#85
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Legacy FO
Posts: 4,105
Although 4 hour legs are "short" they are still long enough for weather to change. If something is good enough to look at before a flight, then why wouldn't it be good enough to look at inflight?
I never advocated blindly following a computer screen, nor did I ever say to use that information to override what you see with your own radar.
Looking at radar, especially when overlayed by a radar summary chart, which updates at least every hour, would be helpful. Latest available information is always better than old stuff.
Just my two cents.
I never advocated blindly following a computer screen, nor did I ever say to use that information to override what you see with your own radar.
Looking at radar, especially when overlayed by a radar summary chart, which updates at least every hour, would be helpful. Latest available information is always better than old stuff.
Just my two cents.
Sure we did. In my jet at least, light precip on the radome (like skirting the edge of a system while finding a hole) is enough to attenuate everything behind it. What's wrong with wanting an the bigger-picture view of the system we're facing? Have you ever gone through a decent hole only to find that what's behind it isn't what you were expecting?
NEXRAD presents a nice picture, but it is the equivalent of hearing Al Roker say it's going to be cloudy and raining ... when you really want to know its going to be RVR1800 OVC001 +FG +RA.
My two cents.
11-05-2009, 07:43 PM
#86
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: B777/CA retired
Posts: 1,502
The Honerable XXXXX:
Dear Congressman - I fly a large jet that has about 427 computers on it. There are about 20 within my immediate reach that I have access to through one of two keyboards. The jet does not fly at all if you take my computers away. It can't even flush the potties without a computer to tell it when to flush (Flush Sequencing Controller).
Put the bottle of Scotch down. Go visit one of your hookers, oops escort and go work on lowering my taxes. Leave the flying to the thousands of professionals that carry your sorry ass safely back to Dogpatch so you can solicit some more bribes so you can stay in office.
Thank you,
your pilot and constituant
Dear Congressman - I fly a large jet that has about 427 computers on it. There are about 20 within my immediate reach that I have access to through one of two keyboards. The jet does not fly at all if you take my computers away. It can't even flush the potties without a computer to tell it when to flush (Flush Sequencing Controller).
Put the bottle of Scotch down. Go visit one of your hookers, oops escort and go work on lowering my taxes. Leave the flying to the thousands of professionals that carry your sorry ass safely back to Dogpatch so you can solicit some more bribes so you can stay in office.
Thank you,
your pilot and constituant
11-06-2009, 04:43 AM
#87
On Reserve
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Posts: 11
I'd rather have Fox News as well, at least I'd be able to see what the weather is.... not another fear mongering episode of "It Could happen Tomorrow"; ooohh.... A Tsunami Hits Kansas City or an Avalanche Strikes Miami. Or lame infomercial on preventing sunburn on my rodent sized ****zu.
11-06-2009, 05:14 AM
#88
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 754
The Honerable XXXXX:
Dear Congressman - I fly a large jet that has about 427 computers on it. There are about 20 within my immediate reach that I have access to through one of two keyboards. The jet does not fly at all if you take my computers away. It can't even flush the potties without a computer to tell it when to flush (Flush Sequencing Controller).
Put the bottle of Scotch down. Go visit one of your hookers, oops escort and go work on lowering my taxes. Leave the flying to the thousands of professionals that carry your sorry ass safely back to Dogpatch so you can solicit some more bribes so you can stay in office.
Thank you,
your pilot and constituant
Dear Congressman - I fly a large jet that has about 427 computers on it. There are about 20 within my immediate reach that I have access to through one of two keyboards. The jet does not fly at all if you take my computers away. It can't even flush the potties without a computer to tell it when to flush (Flush Sequencing Controller).
Put the bottle of Scotch down. Go visit one of your hookers, oops escort and go work on lowering my taxes. Leave the flying to the thousands of professionals that carry your sorry ass safely back to Dogpatch so you can solicit some more bribes so you can stay in office.
Thank you,
your pilot and constituant
11-06-2009, 05:29 AM
#89
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2009
Posts: 298
The Honerable XXXXX:
Dear Congressman - I fly a large jet that has about 427 computers on it. There are about 20 within my immediate reach that I have access to through one of two keyboards. The jet does not fly at all if you take my computers away. It can't even flush the potties without a computer to tell it when to flush (Flush Sequencing Controller).
Put the bottle of Scotch down. Go visit one of your hookers, oops escort and go work on lowering my taxes. Leave the flying to the thousands of professionals that carry your sorry ass safely back to Dogpatch so you can solicit some more bribes so you can stay in office.
Thank you,
your pilot and constituant
Dear Congressman - I fly a large jet that has about 427 computers on it. There are about 20 within my immediate reach that I have access to through one of two keyboards. The jet does not fly at all if you take my computers away. It can't even flush the potties without a computer to tell it when to flush (Flush Sequencing Controller).
Put the bottle of Scotch down. Go visit one of your hookers, oops escort and go work on lowering my taxes. Leave the flying to the thousands of professionals that carry your sorry ass safely back to Dogpatch so you can solicit some more bribes so you can stay in office.
Thank you,
your pilot and constituant
aaaaaahahahahahahah!!!!!!!!! you are my new hero. God I love you.
Last edited by IC ALL; 11-06-2009 at 08:47 AM. Reason: profanity removed
11-06-2009, 05:42 AM
#90
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: retired
Posts: 992
Define decent hole? You're company should have standards about what sized holes you go through .. ie .. minimum distances you need to stay away from thunderstorms. Ironically, the FAA recently just published some recommendations and they highlighted the standards used by the USAF. FL230 and above, 20NM. Below FL230, 10NM. If you are doing this properly, you shouldn't be finding yourself in a sucker hole.
My two cents.
